Sunday Times 2
Capturing the countryside through colours of the ballpoint
The annual art exhibition by award-winning artist Mangala Madanayake will be held for the 23rd year on December 22 and 23 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Colombo Public Library. It is appropriately titled “The Beauty of Lines”.
The specialty of this event is that the 30 exhibits are drawn using simple ball point pens on, canvas and paper.
The artist has based his drawings on the serene, picturesque countryside of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa as well as the urban beauty of Galle.
The winner of three Presidential Awards, Mr. Madanayake paints in various mediums like oils and acrylics yet his signature style is drawing lines using ballpoint pens. When he started using this technique in 1994 he was the only artist in the world to use it professionally.
“You have to trace on a single line of symmetry at least 1000 times to make it realistic and visible. At least ten shades of a colour can be made by changing the pressure you apply on the pen. A painting takes between two to 60 days to finish. It depends on the size,” said Mr. Madanayake.
His works are available at an art studio in the Galle Fort.
A full time artist who makes a living by selling his paintings, Mr. Madanayake firmly believes that an artist can succeed by having dedication and passion.
“I haven’t done a Colombo exhibition in seven years. Through my exhibitions I want to show my talents to the people and give them a chance to appreciate this art form,” he said.