Sugandhi paints herself to success

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Art is a form of expressing inner feelings. Artistic creations are fascinating and they provide relaxation.

Sugandhi Edirisinghe lives in an environment surrounding these beautiful creations. Her skills are amply displayed at the exhibitions she conducts from time to time. She provides her service for demanding corporate clients as well as others giving them immense satisfaction from the end-products.

She was interviewed by Daily News Business.

Q: What business are you engaged in and how do you set about it?

A: I do paintings on a contract basis. I spend quality time with my clients before embarking on a creation.

I visit sites where my services are needed to assess the requirement. I know what exactly I should do. I count many years of experience and this comes handy in my creative work. I have a satisfied and appreciative customer base.

I conduct exhibitions every two years and these are group exhibitions. This gives me wider publicity and new clients. I work according to a theme, be it environment or women related. This year’s exhibition will be held at Gandhar on the theme of Sri Lankan designs.

Q: How do you balance your business and family?

A: I paint at home and I am there for my family at any time. My husband Mahendra is a businessman and has a good eye and taste for arts.

I have two daughters, Ronela and Kashmira. The eldest daughter is an interior designer and the youngest is still schooling.

They are the best critics of my creations. I get the final opinion from them.

This is important as sometimes I get carried away when doing my creations.

Since my daughter is also into interior designing she promotes my work. I contributed to the designing aspect when building our house.

With great deal of talent at home it is easy for me to continue my venture more efficiently and effectively.

Q: What were the challenges you faced?

A: When I paint on a commission basis it is a challenge to complement walls with the matching colours.

I was privileged to learn under W A Ariyasena at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies. Even though he is old his heart is young and produces marvellous creations which inspired me to improve.

It is important to move forward on art with the changing trends and needs.

I always try out different styles, mediums and techniques in keeping with the latest trends.

I started with water colours and silk paintings to oil paintings, figurative drawings, semi-abstracts and then now it is abstracts and decorative art. I do abstract with minimalistic paintings as well.

With time you have to upgrade styles and move on.

This is important to generate demand. People buy these creations mainly as house decorations. I always strive to give them value for money.

Q: What are your goals?

A: One of my goals is to make art known to Sri Lankans and appreciate them. Art is not a skill that everybody possesses. The talent should be within you. The value of a painting needs appreciation and they are expensive.

My creations are long lasting as it has a smooth finish. We need to promote local things and recognise them.

Q: Being a woman was it an advantage to be in business?

A: Yes. You can venture out. Being a woman you have lot of materials for artistic creations. In addition to painting I also engage in card making and sewing. I am happy to wear a jacket done by me.

Q: What is your advice to women in business?

A: I advise them to update on their knowledge in this fast changing world. This should be done without losing the Sri Lankan identity.

There are more facilities today and women need to make use of them for skill development.

Q: What were your achievements in family and business?

A: With regard to my family I am privileged to have the opportunity to work from home.

I am most of the time at home and this helps my growing up children.

I take good care of them and guide them to have a better life.

In this business, like a musician creating an art could transport you to a different world. I always get tremendous satisfaction after I complete a piece of art.

When a client is happy and praises my work of art it gives me additional strength to be more creative.

All in all creativity helps a person to balance his/her life.

Q: What is your contribution to society?

A: I introduced the concept of Fantasia Party. This is where I hire out toys, plastic tables, chairs and climbing frames to have children’s parties. I am the pioneer in this venture.

Many people benefited and conducted many children’s birthday parties with the equipment I provided. There were seven different varieties. At that time these were not common in our country.

I imported these from Australia. However, due to the security situation, I have to close down this business. I touched many little hearts of children when I was doing this business by providing play material. I am attached to the Zonta Club youth section. This committee has 30 members from different schools.

I have been the coordinator for the past six years. We conduct health camps, art exhibitions, carols in children’s and elders homes, public speaking workshops, craft and cookery demonstrations and workshops on gender based violence. We do fund raising activities.

However, the raffle draws which were the early days trend of fund raising have now changed and we also introduced novel activities to raise funds. We renovated the Lady Ridgway Hospital Cardiology unit and decorated it with child-friendly stickers. We also conducted a fashion show “xo xo on the run” where the entire show was conducted by the young members of Zonta Club. These efforts are to create a better society and bright future for the younger generation.