RONO HILLS, SEP 20:
The Artists’ Guild of Arunachal (AGA), in collaboration with the Department of Fine Arts and Music, Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), conducted a two-day Plein Air Painting Workshop on September 18 and 19 at RGU.
The workshop introduced Fine Arts students to the fundamentals of landscape painting through watercolour demonstrations, discussions and direct observation.
The programme began with an interaction between AGA members and Fine Arts students, who were divided into three groups under the guidance of AGA mentors. The sessions covered composition, preliminary drawing, pictorial planning and colour theory, followed by a practical demonstration of watercolour painting.
A presentation titled “Landscape as Practice” explored the five Ws—what, why, where, when and which—in relation to landscape as a contemporary artistic practice. Using examples of historical and contemporary artists and a photographer, the session examined diverse approaches to landscape and its conceptual possibilities. Students from different semesters participated in the interactive session along with faculty members.
On the second day, students took part in a five-hour plein air painting session, working directly from observation. AGA members provided technical and conceptual guidance while also producing their own plein air studies alongside the students, creating an environment of shared learning and artistic practice.
The paintings produced by students and mentors were later displayed in the department. An interactive discussion followed, during which students presented their works and reflected on their artistic choices and learning experiences.
AGA is a recently established collective comprising primarily alumni of RGU’s Department of Fine Arts, including Punyo Chobin, Ejum Riba, Ligang August, Marba Kamki, Nabam Charchang, Tana Tallam and Tatu Mara, besides other RGU alumni trained in painting and sculpture.
The workshop aimed to strengthen students’ practical engagement with landscape painting while encouraging observation, dialogue and knowledge-sharing between practising artists and students.
