Expression on Canvas

Sewon Rai from Sikkim is making a name for himself in the field of art

Born to Neeta Rai and Prem Kumar Rai, Sewon comes from a humble background. His fascinating with paintings from an early age soon turned into a passion. Over the years, he has been sharpening his skills and adding to his body of work. Recently, art lovers in Gangtok got a chance to appreciate his work at a solo exhibition held at Artem’s People’s Studio.

The First Stroke

Sewon never really imagined that he would grow up to pursue art. ‘I started painting when I was young, I didn’t have any formal education then. I was simply curious, and I knew that I wanted to do something new and exciting. But, I never thought that one day I will attend an art institution. I still remember when I was in class VIII, my uncle gifted me a set of tablet watercolours, and at that time, I did not even know how to use them. It was only when I was in class IX that I started training in art, under the guidance of Bhawani Pradhan sir.’ He found that he was naturally good at painting and participated in many inter-school, as well as State-level competitions. ‘I also received many certificates and awards. My teachers, seniors, friends, relatives, and family members motivated me, and inspired me to focus on my artwork.’ He strongly believes that being close to nature has helped him in many ways.