Workshop on oriental art application

(L-R) Fareha Zeba, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Nasreen Begum and Kuhu seen at the workshop

Nasreen Begum said, "I wish we had more time but we are all busy in our own ways. The artists I've worked with here are all experienced and well-known in their fields. They are able to follow rules quickly. Each of them has an individual style, which they are adapting today to the technique that I'm teaching them. The result is something new and different from what they've done before. The paper has to be soaked and placed on a waterproof board. You have to work slowly and gradually."

Naima Haque, a senior teacher at the Institute of Fine Arts, said about her experience, "You apply lyrical washes and then wipe them off. It is time consuming and difficult to master over a short period of time that we are allotted. I might learn the technique but it will take me time to apply it. There is something to learn from all the artists who have gathered here. The experience builds up your self-confidence. This isn't the traditional oriental art that we know." Naima was painting a portrait in green and beige.

Fareha Zeba said, "In this style taken from the Moghul period, we put on a layer of colour and wash it off time and again. This lends a depth of colours which blends with the paper. Normally we have the opaque and pure water colour. I painted some favourite subject of masks. At the back are toy airplanes. Since it's a new technique it is difficult to handle at first. I hope to use it in future." Working alongside Zeba were Naima Haque, Kuhu, Kanak Chanpa Chakma, Farzana Islam Milky, Zakia Khan Chandana, Shulekha Chowdhury, Farzana Ahmed Shanta.

Kuhu said, "It's fun and relaxing to be with friends who share the same interest as I do. We got away from our families and gathered together here. I've always admired Nasreen's work and wanted to learn how her work is done. I find the technique interesting though tedious and time consuming. I'm going to use Nasreen's water colour wash technique to draw on with pencil strokes in model drawing." She was painting yellow and orange flower buds with closed, wax-like petals.

Kanak Chanpa, on her part said, "I'm watching and learning. This is something different from what I do in oil and acrylic and can apply it to my style for a variation." Farzana Islam Milky added, "Unless I'd taken part in this workshop, I'd never have known this technique. On the whole this is interesting."

The workshop was held at Dhanmondi and had new and refreshing elements. It brought into use watercolour, which is gradually appearing to go out of fashion.