Artist tries to paint an artistic future for her class
Lakshmi Durga displayed her work in April; students'work inMay
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer
There is an old adage that people should look at the world through the eyes of a child.

JENNIFER AMATO Heera Durga stands with her painting about pollution, based on a story her mother, North Brunswick April Artist of the Month Lakshmi Durga, told her. Two of Heera's paintings will be on display during May at the municipal building.

North Brunswick Township April Artist of the Month Lakshmi Durga is doing just that, displaying the works of her students during the month of May.

Durga has been painting since she was a child. She began painting on textiles and acrylics before migrating to watercolor and oil paintings. She learned different techniques and skills in different states of India, and also from her sister and various art teachers.

She was born in the town of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, India, and moved to the United States in 1999. Since then, she has been included in exhibits in East Brunswick and South Brunswick, but the North Brunswick gallery was her first solo display.

She had 25 oil paintings, pencil sketches, watercolors, acrylic paintings, enamel paintings, fabric color works and pastel drawings on paper, canvas, glass, ceramic and wood backgrounds.

JENNIFER AMATO Lakshmi Durga displayed her artwork at the North Brunswick municipal building during April. In May, her students' artwork will be featured. Here she stands with her painting "Meera and Krishna."

"I love art. Every day I do something," she said.

One of her favorites was "Meera and Krishna," a work she completed in 1996 after four months of painting.

Another was a portrait of Sai Baba, a saint who embodies dedication and trust in the endeavors of life.

"Every time I look at it, I feel as if I am speaking with him in person, due to the powerful eyes and smile," she said.

TheMonmouth Junction resident also displayed other religious art, nature scenes, flowers, still lifes, portraits and abstracts.

"When I start, I will forget everything [else]. I don't need any meditation or anything. When I start, I immerse in it," she said. "Drawing and painting is my greatest passion in life."

"Dora the Explorer" by Geethika Manoj Kumar

She said she has had the continued support of her family, especially her husband Kishore, who is an associate director of production in a New Jersey pharmaceutical company. She said encouragement is especially important because art requires a significant amount of time and dedication.

"I believe that art comes from the heart.Art is a tough subject and one which can never be completely mastered," she said.

Another inspiration has been her 6-year-old daughter, Heera.

"As a part of raising a child with the moral values of respect, honesty and culture, art and painting habits are also simultaneously initiated at the age of 4," Durga said.

Heera said she likes art because "it's fun" and enjoys drawing and painting flowers, fish and roses, although her favorite is painting with watercolors.

"They are different colors and you can mix them," she said.

One piece she is particularly proud of is "GreenWorld and PollutedWorld," a pastel drawing of the effects of pollution she learned from her mother.

"Palm as a Tribal Man" by Sloka Anugu

"The [brown] leaf is crying because where he lives, it's not beautiful, it's not really good, it's so smelly, he doesn't really like it," she said of the contrasting images, "but the green one is happy because it's all beautiful and it's the spring and it's not smelly, the smell is nice, and she likes the little bees and the butterflies and the dragonflies and the flowers," she said.

She already has aspirations to be a professional artist, wanting to become a dance teacher or artist or an illustrator for children's books.

Because of Heera's love of art, Durga was inspired to teach other children how to be artistic. That is why during May,Durgawill display her students'artwork at the gallery.

"I believe strongly that each kid is unique and gifted with talent," Durga said. "I am very happy and proud, especially, to see my students. I am very fulfilled."

She said she begins with a systematic approach, beginning with simple figures such as animals, nature, fruits and vegetables, buildings and automobiles. Then, she teaches the 5- to 14-year-olds confidence in their creativity.

"Butterfly" by Ananya Sri Trivedi

"When I see their parents' faces, I can't believe it. They are very, very happy. They say, 'You are an artist, you are creating.'At the age of 5 or 6 they are exhibiting their artwork in a gallery - they can't believe it," Durga said of her students.

To purchase a piece of artwork or to learn more about her children's class, e-mail VennelaKishore@hotmail.com.

The gallery is located in the Department of Parks & Recreation wing at the North Brunswick municipal building, located at 710 Hermann Road.

"Planets in the Universe" by Neha Vaddepally