We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nuwan Sirimanna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nuwan , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I guess I’ve always loved making art, but I didn’t think about doing it for a living until everything slowed down during the lockdown. Back in high school, I used to paint whenever I had some free time. It was just something fun for me, not something I thought I’d do seriously. But when we all had to stay home, I had a lot of time on my hands. So, I bought a bunch of canvases and paints online and started painting a lot more.

It’s weird, but seeing art in everything has always been my thing. Like, I could be looking at the shadow of a tree, or the way the water moves in a lake, or just a cool pattern on someone’s shirt, and I felt this urge to capture it with my paints. During lockdown, as I was painting all these things, something special happened. My wife Veroni, and our kids, Vihaan who was 7, and Aavya who was 5 at the time, were really taken with the art I was creating. They were so supportive, always cheering me on and telling me how much they loved my work. Their excitement and encouragement meant the world to me.

It was their reactions, more than anything, that made me realize making art wasn’t just a hobby for me; it was what I loved doing more than anything else, and it made me incredibly happy. That’s when I knew I wanted to make art my job. It wasn’t a sudden decision, but more like connecting the dots over time. Art is my way of showing how I see the world, and with my family’s belief in me, I thought, why not share that with others? Maybe it could make them happy too.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hello! I’m Nuwan Siri, an abstract artist from the charming town of Smithville, Ontario. My journey into the world of art has been one of deep intuition and spontaneous engagement with my creative process. Each piece I create is an invitation into a realm of contemplation, where the interplay of color, line, and form speaks to the heart and soul.

My art is a reflection of my life’s experiences intertwined with the natural world’s enchanting colors and shapes. I see color as a powerful language, one that I use to infuse my work with life and emotion through expressive brushwork and richly layered hues. I’ve always believed that being an artist isn’t something you learn in a classroom; it’s a calling you’re born with. My education has been hands-on, filled with practical experience, self-discovery, and inspiration drawn from the masters like Joan Mitchell, Wassily Kandinsky, Willem de Kooning and Olivier Debré to name a few.

Acrylics are my medium of choice, allowing me the freedom to express quickly and intuitively. However, I also love experimenting with inks, pens, and oil pastels, adding dynamic and static elements to my pieces. This versatility not only keeps my work evolving but also reflects my belief in the boundless possibilities of abstract art.

Over the years, my artwork has been recognized and celebrated at numerous art shows and fairs, including the Toronto Art Crawl, Pelham Art Festival, Art on the Park – Oakville, Queen West Art Crawl – Toronto, Riverdale ArtWalk – Toronto, and Art at the Pumphouse – Niagara on the Lake. It brings me great honor to share that my pieces have found homes in private collections across the USA, Japan, Dubai, Canada, Germany, and India, establishing a significant milestone in my international presence.

I take great joy in creating commissioned pieces, working closely with collectors to bring their vision to life in a way that resonates with their personal aesthetic and emotional landscape. My home studio in Smithville is where all this magic happens, a place where I continuously explore and push the boundaries of abstract art.

What I’m most proud of is the emotional resonance my work evokes, bridging personal and universal experiences. To my new clients and fans, I want you to know that each piece is a journey, an open dialogue between us, where we explore the depths of emotion and the beauty of the natural world together.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist, especially in the realm of abstract art, is the profound connection it allows me to establish with others. There’s something truly special about conveying emotions and thoughts without words, instead using colors, lines, and forms to speak directly to the soul. It’s about creating a piece that might touch someone’s heart, spark a memory, or inspire a new way of seeing the world.

Seeing viewers engage with my art, witnessing their reactions and interpretations, is incredibly fulfilling. Each person brings their unique perspective and emotional background to the artwork, creating a dialogue that’s both personal and universal. This shared experience, where art becomes a bridge between my inner world and the viewer’s, is deeply gratifying.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My main goal as an artist is to make art that does more than just look good. I want my art to make people feel something deep and think in new ways. I use abstract art to go beyond just showing something, aiming to reach people’s hearts and minds. I try to create pieces that aren’t just seen, but also felt and thought about, encouraging a kind of conversation without needing words.

I want to use colors, lines, and shapes to express and communicate in endless ways. My art isn’t just meant to be seen; it’s meant to be felt, bringing people together in a shared experience that everyone can relate to in their own way. I focus on capturing emotions and turning them into art that can keep being felt and understood in new ways over time. Moreover, I am driven by the challenge of pushing my creative boundaries, constantly exploring new techniques and mediums to better express the complexities of the human experience.

I believe that art has the power to connect us, to bridge gaps between different experiences and perspectives. Through my work, I aim to foster a sense of understanding and empathy, encouraging viewers to see the world through a different lens, one that is vibrant with emotion and rich in depth.

In essence, my mission is to create art that resonates on a deep emotional level, offering a space for reflection, inspiration, and connection. It’s about sharing a part of myself with the world, in the hope of touching hearts and opening minds, one piece at a time. This, to me, is the true essence of being an abstract artist – to create not just art, but an experience that lingers long after the viewer has walked away.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/siriabstractart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/siriabstractart