Najith’s story – the making of a young artist

16 May 2021

Najith’s story – the making of a young artist

16 May 2021

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6lGb16yKk0[/embed] By Kusumanjalee Thilakarathna Today on the Little Stars cover is a self-taught artist with extraordinary skills in pencil drawings. Twelve-year-old Najith Nethsara Goonawardane is a grade six student of Ifthithaah School, Maldives. He is determined to become an aircraft engineer and believes it’s important to work towards achieving his life goals from a very young age. He is also a talented chess player and likes to play cricket and soccer. He is also learning to play the guitar. Introduce yourself to the Little Stars readers. My name is Najith Nethsara Goonawardena and I am 12 years old. I currently live in the Maldives and am studying at Ifthithaah School. I am an only child. My father, Lalith Priyantha Goonawardena, works at the Engineering Department of the Kuredu Island Resort. My mother, Amila Goonawardena, is a teacher. My hobbies are playing chess and the guitar. Sometimes I like to watch TV too. I don’t like to hurt anyone, especially animals. My ambition is to become an aircraft engineer. You are a self-taught artist. Tell us how you got interested in art. The first time I drew I was very young and everyone appreciated me for my artwork. With that encouragement, later on, I experimented on new techniques and skills. I used Google and YouTube clips to study the works of talented artists and practise what I learnt on my own. What’s your favourite method of drawing? Tell us why you like it too. Pencil and colour pencil art. I have tried using watercolours and acrylic on canvas. But it is not as satisfying as using a pencil or colour pencils. How did you learn to play the guitar? I learnt it from my mother. She is my guitar tutor. What’s special about chess? Chess is a very logical game. It makes you think and concentrate on every move you make. I usually play it with my father and one of my Maldivian friends – Miruaash. Why do you want to become an aircraft engineer when you grow up? I am curious about the working principles of an aeroplane, and what modifications can be made to a plane to improve its functions. An aircraft engineer will have the knowledge and the capability to do this. That’s why I want to become an aircraft engineer. Out of cricket and soccer, what’s your favourite and why? I like them both. Because the two games are played in two completely different ways. How do you manage your time between your studies and your other interests? Priority is given to my schoolwork. I definitely get my schoolwork done before I try extra-curricular projects like drawing or chess or playing the guitar. During all these activities, I make sure I have time to observe pansil (the five precepts) in the evening. That’s something I do every day without a miss. What time of the day is best for working on a drawing? And is there a special reason why? To fully engage in a drawing, our mind needs to be very calm. It is like meditation sometimes. I prefer to draw in the mornings and the evening. I find my mind most calm and cool during these two times. So it is easier for me to concentrate on each pencil stroke I make. That way I am able to enjoy it to the fullest. Tell us a little bit about your life away from Sri Lanka. Living in the Maldives is very different from life in Sri Lanka. It took us some time to get used to this new lifestyle. But I think we are well adjusted now. Due to the Covid pandemic, we could not visit Sri Lanka since 2019. I am really sad about that. Who supports you in what you do? My biggest supporters are my parents. My mother is always there to guide me and give me advice on what’s best for me. My father always appreciates my work and encourages me to improve. Without their support, I would not be the person I am today. Finally, tell us if you have a role model or an idol, someone you look up to. My role model is my father. I observe the way he works and how he conducts himself in tough situations. I learn a lot of new things just by being with him. So, I have to say that it is him whom I take as an example when I do things.

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Najith’s story – the making of a young artist

Najith’s story – the making of a young artist

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