Retd principal finds new canvas in landscapes, colours in Jalandhar

“Art se zindagi mein alag hi rang bhar jate hain (Art fills your life with a different colour). If you want to keep depression and negativity at bay, art can prove to be a saviour,” says Kuljeet Kaur.

A retired principal from a school in Jalandhar, Kaur has found a renewed passion for art after retirement. Her studio, beloved easel and artistic aesthetics keep her creatively engaged and ever inspired.

Having retired as principal from the Olympian Manpreet Singh Government Primary School, Mithapur, painter and principal (retd) Kuljeet Kaur’s artistic journey began when she was just three years old. Although teaching, motherhood and family responsibilities kept her away from the art scene for years, retirement has brought her back into the exhibition circuit with fresh enthusiasm.

Her daughter is currently an IAS officer posted in Patna, while her son resides in the US. An MA topper in Fine Arts from Government College, Hoshiarpur, in 1987, Kaur went on to complete her B.Ed. and began her teaching career soon after. She was promoted as principal in 2010.

“Since childhood, I was passionate about painting. My parents saw my works and decided that I would pursue art,” she recalls. “I began drawing at the age of three and my drawings were considered quite good for my age.”

Having studied at Devraj Girls Senior Secondary School, where Sanskrit was offered but not art, her teachers nonetheless recognised her talent and sent her to every painting contest—many of which she won. During her time at SD College, Jalandhar, her teachers encouraged her to take up Fine Arts professionally.

“At the insistence and inspiration of my lecturer, Shashi Kanta, I chose Fine Arts for graduation and post-graduation. The rest is history,” she says.

Passionate about landscapes, Kaur’s work also includes still life and portraiture, earning her appreciation across Punjab’s art circles. She has showcased her paintings in numerous group exhibitions in Jalandhar, Amritsar, Chandigarh and Delhi, and is now preparing to display her works at an upcoming art event in Amritsar. In Jalandhar, she has been associated with the art group Art Dot, exhibiting at the Virsa Vihar.

Kaur is particularly lauded for her distinctive landscapes and bold use of colours—styles that set her apart from her contemporaries in the region.

However, on being asked about the challenges faced by aspiring artists, she offers a note of caution. “The problem in this region is that art is still not established enough to ensure a stable livelihood. Art is a gift of God—one must not abandon that gift—but in Punjab and India, people often prefer copies or chamak-dhamak (sparkle and grandeur) over genuine art,” she says. “While artists invest thousands, the returns are low, which is why parents discourage their children from pursuing art full time. My advice is to continue art alongside a stable profession. As for me, whatever life I have left, I am going to devote it to my art.”