Story and watercolor from Ananda R.

I am Ananda, an amateur watercolor artist from the West Indies.

My earliest memory in art was when I was 8 years old, I remembered drawing behind my book when I lost all interest in what my teacher was saying in class and eventually it led me to explore the world of art; testing out color pencils, charcoal, oil pastels, acrylics (dried to fast), oils (dried to slow) and then - watercolours.

Since refining my medium into watercolors, I chose to pursue art professionally and all my pieces were inspired by my Caribbean country which has a rich and diverse culture but also incorporates my own interests and personal beliefs. The classical art methods are my favourite, in a world where art can be anything now, some people need to carry on the lessons and techniques old masters would've learnt.

I think I am currently at a place where I can paint using reference photos decently, as seen in my painting of cherries, but I am not in a place where I can paint whatever I may envision.

I think this is mandatory for every artist, we are visual learners and keen observers of the natural environment, the ability to paint whatever you imagine is a skill that is hard to teach by yourself-if you do, you will get frustrated yet the Old Masters seem to have no problem with this.

This is why I believe this opportunity for a scholarship will be substantial to me but also for the representation of my country