Radhika Dias Bandaranaike:

Nature's colour and painted memories

Years of observations and inspired by nature's colours, contours and contrasts, Radhika's passion to express herself the way she perceives the world around her in water colour, reflects her true passion for creativity.

Bitten by the art bug relatively young, Radhika Dias Bandaranaike attended her first art classes at the Melbourne Art School, many years ago. Then on, the art instincts followed her everywhere she travelled in and out of the country. Wherever she went, she yearned to freeze her memories in various different mediums of expression until she came to her favourite, which is water colour on cold-pressed paper.

Her attachment to porcelain painting, Ikebana flower arranging, greeting card creation took a back seat when she found her niche with the power and subtlety of expression with water colours.

Seven to eight years in water colour painting means she is relatively new to its use but this is where she is most comfortable and she says with humility "I have an amazing teacher and even I am amazed at what I paint. I can never stop learning as water colour is so versatile and painters can do many types of expressions through this medium." It is also permanent, provided high quality paints and acid-free paper is used. She believes in using Winsor & Newton Water Colour paint and paper made in the west, where historically water colour expressions began.

Damian De Silva, her tutor and friend is a master at the use of water colour with his extensive training in fine Arts and experience in London. He continues to inspire and guide her to master the many exploits possible in water colour. Be it opaque or transparent expressions, loosely worked landscapes to works of detailed precision - all are possible with in-depth experiments into the world of water colour.

Turning her own real life photographs into water colour depictions, Radhika's collection will be displayed at the Lionel Wendt Gallery as her first solo exhibition on January 9 and 10 2016.