Talented Young Artists of Yza
The five artists
By Risidra Mendis
They love nature and are committed to protecting the environment and its animals. They have the talent to draw and through their work send out an important message — protect nature and its wildlife. These youngsters together with many others joined the junior Young Zoologists Association (YZA) art class at a very young age but are now capable of drawing on a professional level.
Ruwangi Amarasinghe (18) hails from a family of artists. Her grandparents, uncle and mother are artists. Amarasinghe started drawing when she was five years. Speaking to The Sunday Leader Amarasinghe said she loved to draw but started studying art on a professional level after she joined the YZA and started attending art classes under former YZA President Shantha Jayaweera.
She is the first junior member to join the YZA. “I was 10 when I joined the YZA. I take a photo of a wild animal and study it well. I also observe the wild animal in its natural habitat. Then I picture the animal in my mind and sketch it. I take a few days to complete a picture,” Amarasinghe said.
Adrian Kulasuriya (16) has been drawing since he was six years old. However Kulasuriya’s interest in nature surfaced after he joined the junior YZA at eight years. I draw animals, trees and sceneries. I study the animal in its natural habitat. This helps in creating a natural picture. I take a couple of days or even months to complete a picture,” Kulasuriya explained.
He added that anybody interested in wildlife art should join the YZA and improve their talent. “We should conserve some part of our talent for wildlife,” Kulasuriya said.
Senal Siriwardane (16) joined the YZA art class when he was eight years old. “I used to draw before I joined the YZA art class. I love to draw wildlife and trees. I use a pencil to draw the outline and then draw with a pen. I take around two to three days to complete a drawing. I look at a photo and draw or study an animal in its natural habitat and then draw. It doesn’t matter what method you use as long as you develop your own style and stick to that,” Siriwardene explained. He added that thanks to the YZA and Jayaweera he has succeeded in developing his drawing skills.
Sachini Rasadari (18) joined the junior YZA art class and started drawing in 2001. She drew in school prior to joining the art class. “I draw animals and sceneries. Rasadari paints in water colours and takes two days to complete depending on the size of the painting. “Painting relieves your mind from stress related factors. If you like to draw you can become a good artist even without the inborn talent. My father takes photos of wild animals for me to study. I also study animals at the zoo. Sometimes I add the suitable background and complete the painting at the zoo. But I mostly paint in colour.”
Malki Dilshani was not available for a comment.
