PAINTERS and their paintings restrict themselves to the protective environs of the warm attics and studios during the monsoons. Of course, some of the more enterprising artists take time off from planning exhibitions and indulge in a bit of leisurely introspection. It's time for them to move out from their regular haunts and habitats, and indulge in outings. While apparently idling away, they encounter interesting faces, quaint places and even rare events, which inspire new works.

During the rains it is ideal to drive down Goa's arresting countryside, along narrow lanes, avoiding kids, cattle, canines and pigs that roam around carefreely. Some prefer to drive with the pouring rain beating on the windshields, others prefer to wait until the showers subside and the sun peeps in its glowing glory.

During these refreshingly green months, deep in the suburban surroundings, one can spot people back at their ethnic occupation--agriculture. With different types of old ploughs on the shoulders, the farmers herd a pair of oxen to the paddy fields. Agricultural implements...hoes, spades...now seen mostly in old books, are brought out. They take another dimension when plunged in the glistening, wet furrows being ploughed in the fields.

For artists, spending an outing in the countryside is like fanning their fancies, for taking home poignant pictures for the canvas. That's what four of Goa's well-known, young and enterprising artists seemed to be doing one fine Sunday. In fact, they said that they drove in whichever direction their fancy took them, checking out new vistas, even getting stuck up at narrow dead-ends, like they did at the Corjuem island.

They returned to the Corjuem-Aldona ferry, and by the time the rusty vessel turned around in the narrow tributary, they were already in Aldona. Someone suggested that they drive to Siolim. Actually, everyone should go to the interesting, panoramic village, famed for a host of things, not the least being the traditional Sao Joao.

The touring foursome--Querozito de Souza and whis wife Lietzl Cota, Wilson D'Souza and his wife--crossed my path near the speed-breaker at the Assagao Union High School…fortunately… because they were proceeding to Siolim from Mapusa via Anjuna, like several tourists do. I diverted them via the Assagao-Badem road, and to GoaNOW's quaint pad. I told them about the fascinating view available from the Badem Church, the scenic riverine road from Badem to Siolim…But they had seen these and the rest of the places. Bent upon getting lost, they waved to us and drove in the westerly direction their car faced, looking for new sights.

Querozito and Wilson will be shortly heading for Mumbai, to display their paintings at the Regent Hotel in Mumbai. The exhibition is sometime towards the later half of August. The remaining members of the group are PS Chendvandkar, Rajeshree Thakker, Hanuman Kambli and Nirupa Naik. Our curator, Rajan Fulari, too has a show coming soon in New Delhi, and he is busy with his works. Alexyz has just returned from Mumbai and is also preparing for a ceramics show.

JD