Bengaluru was my gateway to the world: Vilas Nayak

He makes it look effortless — paint flying, music swelling, an image emerging before the audience fully grasps what they’re seeing. But as Vilas Nayak says, the magic is anything but spontaneous. It is rehearsed and refined — sometimes a hundred times over. For Vilas, speed painting began in college, when friends and lecturers nudged him to perform. “I was an extremely introverted kid. Going on stage was my biggest challenge,” he says. What began as hesitation slowly turned into habit — and then into a calling. “It’s been 22 years now. I wanted to give people a chance to watch art unfold in front of them,” he says.


‘It’s important to strike a balance on stage’

When he steps onto a stage, it’s about completing a painting while navigating everything that comes with it. “Most of the time I’m well prepared, I know how much time I have,” he says. Yet ulnpredictability is inevitable. The music may end sooner than expected. The audience may fall silent. Doubt can creep in. If he focuses too much on entertaining, the canvas suffers. If he concentrates only on the details, the audience disengages. “I need to strike a balance. In those five minutes, adrenaline, insecurity, instinct and control collide,” he explains.

‘I’ve practised some paintings over a 100 times’

What appears effortless is anything but. “Most reality shows give you less than three,” he says. Completing a large-scale painting in two-and-a-half minutes demanded practice. The first attempt might take 10 minutes. After 20 repetitions, it drops to seven. After a hundred, it reaches two-and-a-half. He photographs rehearsals, studies errors, refines strokes and timing. “People see five minutes on stage,” he says. “They don’t see the months behind it.”

Applause does not automatically translate to satisfaction, says Vilas, explaining, “There are shows where the audience gives me a standing ovation, and I think of the mistakes I made. Even after 1,000-plus performances and 15 years as a full-time artist, the self-assessment continues. I feel I’m not doing enough,” he admits.

‘Bengaluru was my gateway to the world’

Moving to Bengaluru in 2006 marked a turning point. Coming from a small town, the city exposed him to diverse cultures, music, audiences and mentors. “Before I travelled extensively, Bengaluru was my gateway to the world,” he says. It was here that he met senior artists, performed at large-scale festivals, and found the confidence to stand before 20,000 people at Palace Grounds. Many early shows were unpaid, but each became a stepping stone. “I’m thankful to the people who gave me opportunities,” he says.

‘For me, speed painting is an immersive experience’

For Vilas, music is not background — it is structure and storytelling. “If I’m painting about peace, I’ll play Heal the World,” he explains. The audience listens and watches the narrative unfold simultaneously. Though not formally trained, he says, “I sing when I am alone.” Often, inspiration comes from sound first “For me, speed painting is not just visual — it is an emotional, immersive experience,” he adds.


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