“Painting from nature is not copying the object; it is realising one’s sensations.”
— Paul Cézanne
The sight of water dripping atop of a mountain is always breathtaking. There is something scintillating about waterfalls. The sense of tranquility and enchantment they bring along is second to none. Rashmi Soni, in her recent solo show at Chitrakala Parishath has painted the tranquillity and serenity of waterfalls with élan. Tranquillity is her second solo show. According to the artist, Tranquillity is all about waterfalls. Rashmi Soni earnestly believes that waterfalls can be seen for a considerable length of time, and dependably gives a feeling of calm and tranquility.
The water flow in a waterfall has its own particular grandeur and patterns. Through this waterfall series of paintings, she portrays the never halting stream of water, and one can feel the water streaming sound by observing these artworks. The onlooker is sure to be hypnotised and will forget ordinary stress.
The different hues that water reflects have magnificent implications as well. Rashmi has painted waterfalls on different textured canvases which add to the impressive ensemble.
Her thought process has an explanation for every colour used to depict the water. Blue has vastness like sky and ocean. It is regularly connected with profundity and dependability. It symbolises steadfastness, insight, certainty, knowledge, confidence, truth and a heavenly feel. Blue is viewed as advantageous to the psyche and body. It aids metabolism and produces a soothing impact.
Rashmi Soni
My experience with Tranquillity was extraordinary. I usually create paintings that have a touch of mythology and architecture. The theme I chose this time was very different — waterfalls. The techniques used in making the waterfall paintings are also very unique
— Rashmi Soni
“I have gotten a good response from art collectors, fellow artists, art reviewers. Everyone enjoyed the artworks. The title of the solo exhibition Tranquillity also complimented the work. Visitors felt that the paintings brought a feeling of calmness and tranquility when they looked at the artworks,” explains Rashmi Soni. Green, which according to the artist is the colour of life, renewal, nature, and energy, is associated with growth, harmony, freshness, safety, fertility and environment. Green is also traditionally associated with money, finances, banking and ambition.
Purple has often been associated with royalty, nobility, luxury, power, and ambition, and is frequently connected with eminence, honourability, extravagance, power, and aspiration. Dark is required for every single other shading to have profundity and variety of tint. The dark shading is the nonappearance of shading, where a white waterfall lends a brilliant profundity. Rashmi’s paintings depict waterfalls in their abstract forms and her use of textures and handling of colour gives it a sense of liveliness. Rashmi’s current show will surely help her spring board into the art world.
— The writer is an art expert and curator.
