Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
“Creating something spontaneously, while establishing a meaningful conversation which can give happiness and a clear message to the masses, is the only way for me go ahead with art, regardless of the medium I use to express myself,” says Atul Panase, Brand Ambassador, Daniel Smith Artists’ Materials and Co-curator, World Art Dubai, 2017 and 2018.
He is based in Dubai and is a recipient of the Cultural Golden Visa. He has taken part in many national and international exhibitions, including at Fabriano in Acquarello, the biggest International festival dedicated to watercolour in Italy.
He has curated many shows in the UAE and received multiple international awards, which includes the first prize in Watercolor Challenge-UAE Series organised for Channel 4 by Dubai International Art Centre (2002).
He has also won the Nikon Photography Award in Dubai. He has been a resident artist, attended innumerable art camps, given dozens of art talks and demonstrations and has won prestigious commissions from Dunhill-Switzerland (300 of his paintings were purchased by them; he won the contract beating 17 competitors from 17 countries) and Rice Perry Ellis Consultants, Dubai, among others. Recently, he was invited to an international watercolour event in Texas, USA, where he held a demo at the Fort Worth Art Community Centre. His art classes and workshops are appreciated both by students and art lovers. He has even held art workshops in the University of Socotra!
During the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival in 2022, his watercolour portrait painting titled ‘Purple Aura’ was installed on Jebel Jais — the highest mountain in the UAE. It was a huge print of 40 square metres and was displayed on the occasion of the UAE National Day. Watercolour and Pen & Ink are his leading mediums, though he also works in pencil, charcoal, pastels and acrylics. Most of his artworks are portrait-based or are trendy/contemporary illustrations. Atul Panase draws his colours on Gulf Today’s canvas
Why do you like colour and black and white?
I love Nature; hence I love colours, because there is a natural connection between us and colours, as Nature is colourful. Different colours help to create a mood. I realise how the colours of walls of your home, studio or the place you visit, can change/enhance/uplift your mood. Black and white is the most favourite combination for me because it gives you a large number of greys, which can make the creation more soothing and meaningful. Many say that there is only one colour in the universe, which is Black! Black is the colour which never changes its nature, regardless the type, intensity or the colour of light.
How does India and the UAE help you make art?
India is the land of my birth and the UAE is the land of my work. I find a strong connection between the soil of my motherland and the sands of UAE. It is a connection of love, friendship, culture, tradition, food, music and fine arts itself, which have been nurtured with passion at many levels.
Can you tell us more about your brand ambassadorship?
I am a proud brand ambassador and leader of Fabriano in Aquarello watercolour team of the UAE for the past ten years and also at Daniel Smith Artists’ Materials. I was given the chance to build a team of talented watercolourists from the UAE at Fabriano in Aquarello in Italy, the biggest international watercolour festival in the world. So far, I have chosen 120+ artists from the UAE who come from over 10 nationalities and we have displayed our artworks not only in Italy, but in many other countries including USA, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Australia and China. This team of watercolourists includes very professional and young budding talented artists too! As ambassador of Daniel Smith Artists’ Materials, we have begun activities such as introducing an award, named the Daniel Smith Artists’ Materials Award. I am also offering free demos and workshops for art enthusiasts to get the experience of Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors, and also for them to learn a few new techniques.
What are the qualities needed for being a commissioned artist?
To become a pro artist, one needs to work with the right mindset where you have to acquire the knowledge of that particular assignment and master many related subjects. One has also to produce high quality art pieces, besides meeting the given deadline.
Apart from collectors’ liking, what makes art collectible?
That’s a very subjective question as there are many forms of art and different types of artists as there are buyers! If your art showcases a unique approach, along with the use of unique techniques and is a very high quality finished artwork which can narrate an interesting story successfully adjusted to the price ... then the art is definitely a collectible one!
How do you see yourself evolving in the next 25 years?
Breaking my own barriers while setting new records in the form of bringing new techniques, working on new concepts, organising larger than life art events and yes, setting up my own studio, besides establishing a fine art college which can serve society in the most useful ways, are my tiny future dreams. They will help me to give back to the country I call my adopted motherland, the UAE, and show my gratitude for the opportunities given to me here!