Nagpur: Umbrellas became canvases and the monsoon turned into a muse at the Govt College of Art and Design on Sunday, as students, teachers, professional artists and art lovers took part in the ‘Paint the Umbrella’ initiative under the ongoing ‘Meghrang-2026: Samvad Pavsachi’ festival.Participants transformed plain umbrellas into colourful artworks using monsoon-inspired imagery, poetry and imaginative compositions. Raindrops, clouds, frogs, fish, landscapes and verses celebrating the rainy season appeared across the umbrellas, with each participant interpreting the monsoon in a distinct style.The umbrella-painting initiative was among several activities planned as part of the month-long festival ‘Meghrang-2026′, which seeks to create a dialogue around the monsoon through visual art. The festival also features a group exhibition of works by 60 senior and young artists at the college art gallery, marking the college’s diamond jubilee.The exhibition includes paintings and artworks created in different media, exploring rain-soaked landscapes, changing skies, rural and urban life, human emotions, nature and the cultural angle of the monsoon. From realistic landscapes and figurative compositions to abstract interpretations and contemporary visual experiments, the display brings varied artistic approaches onto a single platform. The exhibition will remain open until August 14, from 10am to 5.30pm on working days.Prof Sagar Hazare and Prof Sinkar demonstrated umbrella-painting techniques and explained the use of colour, composition and conceptualisation. The live demonstration drew keen interest, particularly from students and first-time participants.Workshops, demonstrations, lectures and interactive sessions have also been lined up during the festival. Organisers said the initiative is aimed at connecting established artists, students and emerging practitioners while encouraging wider public engagement with art.It was conducted under the guidance of dean Prof Dr Vishwanath Sable. Professors Avinash Gharde, Yogita Kale and Sinkar, along with final-year Applied Art students, assisted participants during the event.
