Renowned artist of Ranchi, Ramanuj Shekhar (75), guided young artists participating in national art camp and workshop at Dhanbad. He asked the participants to be patient as mastering art is a lifelong process.

Talking exclusively to The Telegraph Online on the concluding day of the workshop, organized by Dhanbad-based India Telling, Shekhar, said, “One can become a painter but to become an artist, one needs to be perseverant and humble enough to master the art. Even at the age of 75, I learn things from my young students.”

Shekhar, a native resident of Mohal village of Chandankiyari Block of Bokaro, had shifted to his maternal uncle’s place in Odisha at the age of five. It was here he developed an artistic acumen under the tutelage of renowned Odisha Artist Hari Sinha. He later shifted to Ranchi, where he stays even today. “I have no formal education in fine art from any university or college but I was interested in painting since my early childhood and learnt art under the Guru Shishya system from renowned Odisha Artist Hari Sinha,” he said.

Shekhar who held several solo and group exhibitions across the country besides one in Tanzania in 2019 said, “During our days, we got very little support from our parents with regard to our choice of career. But today, enthusiasts no longer face much resentment.”

“The situation has changed over the years. Today, people want their children to make a career in fine arts, literature and music,” said Shekhar, who made realistic paintings for a long period of time during the initial phase of his career. At present he specialises in abstract painting.

“The government should take initiative to accelerate change in the mindset of the people by creating job opportunities for people interested in arts. Government needs to fill up vacancies for art teachers,” said Shekhar whose paintings adorn the walls of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Jharkhand Assembly and other important places.

Notably, Shekhar besides 15 other eminent artists participated in the two-day art workshop.