Small Canvas Big Dreams: Cuttack’s Self-Taught Young Artist Unleashes Creativity With Her Deft Hands

Cuttack: She has no formal training in painting. Her family is also not financially sound. That has not deterred Sana Karmakar from carving out her own identity.  She is not only well known for her paintings in the state but at the national level too.

Thirteen-year old Sana is a Class-VIII student of Kaji Bazar Government Girls’ High School. She is good both at studies and in painting.

A self-taught artist, she can can make portraits legendary figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose etc as also of famous actors and actresses effortlessly. And all within one hour.

Pencil shading and colour painting is Sana’s forte. Since her family cannot afford expensive paints and brushes, she makes do with whatever is available. Yet the end result is remarkable.

“My father has to borrow money whenever I want to participate in a painting competition,” said Sana. He works in a private press and her minds the house.

“My parents encourage me a lot. I had made a portrait of my mother as a birthday as gift. Ever since then she has egged me on to improve my art. I want to become a good painter when I grow up,” said Sana.

Sana has participated in many drawing competitions and excelled in all of them.

“Sana is a very good student. We are very proud for her. Though we are not helping her financially, we encourage her interest in painting,” said Sana’s school headmistress Nirupama Mallick.

“I am really proud of Sana. If she gets financial help from the government, she will go a long way,” said Sana’s mother, Purabi Karmakar.