The beauty that meets the eyes dwells in the mind. A few further articulate it on the canvas. This rendering then speaks for itself with detailed perception, simplification and analysis of it by its foreseer to become a refulgent piece of art. As it is for Dr Shireesh Dharap whose work of art on landscapes and still life ceases to impede the viewer.

Dr Dharap, pathologist and artist, is exhibiting his art after a break of four years. With his 10th solo exhibition and over 90 paintings Dharap contemplates vividly and with an inexplicit depiction. "I have worked in oil, acrylic, dry pastel and transparent watercolour. I have travelled extensively in the country from Himalayas to the Western Ghats and the Konkan coast as well as abroad and the entire splendor finds a representation in the paintings. However I have been abstract, maintained a simplified approach and used pleasing colour harmonies," he adds.

Dr Dharap has had an extensive exposure to art under the guidance of Diwakar Dengle, retired principal of Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya whom he considers his mentor. Dharap says, "I have had a first hand experience with him over 15 years. Having spent a lot of time in art museums abroad, the American and French impressionists have also been my major inspirations including Monet, Cezanne and Sargent. I mostly use yellow, brown and green which are nature's most obvious colours and often draw trees which naturally divide the canvas space."

"The city has grown expansively on the art front and new artists have a good chance and exposure and there is a corresponding increase in awareness on art. Artists these days are concentrating largely on figurative and abstract work and are influenced by the seniors. Although amateurs mostly use watercolours the top quality water colour art is a fast vanishing breed," opines Dharap, who also carps over the fast decrease in the bird population including that of the migratory birds in the city being an avid bird watcher for the last 35 years.