Making an impact with brush language

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

"When painting with water colours, it is the brush language, which enhances the quality of the work - the technique that moves the spectators, perhaps more than what is illustrated," says Thamara Damayanthi, who will hold an exhibition of water colour paintings 'Thisoba-Most Passionate' at the Lionel Wendt on November 10, 11 and 12.

This is Thamara's fourth exhibition and she has focused on sacred and historical places, also life in rural villages.

Born in Ingiriya Ratnapura, Thamara's love for the rustic beauty of the countryside came into her paintings as a child. After her A/L's she entered the Department of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya. Now an art teacher, Thamara teaches Art for advanced level students of Ananda College, Colombo.

"The use of watercolours is limited among the younger generation. Most of them find it hard to learn and my main aim at the exhibition is to illustrate the splendour of water colour paintings," she says.

She further adds that when an artist paints , his or her main concern is to interpret the theme through the brush language that the camera fails to capture.

The Warrior Monument at the headquarters of the 5th Battalion, Light Infantry in Pallekelle and the monument at Bandaranayake College in Gampaha are some of her creations.