Enter the DYU Café in Koramangala and you immediately spot MS Dhoni, rocker James Hetfield, Mogambo and even the Terminator! If you are wondering who could have organised this eclectic gathering, well, wonder no more. The man behind it is artist Varun N Rao and all he required was a canvas, his tool of choice — ranging from pencils to paints — and of course, skill.
Art has always played a central role in this 34-year-old’s life, right from the time he was a young boy drawing cars. “By Class 10, I started drawing portraits of Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble,” he says.
Though he wanted to study in Sir JJ School of Art in Mumbai and pursue architecture or interior design, life got in the way and he studied Mechanical Engineering instead.
Making time
Now, employed as a Senior Content Specialist, Varun makes sure that he devotes enough time to his art. “I have been pursuing it seriously since 2013. I ensure that I paint for an hour or two when I get back from the office.”
The month-long showcase at DYU Café comprising 20 portraits is his second solo exhibition. He also creates landscapes, abstract art and still life and till date, has created over 150 artworks. Varun says: “My favourite tool is polychromos colour pencils as I can give detail and it blends well. With acrylic paints, I can give depth and highlights and with pens, I get a very sharp look.”
The self-taught artist says, “I observe the works of other artists and now, to an extent, I can decipher how a certain painting is created. When you try to replicate other artists, you develop your own style.” He adds that he reads books, attends workshops and follows many foreign artists on Instagram.
The hallmarks of Varun’s portraits are how realistic they are and the attention to detail. He says, “Everything is from real life. It has to come from my heart. and should inspire or challenge me.”
He says, “One of my favourites is the portrait of Ranveer Singh as Bajirao which I created in 2017. I used oil-based colour pencils in yellow ochre, yellow, and brown and blended it together to give depth to different areas. It took about 16 hours to finish it.
Another favourite is the portrait of Sachin Tendulkar. “I used acrylic paints to create it in 2017. My friend is a huge Sachin fan; he even has a Sachin tattoo. So, I gave it to him.”
The most challenging artwork in terms of testing patience and skill was the one of Sachin, he says. “It was the first time I was using acrylic paint and brushes.”
Another tough one was a painting of Buddha that was based on a photo. “It had layers of paint of different colours. I used a hard brush to dab the paint and create the effect of a stone sculpture.”
The very realistic painting of Varun’s wife, Anugya Sinha, is reminiscent of Raja Ravi Varma’s famous artwork. “That was done in three days. It took eight to nine hours. The challenge was not in drawing the portrait but getting the play of light and dark right. My wife was very happy with it,” he laughs.
As for what happens if he is not satisfied with something, Varun says: “After I finished the Dhoni portrait, I thought the nose was a bit long. I was terribly disappointed. I got it right at the second attempt. As an artist, I should have the satisfaction of knowing I have done a good job. I have discarded many artworks because I have thought something is wrong.”
As for how he decides when to do a caricature and when to do a portrait, he says, “There is no fixed rule. It depends on the personality of the person. I grew up watching Kader Khan and I thought he is a funny guy so let me do a caricature. It also depends on the face and expression. James Hetfield screaming is his USP so I gave prominence to that in the caricature.
“Sometimes, you want to capture the look in the eyes or the expression. Specific features invite you to go for it. That is what made me paint Tyrion Lannister.”
And if you want to get your hands on an original Varun N Rao, all you have to do in get in touch. “I do works on commission, including a lot of pet portraits.”
As for the prices, Varun says that an A3 size colour pencil portrait costs ₹4000. “If it is a painting, it depends on the size of the canvas. A 20 inch x 24 inch canvas cost ₹8000. The most expensive artwork I have sold till date has been for ₹10000.”
As for future plans, he is gearing up for his next exhibition in June and is also planning to hold a trial workshop soon.
He says, “There is a long way to go and a lot to learn.”
(Get in touch with Varun N Rao on raovarunn@gmail.com, 9945460217 or find him on Instagram @v.artoons)