The King of Beasts has the lion’s share in Sonal Purohit’s paintings

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

The PaintBrush Art Community (PBAC), which has the motto “for artists, by artists”, was co-founded by Sonal Purohit (its other founder is Dr. Romit Purohit, Sonal’s husband).

With around 400 members on its rolls, the Community promotes art in the UAE and beyond its borders, in all genres and mediums, providing a platform for established and amateur artists and artisans from across the world, to exhibit their talent.

Sonal is herself an artist and curator of repute and is also a post-graduate in English Literature.

She is a multiple award winner, being conferred the Alpha woman of the year 2024 by The Alpha Mag and the Maharana Award for Art (2022) by the Rajasthan Business and Professional Group, UAE. She was bestowed the Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 award at the International Business Summit, in Dubai and has been featured on the cover of Fame magazine.

PBAC had the honour of being declared one of the Top 10 rising MSMEs by Mid-Day newspaper, India, and by the England News Portal. Sonal is currently at work on the Roar series, where she depicts the lion, the monarch of beasts, and a mark of power, royalty and protection.

She speaks to Gulf Today about herself and on why she paints one of the most widely recognised animal symbols in human culture.

What is your art background?

"I am a self-taught artist who has always been attracted by the smallest things around me that otherwise would go unnoticed. I always see art in nature, life and the little things that are never little. Since my younger days, I have enjoyed playing with colours and experimenting with different genres of art."

You are a post-graduate in English Literature. What is the link between reading, writing and art making?

"English literature has given me another dimension to perceive art. I have always been a follower of Shakespearean classics. His era was enriched by art and every literary work had its own art backdrop. In this way, I got a view of art, of different times. One of the events I curated was The Heartists, on the theme of English literature. Participating artists created artworks on the works of Shakespeare, Wordsworth and Indian writers Sarojini Naidu and Rabindranath Tagore."

As a mother of three daughters, you must be very busy! Can you tell us how you find time for art?

I am very fortunate to have the kindest and most gentle daughters; they have always been very supportive! They know that art is my happy place and are now grown up enough to take care of themselves. I also have the privilege of working from home while they go to school. Morning time is when I can sit in my small studio and work on my art projects without any disturbance. The passion to paint makes me wake up early. Later, when the kids go to school, I have all the time for myself when I can sit peacefully and paint my heart out on the canvas.

Why does painting attract you?

Painting with colours on a white canvas gives me all the freedom that one could wish for. It is my own happy world, where I can portray all my emotions that I would not have otherwise expressed so easily. It is addictive for my soul! The more I paint, the more craving I have to create more artworks. For me, painting is freedom, expression and power.

You paint landscapes, flowers, antiques such as old phones, among other subjects. How do you understand their basic features?

In landscapes, I love to paint sunrises and sea waves. Sunrise involves the most beautiful skies and the sea adds to the magnificence of nature. Vintage art has its magic! It never goes out of style nor does it lose its charm. Old instruments have a story to tell. Like time machines, they take all of us into our beautiful childhood days. So, whenever I paint these vintage objects, I get a ride back in time. I love my art to give happy vibes to viewers: when they see sunrises or the vintage theme, they are really amazed. I wish to spread happiness, positivity and a message of empathy, without any pain or sorrow in it. I try to make my art a tool for spreading happiness in the world.

What is it with lions that you paint them?

The lion is the epitome of power, dignity, courage and beauty. It is a majestic creature, always impactful in every kind of appearance. I have created a series on the lion to express my love for this beautiful beast. The lions in my art are brave but gentle, full of fun, but bossy at the same time! I am a fan of their persona and power. A beautiful theme and my favourite too!

How has the Middle East influenced you as an artist?

Being in the UAE has been a blessing. Its leadership has open-heartedly welcomed all nationalities, and we are able to work without any discrimination. The art world of the UAE is also flourishing with the mammoth support given by the government. We have worked with government organisations and have always received full support from them. Artists are also eligible for the Golden Visa, that gives them more work opportunities. Words are too little to express our gratitude for the UAE.