Children inspire us in ways we can never imagine. Today, we bring to you the story of Reisang R Shimray, a self taught painter and how a Sunday school class with little children changed his life.
Writing for us all the way from Shillong, we have Worngachan A Shatsang catching up with Reisang. If you haven’t checked out his childhood photo story yet, you should too. It is an amazing photo story for those away from home.
It was on our second meeting that I asked him when he started painting. Judging from his works I was convinced he had been painting all his life. I was taken aback when he said he started painting only in the year 2013.
I thought maybe I could be a painter too. I picked up a brush back home and started painting with fabric on a chart paper but no, some things are just meant to be. Painting was his trade, not mine.
He said he started playing with colours at the tender age of 5 but lost his interest as he grew older.
“My mother always supported but I stopped drawing when I reached high school”.
I asked him if there was any reason he stopped drawing. I fell in love with music was his reply. His love affair with music continued and he did his Bachelor of Music from St. Anthony’s College Shillong.
However, we all know, the first love is the one that always stays with us. He reunited with his first love one Sunday in 2013 while teaching children how to draw and paint.
“I was taken aback by the reaction of the little kids when they saw the painting”
“Their feedbacks were enough to inspire me to do it (start painting)”. “I thought I would be able to help inspire the society and also myself through my paintings.”
Asked what the inspirations of his painting are, he says he is inspired by nature and life. The beauty and the colours of life are enough to enthral him and to get the best out of him he says.
When I asked why nature and how it can enthral him, he replied.
“When I draw about life and nature, I myself get into the painting and become a part of it.”
“I paint because of this; because I am passionate about it.” “My painting takes me to places only I can imagine”
Among all the paintings he has done, asked if he has any favourite, he said his favourite is the rainy season part two. A painting which he still has with him.
Reisang says his dream is to be a renowned painter known for supporting the cause of humanity and peace in the world. He says he is much disturbed by the violence and the insecurities that have been enveloping North East for decades now and the world as a whole.
He is also a Musician and released his original Christian rock single “Lift me up” earlier this year, and is working for his second original which is also a single. Torn between his two lovers. Trying to strike a balance between the two. When I asked him if he would leave one for the other he replied.
“I wouldn’t want to give up on any one of them, In fact I’m trying to blend the two of them together. I’m planning to play my musical pieces for the demo videos I am gonna make about my paintings in the future.”
[One such video is now released]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtpO15wktzE
A true artist who has made sacrifices and worked hard to get to where he is today. An inspiration for the youngsters and the struggling artists all around never to stop fighting for what they love.
For more of his paintings, visit his facebook page- Rei arts and music.
If you are interested in getting portrait paintings, you can contact him on his page for any requests.