Bottom Art is Beauty. . By Arkay       5/7/1996.   Mid day         His first exhibition was a great day. Cost of his paintings: Rs75. Those days Ara used to sell his paintings for Rs.50 and Hussain for Rs.100. After passing the J.J school of art, had to take a job in a bank because painting did not fetch him any income. After the bank hours, he worked for several hours and finished many a paintings. For the artist, it was a hard day’s and hard nights work. But he was a commited artist. He loved to paint and he decided to stick to painting irrespective of whether it got him money or not. His dedication and talent earned for him after a long while a top slot in the art of  world.  Harish Raut`s first exhibition was at the Jehangir Art gallery. Hire charge per day: Rs.7! The art gallery had just been constructed and hiring of gallery was not at all difficult. Today the gallery is booked in advance for nearly 2 years. And charged; Rs.800 per day.   The artist view: “ why there are so many beautiful things in nature, why should we see the ugly aspects?”     Harish Raut , a senior, top-ranking artist has  held as many as 36 solo exhibitions in several art centres in India and in Washington ( U.S) New York & Ottawa ( Canada).   Harish Raut, a respected and popular person has been in several  committees, societies and academics. He is deeply interested in the promotion of Art and believes that younger artists should be given all possible assistance.   There is abundance of sunshine and joy in Harish Raut’s paintings. There are elaborate details. He  produces different images in several panels which are arranged harmoniously to build the final composition. He is nothing loud about them. There is a wondrous blending of colours. Evidently the artist wants to bring the sun into the life of people.   Raut excels in modern & traditional modes.   Arkay –Midday. 1980   When one steps into the Taj art gallery where an exhibition of paintings by Harish Raut is being held, one enters a world of beauty and perfection. Over the years, Harish Raut has gained experience and strength, perfected his technique and successfully experimented with colours. He can build excellent forms – both of the traditional and modern variety (Whispering Pots and Gossip). Whatever mode he adopts, he is capable of achieving high aesthetic values in his works. He is good in any style because he has apparently a creative mind that can visualize designs of many types. In some of the paintings at the exhibition, the most important feature is not the theme or the design, but just colours. In “Green Awaiting”   “Emerging from Blues” and “from Orange to Green”, we see the total control the artist has over the use of colours. The artist does not jump abruptly from one colour to another but he tries out various shades of the same colour. Result: a pleasing picture where colours blend smoothly. Harish Raut’s painting of this category can be classified as so many poems in colour. I have always wondered how an artist gets sometimes the most unusual colours, as if from no where. The colours in “Diwali bath” are most satisfying and induce in one a feeling of delight.  This painting has many other points too. The design in them is perfect. This is the kind of painting which blown into mural propositions and has outstanding appeal. In fact Harish Raut can be a great Mural painter. Those who look for traditional work of art will find “ A fruitless waiting, Whispering pots and Mother and child” interesting ., in them , there is a generous sprinkling of “Lavanya”. Modern pieces at the exhibition which show evolved techniques and design are “kaleidoscopic Krishna”, “Moon Dancers”, “Gossip” and “Dawning Dreams”. Harish Raut is one of our outstanding artist and in his works one finds ample beauty and balance, appropriate colours, techniques and designs.    Top: Home:  Autobiography:  Gallery:  Feedback: Contact