Chandani Liyanage Jayawardena :

Her portraits fold around all contours of the body

As an only child she grew up in the typical surroundings of a Sri Lankan village, with lush tangles of big trees, started through a virgin jungle, cable-like creepers and green paddy fields nestling in the valley. Rows of huge rubber trees and coconut palms provided a shady growth that spread from shoulder to shoulder. Men and women both wear their hair pulled up and tied in a knot at the nape of the neck and in the knot they place combs of tortoise shell. It is in this small village, Pinnaduwa, a few miles away from the Galle town that Chandani Jayawardena was born on September 19, 1960.

The scenic beauty and the villagers with their simple lifestyle enriched Chandani's artistic creativity. Chandani explains her intrusion into the artistic world is the greatest pleasure in her life. “As a child I started sketching on the walls ! My father who could not tolerate this bought me a Kalulalla (blackboard) and chalk. I was five years then.

As he was a professional astrologer he had many clients. While they were waiting for their turn, I began to sketch the visitors on my blackboard. I can proudly say that these first sketches led me to master the contours of the human form. Now I have graduated into portraits and among my works are those of Visaharada Pandit W.D. Amaradeva the late Arisen Ahubudu and one time Warden S. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia the late Neville de Alwis whose portrait now adorns the College wall.

Chandani Liyanage Jayawardena

One of her paintings

Her father Jinadasa Liyanage, a reputed astrologer in Mount-Lavinia who presented the world with the most accepted gift was proud of her. He helped her tremendously to promote her artistic potential. After coming to Colombo in 1968, she joined St. Paul's, Milagiriya where she completed her education up to the Advanced Level. In 1978 while in school she got the opportunity to contribute ghost picture stories to the astrological newspaper Subesetha, published by the Lake House Group.

Eventually Chandani came under the tutelage of the reputed artist Kalabushana Susil Premaratne who moulded her as a budding artist. Chandani is a nature lover and possessed an artistic passion to wildlife. Her paintings in oil depicted the glories of nature, waterfalls, lakes, sandy beaches, birds and many aspects of life in the ancient cities of Sri Lanka. Whether it is trees or a group of figures three-dimensional perspectives are almost visible, not only in her large paintings but in the smallest of her sketches too.

She knows exactly what effects would appeal directly to the aesthetic sense. Her paintings are of sober colours using, burnt sienna, brown, cobalt blue, and hookers green. Her remarkable powers of observation enabled her to capture what she saw faithfully. She was successful from the start in drawing the human anatomy correctly, therefore her portraits folded around all the contours of the body.

The landscapes painted by Chandani reflect her aesthetic theories. The Sri Lankan countryside unfolded in its most enchanting aspects, herdsmen driving the herd home at the end of the day, village belles on boats, a woman with flowers, a cascade of water escaping from huge rocky hills, a group of harvesters piling up the golden grain are some of her work portraying her attitude to nature and her love of nature which is not ‘pictorial’ but natural.

For some time Chandani had embarked on a career in a leading advertising agency as a commercial artist. While working there she contributed sketches and caricatures to various newspapers. She has participated in many group exhibitions. In 2007 she held an exhibition ‘Sobalankara with her students.

Versatile Chandani imparts her valuable knowledge to adult students whose hidden talents are enhanced by her guidance. As a hobby and for relaxation Chandani engages herself as a swimming coach for ladies and children.