Arts
Tapping those creative little minds
Sathya Wimalasooriya
For artist and designer, Sathya Wimalasooriya, imagination is what helped her to keep moving forward in life. What she’s gained from the ability to come up with novel ideas is a vital skill she works to instil at her art and design academy, Sathi’s Ecole.
From her childhood she says she strayed from the norm and found more enjoyment in exploring things from new angles. Art encouraged her to develop an eye for alternative perspectives and express herself creatively. It enabled her to take a pivotal step forward in her creative journey.
Having taken part in art competitions and held two exhibitions, with the support of her parents and her school, Holy Family Convent, Kalutara, Sathya chose Art for her Advanced Level examination following the introduction of the subject as an option for study that same year . Wanting to see if she could become adept at another creative discipline, she enrolled at the University of Moratuwa for an Honours Degree in Design. Graduating from the University of Moratuwa and the University of Kelaniya where she earned a Graduate Diploma, Sathya is now a qualified designer as well as a freelance artist and occasional illustrator of children’s books.
Working primarily with ink and pen, Sathya’s intricate patterns and delicate designs adorn playful characters and picturesque views drawn from her own life and culture. With distinct curved and dotted lines she replicates subjects from tropical flora, densely populated cityscapes and vibrant wildlife to more familial works of lively Sri Lankan households.
Born in Galle, as a child Sathya would take inspiration from daily life. She fondly recalls taking the train to visit her grandparents and observing the people boarding it and the many sights of her journey. “I observe things. I look at the life of them and absorb it quickly. Then I reinterpret it my way,” she explains. She was also inspired by Russian illustrated books which her family received and writer and illustrator Sybil Wettasinghe’s children’s books.
Sathya has illustrated several Sinhala children’s books and poetry books including ‘Hari apooru gal Len gedara’ by Shakunthalya Gunawardena and ‘Pilila Nemaduma’ by Ajith Kalyana Amarasinghe.
During her 10 years of teaching since receiving her AMI Diploma in Child Education, she recognized a gap in the primary education system.“When it comes to creative thinking, I think we all have creativity within us. What I believe is that we have to cultivate it and we have to get people to utilize it,” she says. Sathya believes that no matter what field a child pursues later, if they are aware of how to use their creativity they will be able to successfully manoeuvre their way through their respective fields.
With no clear syllabus to support this type of development in children she conceptualized and founded her own art and design academy in 2015. “You can’t change the whole system and everything at once. One should start from where you can,” she says, stressing the importance of beginning this process with young minds.
Sathi’s Ecole has had many homes with studios in Maharagama and Kalutara and workshops carried out in other locations including Nakiyadeniya estate, upcountry. Using her experience as a teacher Sathya single handedly develops and teaches modules addressing basic drawing skills, colouring techniques, theories and creative thinking through activities such as accessory making and using diverse materials to construct different items.
Sathya says the learning goes both ways, them from her and her from them.
While Sathi’s Ecole operates online in these times, Sathya says that a new studio in Athurugiriya is in the works and is looking forward to a time where she can guide her students safely in person once again.
Visit the Sathi’sEcole website to learn more: www.sathisartanddesign.com
Imaginative strokes: Sathya’s ink drawing and right a young artist