S.D.A. Dissanayake:

Painting with bright colours

Galle Road from Colombo to Galle forms an almost continuous avenue through overarching coconut palms, with frequent glimpses of the Indian Ocean on one side, and the railway line, along which we reach Kalutara where the 129 km long Kalu Ganga flows giving the impression of a powerful river.

The dream beaches of the south west coast draw tourists from around the world. It is in the district of Kalutara, in the village of Dodangoda, that S.D.A. Dissanayake spent his childhood. The road skirts the coast revealing a panorama of beach and sea, the complex itself designed to blend with nature, with the exotic beauty of the sunset, and the attraction of an aviary of tropical birds where each one of them seem more beautiful than the other.

Dissanayake fell in love with the surroundings and the beauty of nature and the simple lifestyle of the villagers. His school teachers encouraged him to develop his skills in art, drama and literature. His uncle was a famous artist and as a schoolboy he watched him draw and paint large scenes on paper and on canvas. His observant uncle encouraged him to develop his talents, by giving him objects to draw and paint, to mix the colours and apply them on boards and on paper. Apart from his flair for art he had an interest to become an art teacher. So he took every step to do his academic studies to reach his goals.

Education

He completed his education at the Kalutara Gnanodaya Maha Viduhala. After the A/Ls he got his first appointment as a teacher in 1978 in a remote village in Bandarawela. He took part in group art exhibitions in various schools that he served, together with his students.

S.D.A. Dissanayake

One of his paintings

After serving in many schools in the island, he joined the art classes conducted by the Ceylon Society of Arts in 2007, where he underwent training under reputed artists Kaladeepani Vinnie Perera, Danny Wijesiriwardene, Jayantha Kannangara who moulded him to become a perfect artist.

In 2009 he held an exhibition with three of his schoolmates of the Ceylon Society of Arts named Thummansala which was very successful. At the exhibition Dissanayake displayed still life, scenes from nature, historic temples, wildlife and black and white line drawings in oil, acrylic and water colours.

His work represents a sophisticated and confident approach to visual ideas that exploits a national sense of irony and humour.

Dissanayake paints a wide range of subjects each one treated with such profuse detail and intensity which satisfied his need for realism. He uses bright colours in his paintings with a strong contrast of light shadow, with deep reds, brilliant blues and yellows as his chief characteristics.

He says, “Do not follow others, he who follows is always behind...” You must interpret nature with entire simplicity and according to your personal sentiments. Listen to the criticism of your work and then let your own feelings be your guide.

Colours of nature

Dissanayake painted the world as he found it. He did not exaggerate the colours of nature. Apart from his paintings the other activities of his life are drama and Sinhala literature. He he organised several school dramas and participated in debates.

A member of the George Keyt Foundation, most of his paintings were sold through ‘Kalapola’ to tourists. He exhibits most of his work in private art Galleries in Colombo.

He was born on September 26, 1955 and serves as an art teacher at the Kalutara Gnanodaya Maha Viduhala. He is also a member of the Ceylon Society of Arts, Colombo.