World is her canvas!

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, May 3

Like several students, even Sehar Atwal (12), a student of Gems Cambridge International School, Hoshiarpur, was dejected when the schools did not open for the second time in a row. She was one among the countless children who had to lose out on the camaraderie as well as a structured curriculum for students at school. But she chose to make a difference and let the lockdown count.

Sehar, a gifted artist, who had always been interested in craft activities, took to canvas painting during the lockdown times. She channelised her energy into art since the onset of lockdown in March 2020 has painted more than 100 paintings in diverse shades.

“I plan to hold an art exhibition in my school when it reopens.” She tells us enthusiastically as she shows us the collection of her art works. She uses poster, acrylic, metallic and neon colours to paint and is now learning the art of fluid painting. The theme of her paintings is diverse. Her paintings range from hip-hop dancing girls to a rising sun in a distant horizon to a brook cascading from the steep hills.

Landscapes, nature and 3D art are some of her favourites which found a resonance with this young artist. She gets her ideas from the Internet and from her friends whom she keeps updating with her art work.

Sehar credits her achievement to her art teachers, Rampal and Jyoti Salota for the constant encouragement in the online classes the school has been conducting since last year.

Her mother Dr Rana Preet Gill, a Hoshiarpur-based author and Veterinary Officer exhorted the parents to allow the creativity in their children to thrive by providing them the right atmosphere and by indulging in their passions.

“Every little encouragement goes a long way in boosting the confidence of the child. We must create a positive atmosphere at home for our children. Sehar’s paintings give me hope that times will change for the better,” she said.

Sehar’s father Varundeep Singh Atwal is an engineer by profession. “It is important for parents to divert their kids away from gadgets during the times of the pandemic and cultivating a hobby goes a long way in making a child more aware of his or her surroundings,” he said.

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