It’s that time of the year when everyone is in a festive mood – from wearing colour-coordinated clothes to visiting friends for the Navratri garba and dandiya nights. Vibrant colours and festive allure have taken over the state of Goa while artist Ashwini Pai Dukle, from Margao, has taken the festive colours to the canvas.
In a candid chat, Ashwini explains her artworks. “Navratri is celebrated over nine days – each dedicated to a different form of Goddess Durga, and each day is linked with a colour symbolising unique qualities like happiness, strength and prosperity,” says Ashwini, as she shares a few of her artworks.
She anxiously waits to create unique artworks every year during Navratri. The inception of her idea came about during Covid-19 when she participated in Navratri pot painting, decoration and card making competitions, where she won a few prizes too.
“During the presentation at this event, I had to explain in detail the significance of the nine colours according to the days. So, the following year after Covid-19, I decided to make artwork for 9 days with 9 colours, and every year, it’s something unique,” says Ashwini who plans the process a month in advance.
This year, she decided to make small-sized mandalas with goddess' names on it, against a coloured background. On joining all the 9 small pieces, a complete, bigger mandala will be formed on day 9. In 2022, she made Mandala Doodle, with 9 forms of Goddess Durga, and in 2023, it was a mandala with ladies dancing with dandiya sticks.
It’s a lot of effort and appreciation that has led Ashwini to continue her art, and being a mom to a young girl can make it tough but not impossible, she feels.
I receive a lot of appreciation from my family, friends and relatives, and this motivates and encourages me all the more to try out something new each time. I also try to merge different techniques together.
Ashwini Pai Dukle, artist
“Though I have to dedicate my time towards my daughter and apart from work schedules, I like to work on my art in the morning after she leaves for school or at night. Some mandalas take a very long time to complete because of their accuracy and fine details,” she says.
She adds that the appreciation that she receives after all the hard work prods her on, “I receive a lot of appreciation from my family, friends and relatives, and this motivates and encourages me all the more to try out something new each time. I also try to merge different techniques together.”
Talking about when she gets into her art vibe, she says, “The most interesting and my all-time favourite is Mandala Doodle art. I can sit for hours together creating different artworks with this art form – it helps relieve stress and increases concentration. It is a meditative form of art.”
Among her 100 plus paintings, it is that one Mandala Doodle representing Mother Earth in the shape of a tree, carrying a baby in its womb, which remains her all-time favourite.
Art is always evolving, and you need to keep updating and learning new techniques and skills. At Ashwini's Creativity, she teaches her skills to young minds.
She says, “I teach art like mandala doodle, Warli art, dot painting, coffee painting, faux and brush-pen calligraphy and much more. I have also learned resin art and Kaavi art.”
I teach art like mandala doodle, Warli art, dot painting, coffee painting, faux and brush-pen calligraphy and much more. I have also learned resin art and Kaavi art.
Ashwini Pai Dukle, artist
Besides art, Ashwini loves to upcycle. She can turn glass bottles into decorative pieces for gifting and home décor.
By doing so, Ashwini inspires others to rethink how they can make use of discarded materials by turning them into artworks.