Landscapes come alive with palette knife
Bold strokes: Capturing nature in vivid colour
Largely self-taught, Neleisha Weerasinghe left the world of marketing close to a decade ago to take her passion for art forward. Neleisha made the shift to focus on being a full-time artist when she reached her 30’s and felt financially stable enough to devote her time to it, after starting out striving to build a career in marketing, communications, and online education. Now into her eighth year as a professional artist she’s exhibited both locally and overseas in the UAE.
Having grasped the basics during her schooldays, she went on to strengthen her foundation by following online tutorials, taking private lessons and seeking guidance from other artists such as Chandraguptha Thenuwara at the Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts.
Inspired by the works of Vincent van Gogh, Josef Kote and Roos Schuring, Neleisha says that her early work consisted of abstract and free flowing line work ‘almost akin to doodles’ and describes her current style as more mature. She prefers to mix both abstract and natural elements to arrive at a stylistic middle ground instead of recreating each landscape precisely.
Misty hillsides, salt sprayed coastlines, lush forests, golden paddy fields and more are now the subjects of her work. “It’s a question I’m still trying to answer myself,” admits Neleisha when asked what she finds most appealing about capturing stunning landscapes on canvas in her own unique style. “I’m simply drawn to them. I find myself at peace with the natural environment – the trees, the mountains, the sea – it’s sort of a happy place.”
Neleisha Weerasinghe
Neleisha’s landscapes begin to take shape with each buttery swathe of acrylic paint applied with a palette knife, a blunt steel blade, in lieu of a traditional paintbrush.
The palette knife has become Neleisha’s signature tool since she began utilizing thicker paints. “The knife is more free flowing than a brush for me personally and I love using a lot of thick paints,” she says. Initially using the knife to mix different shades together before colouring the canvas with brush strokes, she decided to begin layering the mixed hues directly onto the canvas with the knife instead.
Neleisha is also exploring Lino printing, a printmaking technique where the artist etches an image into a carve-able surface. She took up the practice only a few years ago and says it is “a different form of expression”. “While painting, I like to keep things loose and free hand and spontaneous but when it comes to line work it’s very delicate and very detailed and precise.” Neleisha practises her designs on rubber erasers explaining that Lino printing is often done on rubber moulds. In her spare time, she also enjoys photography and baking.
Neleisha adds that her background in marketing also enabled her to cultivate a steady following on social media and attract prospective customers.
Reflecting on her own journey she says, “You need to believe that it matters – the art or the paintings that you make, it has to have that value and you have to believe in it – even if you’re not taken seriously when you say that you’re an artist.” Some time in the future, she hopes to open her own studio gallery.
Browse Neleisha’s work on her website www.artbyneleisha.com or visit her Instagram page @artbyneleisha
Searching for an ideal partner? Find your soul mate on Hitad.lk, Sri Lanka's favourite marriage proposals page. With Hitad.lk matrimonial advertisements you have access to thousands of ads from potential suitors who are looking for someone just like you.