Goa’s artsy side comes alive with much vim and verve with the weekend – just the right time to explore and indulge your creativity.
This weekend at Carpe Diem Art Centre, in Majorda, South Goa, has something unusual and intriguing – a sgraffito art workshop by artist Ramdas Gadekar. This is an art technique used to decorate pottery.
Sgraffito may sound strange to the Goan ear because it is an Italian word meaning 'to scratch'.
Layers of colours are applied to hard pottery, and then, parts are scratched off the layers, creating a contrasting image, pattern or texture. This scratching technique reveals the clay colour underneath.
Explaining the process, Ramdas says, “You transfer the design to tracing paper, and then, using a sharp pencil trace the design onto the clay pottery. Since the tracing paper is flexible, it can withstand the wet clay and multiple tracings.”
He adds, “As an interdisciplinary artist, I create my styles through the integration of the strongest of my skills, namely printmaking, murals and hand-built pottery. Through the medium of ceramics, I express my views on various subjects close to me.’’
A graduate of the Goa College of Art, Panjim, Ramdas is a teaching artist, who is extremely versatile with his hands. He has participated in many painting and printmaking camps and has exhibited his artworks in group shows across India.
Ramdas describes ceramics as thoroughly meditative and relaxing. The entire procedure of baking ceramic is indeed enveloped in suspense as it often gives results that are surprising.
For such art, one needs to be very patient and calm. Ceramic takes a lot of time to make. Some of my art took weeks to complete, but the end result is worth it.Ramdas Gadekar, artist
He says, “I have been involved in ceramics for a long time. I somehow connect better in this medium, and working in clay is very therapeutic and meditative.”
Talking about his ceramic classes, he says that Goans have increasingly wanted to know more about this art form, and he has been receiving a good response.
However, he adds, “For such art, one needs to be very patient and calm. Ceramic takes a lot of time to make. Some of my art took weeks to complete, but the end result is worth it.”
Ramdas Gadekar will be conducting a sgraffito workshop at Carpe Diem Art Centre, Majorda, South Goa on October 5 and 6.
Participants will get a hands-on experience of creating their own ceramic item, knowledge of glazing and the decorative technique of sgraffito.
DETAILS
WHAT: Sgraffito art workshop
WHERE: Carpe Diem Art Centre, Majorda
WHEN: October 5 and 6
TIMINGS: 4 pm to 6 pm
CONTACT: +91 8888862462 or +91 9822580152
TO REGISTER: https://carpediemmajorda.myinstamojo.com/product/sgraffito-workshop-with-ramdas-gadekar