Artist Puneeta Ranjan, who had won an excellence award in 2005, launched her solo painting exhibition,” Joy of Life” in the city here today. At the age of 13, she gave an outlet to her imagination through her first painting.

A self-trained artist who had earlier ventured into chartered accountancy, Ranjan discovered her love for art at a young age. Even though she pursued her studies in chartered accountancy, her heart prompted her to take to the painting full time. To master the art, she also got one year training from a private tutor.

“I do not stick to any particular theme. In my opinion, one theme limits an artist’s imagination. I believe in open challenges challenges because it gives us more opportunities in each and every theme. But my portraits are dedicated to girls,” said Ranjan.

“I do not think before going to paint, whenever I hold the brush my imaginations start take shape in canvas. My daughter Sharrdha is my inspiration. I portray most of my paintings keeping daughter in mind,” she added.

This is her second exhibition in city. The cost of paintings at exhibition starts from Rs 5,000 and it goes up to Rs 40,000.

Her paintings on display include Life is but a bubble, Village girl, Smiling innocence, Mother nature, In my dreams, Soul searching, Desert song among others.