Kannan Chithralaya is a renowned artist based in Thrissur, Kerala (India). His keen interest in fine arts has resulted in his wide range of skills across varied mediums including but not limited to watercolours, oil painting, charcoal, acrylic and soft pastels to name a few. Kannan’s experience in abstract and realism paintings have garnered him several national and international accolades.

” The first time I saw someone draw was my sister. I learned the first few lessons from her. I drew a lot while I was in school and won many prizes. This encouraged me to improve myself at drawing. In school, art was the only thing that was important to me – not the studies. I quit school when I was 14 to support the family by drawing and painting advertisements.

I learnt everything myself. I didn’t have any means to afford a teacher. I just started drawing. When I saw that my drawings and paintings are coming right as I wished, it gave me a kind of ecstasy. That was my inspiration which later became my life. I started drawing everything I saw around me. I always enhanced my pictures from its real version which became my unique and signature style”. – Kannan Chithralaya