17.25 pm Collage

I have exhibited all over Europe and my work is represented in private collections across the world. I exhibit regularly with other artists and was for many years in England a selected artist and member of the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts. Art Is Life, Life Is Art Nalini Shanthi Cook had a major exhibition of her art at the Meghraj Art Gallery, Holborn in London.  Here she talks to the magazine "Jain Spirit " about the inspiration for her work. I was a teacher of art for many years in schools and colleges, and then I became a manager of art, and later an inspector. I visited Further education colleges and judged the standard of art . That's one side of my life - the other side is being a practising artist, which I've always been for as long as I can remember. I was a sculptor for a while, using all sorts of materials. In the last few years I have come back to painting. I think a lot of the sculptural influence has come through in the painting because of the materials I use. I don't use traditional oil, or traditional watercolour. I mix all sorts of materials and work them into a lot of layers to create a texture. For example, you'll find paintings which have oil paint, stains, ochre from the earth, found materials, photographs, remnants, collage. All sorts of elements go into the painting to give it layers and depth. For example , see painting " Dazzle" Whilst in Spain I learned to dance Flamenco for five years. This influenced my figure paintings which became more flamboyant in colour and movement. See painting " red shoe" "bailaora con chal" How do you choose the subjects for your paintings? The inspiration comes from what I see in my travels. I travel around the world a lot: I've been to India, Italy, Australia, France, Morocco and Sri Lanka, Spain and many other places. The inspiration comes from the landscape and the peoples of different countries and different cultures. I take photograph s and sketches when I am travelling abroad, and then when I'm back home, I re-create some of those images which I believe have a universal feel. I have lived in Spain now for 10 years and my work is strongly influenced by the landscape and light around me. The painting "red desert white light" illustrates the painterly love of ochre desert and spiritual white light. Many things that come from what I see in landscapes become universal images that represent life and spirit.