Age no bar for art

Despite his failing eyesight, artist Joseph George says he is only becoming better with age

July 29, 2015 06:25 pm | Updated 06:25 pm IST - MADURAI:

Heart for art: Glass painter Joseph George. Photo: Soma Basu

Heart for art: Glass painter Joseph George. Photo: Soma Basu

The tiny garage by his house in Thiru Nagar is a riot of paint and colours, canvasses and glass frames, brushes and painting supplies, paint-splattered furniture, mat and dusters. Dozens of works are stacked against the walls, on the table and shelves. The Sunday afternoon is particularly hot and a pedestal fan makes a whirring noise.

But glass painter Joseph George remains unperturbed by heat or sound. This is his world he will not trade for anything else. Not even his lunch time. He is focussed on his work-in-progress, no matter how angry his wife gets. She reminds him to eat first and take a break but Joseph flashes a toothless smile and tells her not to disturb him.

“I am running behind my deadline,” he says. A young NRI couple has asked him to make a futuristic painting of them – how they would be after 50 years.

He says his eyes burn and water each time he uses Hydrofluoric (HF) acid to etch out the theme on the glass panel. This forces him to take frequent breaks, he laments.

And yet at 78, this grandfather to 13 kids has decided not to retire. “My work does not fetch me big money but I was never into it for making big bucks,’’ he says. “I am here only for the love of drawing and job satisfaction.”

His wife of 55 years butts in, “He always seeks freedom to do what he likes to do and not be anybody’s employee.” When she married him, she knew an artist’s life is full of struggles. “I liked him for his simplicity, will power and the determination,” she smiles.

When they started their family, Joseph was already a trained glass painting artist having done a year’s course at the Ravi Varma Art School in Thiruvananthapuram followed by an internship under Chinese artist Thoras. But, he says, it was his drawing teacher Peter at the HMS School, Kottayam, who spotted his flair and always encouraged him to draw.

After randomly making and distributing some of his glass paintings free to his friends and family, Joseph got his first order to do a glass façade for a tourist bungalow in Munnar. This was followed by a similar request from a bungalow owner in Viruddhunagar.

Joseph came to Madurai to display his works at the Chithirai festival and became a permanent resident of the city. Orders started trickling and Joseph’s work of art got stamped in Kalyana Mandapams in Dindigul, Churches in Manamadurai, Palayamkottai, Melur and Kodaikanal, several schools, hair cutting saloons and private homes across the Southern districts. For many local hotels, he did the double glass door panels featuring different gods and goddesses or the stain work consisting of colourful flower patterns.

People, he says, mostly come with customised orders. They bring the photos of their deities, family members, place of worship, any memorable event or scenery and ask him to replicate the same on glass panels. The size varies from a foot to eight feet and it takes from 3 days to three-weeks to complete a work.

Joseph first copies the picture on the front side of the glass panel and coats the back side with wax. Then he traces the painting by carving out on the wax and drops HF acid in the grooves. Once the glass is dry, he applies silver coating to the lines needed and colours the painting on the back side before giving a final polish to the frame with kadalnurai.

This technique, he says, helps in keeping the painting smooth, clean and clear on the front side. There are no bubbles or rough edges. If Joseph rues anything it is the lack of opportunity to draw what he wants to in tailor-made paintings. If given a choice he would show off his ability in drawing landscapes, nature and people.

His talents are not limited only to painting. He also describes himself as a good carpenter and charges more if he makes the frames for the painting.

Joseph, however, finds the remuneration for his hard work inadequate. The vapours from the acid have started affecting his vision and his cataract surgery is also over-due. With age I have slowed down and can’t manage time for any other extra work, he says.

His family has always seen him busy with his paintings. None of his five children took to the art of glass painting and etching like he did. Though difficult at times, feels Joseph it has been a revitalising career and has helped him to give a good upbringing to all his children.

Joseph says, come what may, he will remain an avid artist. “I am always waiting,” he says, “to finish the next painting.”

(Making a difference is a fortnightly column about ordinary people and events that leave an extraordinary impact on us. E-mail soma.basu@thehindu.co.in to tell her about someone you know who is making a difference)

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