Bala Bhakta Raju was once a designer at a jewellery store, sketching patterns as requested by his customers, before he turned a full-fledged artist in 2006. “If you have an artistic bent of mind, it's tough to stick to a mundane job,” says the artist.
Pandering to customers who couldn't look beyond the glitter of the yellow metal didn't give him job satisfaction. He shifted focus to his studio and since then has been periodically exhibiting his paintings on Ganesha. The recognition and the money was good, but with time Bala Bhakta Raju realised it wasn't good enough. “When everything goes your way there is nothing to complain about. I've been having two solo exhibitions each year and have been part of 36 group shows so far. But in the last couple of years, due to personal issues, I've been feeling that I should have stuck to a regular job and pursued my painting in my spare time,” he confesses.
Many artists in the city would agree with Bala Bhakta Raju. Artists are known to be non-conformists who don't play by society rulebook. Some of them wouldn't think twice before giving up well-paying job to pursue their calling. However, the road less travelled doesn't always make for a romantic story. Several artists have discovered this the hard way.
Tailor Srinivas, who recently exhibited his works at a leading gallery, visits Hyderabad only when his paintings are exhibited. His base remains a non-descript village in Medak district. “I cannot afford to live in the city,” he states bluntly. He completed his fine arts degree in Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in 1995 and followed it up with a post graduation programme at the University of Hyderabad. As a freelance artist, he divides his time between his paintings and meeting commitments for signboards and billboards. “There is not much creativity in painting signboards and billboards but I have no choice. It helps me pay my bills,” he says.
Srinivas (‘Tailor' stuck with him since his grandfather was a tailor) has had three solo shows and has been part of several group shows. He specialises in abstracts. A 3X3 painting fetches him around Rs. 35,000 and a painting of A3 size earns him Rs. 17,500. The sum doesn't come easy. Art galleries have their commissions and customers, too, indulge in bargaining.
Bargaining is common, say artists. Yasala Balaiah, who has been in the field for more than 40 years, says, “The problem isn't unique to Hyderabad. I've faced this in Bangalore, Pune and even in the US where I have exhibited my works.” Balaiah chose the job of a school teacher in Siddipet over a comparatively lucrative job of a lecturer simply because he could paint at leisure during school vacations. He retired after 40 years in service. The art fraternity is aware that he is going through a rough patch. Without getting into details, he emphasises, “I wouldn't advice any youngster to pursue art full time. Financially, it would make better sense to have a steady income.” As his younger son is building his portfolio, Balaiah hopes his son, too, would do this balancing act.
Bala Bhakta Raju says it's tough to understand the customer psyche. “When I hear about my contemporaries struggling to make ends meet, I feel I am lucky since I paint Ganeshas. People consider it a good omen and buy these paintings. Abstract artists have a tough time. Customers who splurge on jewellery and saris bargain hard before buying art,” he laments.
One may argue that such a struggle is common in the creative field. Sowbhagya, daughter of Thota Vaikuntam, recalls how her father would wake up at 4 a.m., paint in the quietness of the morning before heading to work at Jawahar Bal Bhavan, Public Gardens, return home in the evening and again paint. “He did this for years. Only after me and my siblings finished college, my dad gave up his job,” she says. Now, a Thota Vaikuntam painting may fetch a lakh of rupees. Success hasn't come easy. The veteran artist says, “I used to work for 14-15 hours a day. I've seen many artists in Baroda devoting all their time to art and having dedicated studios. The atmosphere in Baroda is different from that of Hyderabad and again, we wouldn't know of their individual circumstances. Artists have to use their discretion. Only those who come from an affluent background can pursue art full time. For others, I feel it's wise to have a job so that one can support his/her family.”
