As you walk into this canopy surrounded bygreenery in Verna, beautiful paintings and a balcao made of mosaic catch your eye. The art pieces on display area perfect mixture of gloss and matte finish, a strong play of colour and detail.This abode of Bianca Menezes which doubles up as her art workshop has been helpingher churn out magnificent art pieces ranging from religious icons, murals and canvaspaintings. Bianca who wishes to have an exhibition complains of not findingtime for it, thanks to the unending orders from five-star hotels for her artefacts.
Bianca turned her passion into a professionwhile in college. She says “While pursuing my degree in fine arts, I took ordersfor paintings and earned good pocket money. I then went to Portugal to learn theart of making wall tiles.” With strong basics in paintings, Bianca went on toexperiment with icons made on wood and made to look antique and sharpened herskills by referring to books related to the subject. She says, “This is myindividual area of interest and I’m glad to have a market for it.”
Apart from having excelled at art, Biancaalso learnt to market her products. She keeps her products in various lifestylestores in Mumbai and Goa and enjoys publicity through word-of-mouth. Accordingto Bianca, women have to be multi-faceted to survive in today’s world. She has learntto juggle her family life and professional life in a commendable manner. Biancasays, “It does get challenging. At times, I have considered the option oftaking a break for a few weeks but it is difficult. If you don’t make yourexistence felt constantly, people tend to forget you.”
According to Bianca, an artist cannotsurvive without marketing their art. She signs off with a message for women whowish to pursue art professionally. She says “Two or three women can share anexhibition. There are several agencies/art galleries that help you display yourart in return for a commission. Make use of it and get into the game. If wewomen help each other, we will go a long way.”
