One Artist in Mumbai India Explores Digital Media with Sketches and Paintings
Written by Cathy Breslaw
June 23, 2020
Most artists work in relative isolation. Our collective art practices and the creative process demands it. It goes against the human urge to congregate and socialize. Still, we persevere as the ‘call to create’ nudges us. We then deliberately make space – intellectually, emotionally and physically for the act of creation. We move forward quietly, with intention and faith in the process. Never have artists been more aware of isolation than time now spent alone in this Corona Virus pandemic environment. It is not our choice, but as artists we are familiar and in some ways ahead of the game in our familiarity and relative comfort with loneliness of self -containment. This “Working In Isolation” series aims to highlight how artists are adapting and how their work has evolved as a result of the pandemic. Read more articles in this series HERE.
Artist Yashwant Dershmukh living in Mumbai India, shares his experience with making art during this distressing and complicated time.
“I believe the process of painting is constantly going on in an artist’s mind. And somewhere at the back of the mind you always know that these situations are not going to last forever. ” – Yashwant Dershmukh
Before the Pandemic 
During the Pandemic
Yashwant Deshmukh Watching With the Eye Closed 8.25″ × 11.75″ digital work 2020
1) How has your work shifted during the pandemic? Has it been a change in the process of your creating art? The mediums you use? The themes or concepts you are thinking about?
The pandemic hasn’t affected my work on the concept level as such. The only problem is having limited material to work with. This is fine since my process includes trying out concepts on a smaller scale first then painting on the canvas. So in a way I have been working consistently in my sketchbooks. However since canvas painting isn’t possible now, I have been exploring digital media with my old sketches and paintings.
2) What have you discovered about yourself as an artist during this pandemic?
During this lock-down I have realized that as an artist I prefer isolation, silence. In silence new ideas arise, thinking happens. But this silence is different, it is disturbing. In this situation I often get distracted while painting. It feels like someone is keeping an eye on me.
3) What have been your biggest challenges working in isolation? Surprises?
I have always worked in isolation. I have turned one room in my house into my work area. When I am there it just feels like the studio. Though unlike in the studio where I’m completely isolated from everyone, my family members are always around. They peep in to see the process, share their thoughts, we discuss things, so they in a way have been part of my process which is a nice surprise.
Are you an artist who’s work has evolved significantly as a result of the pandemic? Please submit your work to Cathy Breslaw at [email protected] for consideration as a featured artist in the Working in Isolation series: Please be sure to write “Working in Isolation” in the subject line.
