PAINTINGS
J P Singhal
October 2015
jpsinghal.com
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Aakar Kalakar:JP SInghal, Film by Ashok Khant
Indian Heritage's Pinterest collection
   
Born on 24th October 1934 in Meerut (U.P.), J P Singhal began painting
at the age of ten. At around the age of twenty, his work got noticed in
Dharmayug (a popular TOI publication of the time) leading to his first
Calendar getting published, which also brought him to the city of
Mumbai. Thereafter, he became a household name and no one could better
him in fine art realistic paintings. His work included more than 2700
paintings and over 80 crore reproductions of the same on subjects
varying from mythology to beauties, to day-to-day life scenes, children,
street musicians, tribals, exotic botanical specimens, wildlife, famous
temple sculptures, Ajanta and many others. He also played a
pivotal role in the world of Hindi cinema as a prolific Portfolio
Specialist, Concept Shoots pioneer and publicity designer and went on to
design creatives for over 150 films. He also has published two Coffee
Table books dedicated to some of his niche work that include photographs
and paintings of Ajanta Ellora and actresses of Hindi cinema.
A national award winner and India's highest selling artist across all
forms, J P Singhal has painted over 2700 original works which were
reproduced over 800 million times. "In his early phase my father was
greatly influenced by the 'wash technique' in water colours used by the
artists of the Bengal school and the flowing lines of Chugtai. This
genre of art was very different from the contemporary style adopted by
artists of that era," says Dinesh Singhal, Director, J P Singhal
Foundation.
"With images that were realistic, distinct and clear, an overall look
that was well-finished with soft, smooth and gentle controlled brush
strokes, were his signature style paintings. Be it mythological themes,
Indian beauties, film stars or rural folk, he evolved a style that was
acclaimed by both the popular and critical audiences," he adds.
"In the late seventies, enthralled by J P Singhal's works on rural
India, Raj Kapoor invited the former to concieve the look of Zeenat Aman
for the film Satyam Shivam Sundaram. So enchanted was Bollywood with
the refreshing feel which Singhalsaab introduced that an instant and
long association was immediately forged. Through his camera and styling,
he conceived the creative feel of several blockbuster movies like
Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Shaan, Mr. India, Henna, Tridev, Rocky, Border,
Dil, Gadar-Ek Prem Katha, Hero, Betaab and over 150 other films," says
Pradeep Chandra, photographer and friend of J P Singhal for many years.
While working with his friend MF Husain on Gajgamini and Meenaxi, he was
drawn towards contemporary art. His curiosity about this new style made
him reinvent himself as a contemporary artist. He nurtured his feeling
by creating a series of paintings in modern art. In his own words, to
satisfy and pamper the child (Shishu) inside him, he made an attempt to
create this art and enjoyed at the fullest while doing so.
Source: Press release for exhibition titled, "A Retrospective" at Sir JJ Institute of Applied Art, Mumbai.
Related links
JP Singhal Remembered…
- Pradeep Chandra, indiapages.in, 2 Oct 2016
Oil painting by Anant
Oil painting by Anant
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