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        In a tiny room on Royapettah High Road, ten children could be seen squatting on the floor, with their eyes glued to the objects they were sketching on paper.

        While, eight-year-old Skanda was meticulously attempting to draw a pencil sketch of a lantern, Aahana was having fun colouring her drawings with colours as vivid as her imagination. One can see the eyes of the children light up with pride as their castles in the air take concrete shape on paper.

        There is no blackboard with drawings on it or any huge picture stuck on the walls for Skanda and Aahana to imitate. Their work is an outcome of their own creativity abilities, unrestrained by monotonous instructions or periodical chiding.
 

BUDDING ARTISTS: Children painting under the supervision of Geetha Ananthakrishnan. Photo: K Vijay Anand

        Just a satisfied nod, a pat and a smile from their teacher Geetha Ananthakrishnan is all they seem to need.

        Geetha, who specialises in portrait painting and was a student of the famous artist Ilango, holds art classes that aim not only at teaching the child to draw but kindling their latent creativity and defining their personality.

        'I believe that creativity can blossom out only where there is freedom and an atmosphere of love and friendship. My class is like a home to them and I am their friend,' she says.

        'Children are given a free hand to try out their creative ideas. I only guide them in their work. The atmosphere here is therapeutic in nature and enhances their talent. Over the years, children who have attended my classes have grown more refined and also performed better in their studies,' she says.

        Managing children and understanding their psychology is no mean task and experience has been Geetha's best tutor for this.

        'I watched my children grow and obtain an insight into the psychology of children and got to understand their moods and erratic behaviour patterns. I can easily adjust to them and understand their feelings and am aware of when to chide or cajole them to work.

        They are free to draw what they want and when they want but I am also particular that in the process they learn something positive and new in every class either by way of improving their skills or behaviour,' she points out.

        For Aditya, a class IX student, the freedom is a boost not only to his creativity but also increases his powers of observation. 'We know that we are free to draw anything we want.'

        'It makes me feel relaxed. It has helped me enjoy nature and develop an aesthetic sense of appreciation of art,' says Priyanka, a class VIII student.