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"Art is like a door that only those with an aesthetic eye can see and walk through, down the path of creativity," says art teacher Shyamala Pinto-Jayawardena.

It is in this direction that she has been guiding students of the Shyamala School of Art, intent that they observe the beauty around them - such as the effect of sunlight or shadows on objects, simple aspects that we take for granted.

Artists, Shyamala feels, have a duty to bring beauty to other people's lives that they too may see and appreciate beauty. "It is a form of sharing," she says. Students should be proud of doing something beautiful and hanging it up as learning to make your home warm and beautiful is also art. "For what you do with your hands becomes a part of you and is so much more valuable than buying things with a label."

She encourages them to examine their surroundings - the paddy field, the setting sun, the monkey perched on the wall or a bird eating a jambu fruit. "If you don't see and feel beauty and if your life does not become what you see, part of you dies," she adds.

Observing nature is vital in art, the artist believes, and the number of students' paintings in her Thalawathugoda studio bears evidence to this. Students are frequently taken on hikes and walks along the fields and the river to observe birds and encouraged to make initial sketches at the site.

Children ought to be out of their normal environment, she says. Hence being on the rooftop or watching a movie followed by a discussion on characters or subjects is the start of some sessions. From what they are able to produce, she is able to judge their intake and determine the approach she should use with them.

At the school, "I try to help them visualize what is in their minds," she says indicating a white and purple mountain surrounded by tulips and a calm lake, on a 2 ½ foot canvas painting done by an 11-year-old. By showing the work of great artists and their techniques, she delves into the history of art. Her 80 students are exposed to various techniques, materials and media - pastels, water colours, acrylics, oils, charcoal, pen and ink and pencil. Individual and group craft projects using jute, grey cloth, natural seeds, stones, shells, tissue paper, sand and shells are thoroughly enjoyed and each year different projects are planned.

Art is a wonderful tool for children who have a hard time expressing in words their feelings of sadness, frustration or anger says Shyamala, rather than to bottle emotions within. It helps them release their anger and not deny it and thus works better than shouting at them, or applying other forms of pressure.

Shyamala is critical of how art is taught in the majority of schools where teachers dictate the way students should draw. "Children should be able to draw things in the colours they want," she asserts. Three or four-year-olds according to her see things in abstract and cannot see form. Telling them to conform to rules that teachers make, she considers is an intrusion of their freedom of expression. "Why can't a boy draw a pink elephant and a girl a war ship?" she asks. When adult ideas are given to children it breaks their creativity and wrong learning leads to an imbalanced adult, she warns.

Bemoaning the fact that not many students are taking art for A/Ls, she says "Children are not being encouraged enough nor are they given proper guidance to pursue art seriously." In addition, most schools she says find it a nuisance to offer art for A/Ls as they cannot find qualified teachers.

Shyamala painted from an early age, but began formal training with Cora Abraham from age 18. She went on to do fine arts at the Kelaniya University and thereafter taught art at Ladies' College and briefly at Gateway and the Japanese International School. Even when she gave up teaching to have children she continued working on handloom, dress and interior designing while at home.

Shyamala is now beginning classes in Colombo for O/L and A/L students so that they can be directed to proper avenues and hopefully to higher studies in art. "The satisfaction I derive from teaching 3 year olds to A/L students cannot be measured," she says.

The Shyamala School of Art that began in 2002, opened a new branch at Police Park Terrace in Colombo 5 on July 1.