K. Muthupandian, who toiled for about 10 years pursuing his penchant for drawing after dropping out from school, has emerged as a palette knife artist in this historic town, producing imposing oil and acrylic paintings.
A first generation artist, Muthupandian developed interest in art from a young age, but could not hone his skills due to poor economic background. His father, a tailor, was the only breadwinner and he had to drop out after class X to supplement the family income. But he chose art to earn the much needed additional income as well as to sharpen his skills.
From a portrait artist for making banners, flex boards and sign boards, Muthupandian has become the drawing master at Alagappa Model Higher Secondary School. “There were many testing times to look for a permanent job to support the family, but I never gave up the desire for becoming an artist,” he says.
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He has produced a variety of artworks though his strength is in making portraits. His spot drawing of a Chettinad palace, paintings of Lord Ganesh in different styles and a pair of multicoloured parrot and natural scenes, using palette knives, have won him accolades. Presently, he is concentrating on subject-wise artworks for an exhibition. The artist never even heard of palette knife two years ago, when some of his students, who were pursuing Bachelor of Fine Arts, introduced them to him.
“Now I am more comfortable with the knives than brushes while making oil and acrylic paintings.” Even while making hoardings, Muthupandian passed plus two and cleared the Higher Grade Technical Examination in ‘Forehand outline and Model Drawing,’ besides a three-month technical teaching certificate course.
When he appeared for an interview in 2005 there were 86 candidates and many of whom were better qualified. But a portrait of ‘Vallal’ Alagappa Chettiar he had carried in his collection of artworks got him the job.
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