Art soothes Soma’s body and soul
Sitting behind an easel, surrounded by bright coloured paints, brushes and canvas is Leda artist Soma Datta.
She describes painting as a “therapeutic process of healing expressionism, rather than simply a cherished hobby”.
Her colourful works are inspired by her childhood experiences, emotions, nature, and everyday occurrences.
Painting with acrylics, Mrs Datta said she used classical techniques, with a unique twist — creating works freely the way she chose.
“It is about telling stories, and every story is different, so every painting is different — it is about life’s experiences,” she said.
The 35-year-old has not always painted, but a series of events which turned her life upside down, led her to discover holding a paint brush was what truly made her happy.
Originally from Mumbai, India, Mrs Datta moved to Perth in 2007 to further her architecture studies, work in the field, and create a new life with her husband, Soumya.
She said she came to Perth a disciplined go-getter and lived a busy, work-oriented life, focused on achieving the best in her field.
Her structured life was turned on its head in 2008 when back pains caused by a prolapsed disc, which she had been ignoring, became too much to bear.
“I didn’t acknowledge any of it, because I was so focused on my career, my studies and money... that I lost perspective of the most important thing in life — your health,” she said.
Between 2009 and 2010 the pain in her back became so severe she reached a point where she struggled to walk, let alone work and found herself feeling depressed.
To find a way forward, Mrs Datta said she turned to meditation and positive thinking and began to think back to what she loved as a child, and discovered it was art she was missing from her life.
“I reached a point when I had to stop and give myself and what I wanted priority,” she said.
“I found it was OK to let go... and I could have new dreams.”
In 2010, Mrs Datta joined the art group at the Koorliny Arts Centre in Kwinana.
Finding herself among a group of women two decades her senior, Mrs Datta said she was worried she would not fit in.
“Six months later I was like, I can’t not go to art on Tuesdays, it was like an art fix that I needed,” she said.
“The more I went, the more I healed emotionally and physically.”
It was there she rekindled her childhood love of art and now, almost four years on, is painting and selling her original pieces and prints.
After becoming so involved in the group, Mrs Datta was asked to take over as group leader in June last year.
She now helps fellow artists to develop their skills in a range of mediums every Tuesday.
“The good thing about this art group, it is casual. You come in whenever it suits your life. When it works for you, you come in and paint, have a chat, have a cuppa — nobody is going to judge you. It has always been a supportive group,” Mrs Datta said.
Nowadays, Mrs Datta is juggling completing a doctorate in architecture, painting, and family time — but works to her own beat, ignoring the strict timeframes which once ruled her life.
“I keep telling myself... life is too fast and it is too short, I am in no rush to get to the end — I’m going to take it as slow and as peacefully and happily as I would like,” she said.
Her message is to always “think positive”.
