Today we’d like to introduce you to Surabhi Gaikwad Uzgare.
Surabhi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started painting at the age of three. My mum had got me a blackboard and chalk to teach me to write ABC, and to her much disappointment I took two chalks in both my hands and drew two ducks in perfect symmetry, that’s when she realized I had a liking for Art and she encouraged me further. My mum recalls as a child; I would be very happy with blank books, rough cardboard surfaces of boxes, scrap office papers my dad would give me, or even a few crayons, sketch pens. I would spend hours scribbling.
Letters to my grandmom were often pictures, drawings, which she so lovingly preserved them till this date. So I would sum up by saying that I learned to draw before I could write my ABC’s. Eventually after schooling I Decided to take formal education in Fine Arts which I did, so I got my Bachelors Degree ( from Goa college of Fine Arts )and Masters degree in fine Arts (Hyderabad Central University). Right through college I have been a part of number of Group shows, and then in 2009 I went on to have my first solo show.
Post Marriage I moved to Doha in 2013 After getting here and trying to find an Art related job (considering I previously worked as an Art gallery manager for a reputed gallery in Mumbai) for almost 5 to 6 months and not finding any luck. I decided to try approaching nursery’s and kindergartens for Wall murals (because I used to do a lot of murals for home spaces in Goa) and luckily that clicked, so I continued doing my artwork and plus wall murals whenever I got an opportunity.
Currently, I am a member of the International Artists of Doha and have had two group shows with them.
Has it been a smooth road?
I wouldn’t call it smooth really, and I also won’t say it’s been bad either… I’d say its been a mix of both. But then again that’s a life an artist signs up for. Somedays the sun is shining bright and some days its all cloudy and gloomy.
My initial struggle was when artworks took time to get sold I used to paint wall murals for children’s rooms, Nurseries, and kindergartens. I used to always try to weave a story or a fantasy around these murals and make it more interesting and colourful. It gave me immense satisfaction to see the joy and happiness on these kids faces.
coming back to my artwork.
I have had my share of struggles be it struggling with ideas or a concept, selling art, or approaching galleries. There are days when I have an idea with regards to the composition on how and what I would be painting and in a matter of days the artwork would be complete. And then there are other days when I would be dealing with a painter’s block or just the struggle to get the sketch right because something just doesn’t feel right!
Many times I have repainted on artwork because I was not entirely happy with the first outcome. There have been days or a certain year has been so exciting with an ample number of sales one after another which really boosts your confidence, and then there are those dry spells. Approaching Art galleries is another ball game… some can be outright blunt and rigid, and some are very difficult to get through so then all I do is try and create avenues for myself.
So through all of this, I have learned one thing is to never give up and continue to paint and move forward find your own way and somewhere down the line you will end up where you are destined to be slow and steady. Like my mum always says not your timing but it’s his (god) timing. I will call myself an impatient artist I expect instant results which I know is unreal but yes I am working on it…
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am an artist, a full-time artist… The medium I mainly work in is oils on Canvas, wood boards, Paper because it suits my temperament and painting style. Occasionally, I also try out dry pastels, and acrylics. Since my college years, I have always been drawn to figurative compositions, like my solo show Reflections was all about portraying the complexity of relationships imbued with joy doubt anxiety uncertainty, more like an ambiguous narrative.
After moving to Doha my paintings saw a shift, the portraits came to the fore, and they seemed to dominate my canvas, people caught off guard doing their mundane activities or just being touristy briefly occupied space, all thanks to the snaps clicked on a few travel outings. Nature is also an integral part of my artwork; I am also working on tropical, nature-themed paintings with silhouettes of man and woman using gold leaf and trying new techniques.
So, in a nutshell, I would say my paintings are constantly evolving I tend to try out new topics or subjects and just explore all possibilities rather than be comfortable with “a particular style or theme “and churn out paintings revolving around it. I feel that limits an Artist and his growth maybe that might set me apart from others.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I will not be able to talk about Houston because I have never lived there but maybe I could speak about Qatar the country I am currently based in.
The Art scene in Doha is booming for the Middle East artists. There are upcoming Art galleries and Art houses that host these exhibitions. Also, they have exchange programs promoting Middle Eastern artists.
But what I have seen in my case is the majority of my Art has been sold in the US… I do make sales in Qatar also and its the expat communities which buy my work. I feel My Art has more market and widely appreciated in the United States, at least the statistics from Saatchi say so. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Address: Al Raffa Towers, 5th floor, flat no 3, Diplomatic street, West Bay, Doha Qatar
- Website: https://www.saatchiart.com/surabhigaikwad
- Phone: +97477893964
- Email: surabhi.gaikwad@gmail.com
- Instagram: surabhi_gaikwad_artist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Surabhi-Art-409402059255791/
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