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| Artist : Raj Bhandare at studio : Photo copyright : Prany Mane |
Panaji: Artist Raj Bhandare's every move was
watched intently as he mixed colours to the right consistency and drew a
network of squares on the road below the Panaji Church square from 9PM on
Friday.
That was probably the only few minutes the
nearly 60 children- that registered for the Times of India's road painting
event in Panaji under the Goa for Kids initiative - sat still.
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| Kids working at Road as canvas- Goa for Kids- Times of India |
No sooner Bhandare signaled that the children
could grab the amount of paint they
wanted to first sketch with black and then fill in the colours to their
liking in one of the demarcated squares of their choice and size, there was no
stopping the children or their creativity that thus flowed.
Fighting off their cycle of sleep -from 9pm till
12 midnight - the children aged 8 to 16, grabbed every colour of their choice,
brush and roller available and, to the surprise of the thick crowd of curious
onlookers, did not stop till their masterpiece was finished to their
satisfaction. Some went on until they were coaxed to put the brush down when
the clock struck 12.
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| Panjim Church- Goa |
Bhandare was on his toes, moving from from
square to square with advice, appreciation and valuable tips, to inspire art
works that not just impressed but stunned its viewers.
When Panaji MLA Siddharth Kuncalienker entered
to mark the event open, he was not to leave without joining the children in
adding a patch of his own artwork to the colourful chessboard of original
paintings.
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| Raj Bhandare with Kids - Goa for Kids- Times of India |
"I think it's great to have a canvas on the
road where the otherwise hustle-bustle is converted to something so creative
and amazing in front of our good old Panaji Church. It's a memory that will
last the kids for a lifetime," said one parent Cheryl Saldanha, a resident
of Caranzalem.
Children from various ends of Goa were attracted
to participate in the event.
Thirteen year old Bicholim resident Supriti
Thomas was one such participant who was not stopped by the distance or the time
of event from being a part of it. "It was a very unique experience. Right
from rushing to collect the different colours of paints to painting our hearts
out on the floor, we had a lot of fun. I want more events like these," she
said. "It was an activity with a twist. The spirit of togetherness
prevailing with no competitive spirit, very much enjoyed by kids and parents
alike," said a parent Sharmila Mascarenhas from Porvorim.
TNN | May 17, 2015, 02.00 AM IST Sunday Times( Times of Inida- Goa) Times city
