Page 17 - C.D. Mistry || Master of Fantasy || The Arts Trust

in its approach. Mistry’s paintings became recognised

across India for their distinct style, owing to the use of
pure, local colours. He applied the colours undiluted,

allowing the distinct shine of each shade to stand out
in its natural brightness, just like in traditional folk

art. As Mistry began experimenting in this style, his
paintings developed a unique unrestrained expression.

At first glance, his work might look like it was made
without any contouring or outline. But a closer look

reveals the opposite.

The artist’s brushwork is careful and thoughtful as
he often used a dry brush technique that gave his

paintings a soft texture, almost like fur or embroidery,
lending it a very iconic three-dimensionality. Because of

this, the finished paintings feel more like fabric—velvet,
14 carpets, or old textiles—than regular oil paintings. 15

Mistry blurs his outlines gently and fills his surfaces
with repeating patterns that remind you of old-school

chain-stitch work. His style brings together elements
from many Indian traditions, such as Madhubani from

Bihar, Alpana from Bengal, the vivid embroideries of
Saurashtra and Kutch, and even the bold murals of

Rajasthan. This melange of styles is a distinctive mark
of the master artist.

Mistry loved spending time observing and sketching

the wall paintings made by villagers who, without any
formal training, had a raw and unpolished appeal.

Human figures, flora, fauna, avifauna and everyday
objects were painted in a simple, almost childlike

way, without concern for exactness of anatomy or