Navneet Rathod was born on 11 February, 1958 in Rajkot. During his childhood days, Navneet used to, like all kids those days played with his neighborhood friends. While they were playing games one of the neighbor uncles would be engrossed painting and sketching these playing kids. Navneet got inspired by him and decided that he too wanted to be a good artist like him. He began by writing names with double lines on the cover page of his classmate’s books. Subsequently, he progressed to add coloring and other arty drawings in his profile. In very short span he became good at art.
As a student at the Chowdhury School and he used enjoy completing drawing assignments of his classmates too. Teacher realized it and one day his teacher asked Navneet to come with his drawing book. Once the drawing book was innocently handed over, the teacher destroyed his whole drawing book. Sad and disturbed at this punishment, his crime was that of helping other students in completing their assignment. His teacher, in order to teach him a lesson, asked him to get a new drawing book and complete all the past drawing assignments again and get it signed. Overnight he completed whole book, and the very next day he approached the sir to get it signed. Though the teacher was surprised, he was not shocked. At that time, his teacher advised Navneet that if he was so passionate about art, he ought to take Fine Arts as a subject after class X.
He followed the advice of his teacher and joined GD arts for painting. After completing that course in 1982, he has completed “Art teacher diploma” course in 1983 from Sheth C.N. College of fine arts, Ahmedabad. Later on, he joined Rajka Design Pvt. Ltd. as an artist. He worked there from 1983 to 1990.
Later he joined the Saurashtra High School as an art teacher in 1990. He was glad to once again move to his birth place – Rajkot. For a long span of 25 years he served for Saurashtra High school. During this period of 25 years, he became the reason of many students to change their life. His contribution to society was by way of some amazing artists. For the years 2015 to 2016 he also served as an art teacher at KadviBai Virani Kanya Vidhyalay . After joining Saurashtra High School, he started getting time to indulge in his own art work. He started working 4 hours a day painting alongside his job. In those 26 years of time he was able to make enough time, so as to churn on an average one painting per day. After retirement, now he is giving 7 hours a day towards sketching and painting, so as to complete two paintings per day.
He has wide range of paintings for environmental subjects viz “Save tree”, “After the cyclone”, “Cut me not”, “Save me!” whereby creating an awareness. He wanted to convey his message that the tree is our primary support and need and saving the tree is indeed saving ourselves.
He has contributed for many workshops with his passion and skills of art. Since 1991 he is contributing for Gujarat state Lalit Kala Academy, Children painting workshop, on the spot painting, Gujarat Kala Pratishthan in Gujarat. He has also contributed as a judge in various drawing, greeting cards and painting competition in different cities.
His passion helped him opening the gateway for national level. His work got selected in multiple national level exhibitions including, Indian Academy of Arts – Amritsar, Lalit Kala Parishad – Vishakhapatnam, Bombay Art Society – Mumbai, Maha Koshal Kala Parishad – Raipur, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society – New Delhi, Wold Willife Fund, All India Art Exhibition – Baroda, Tilak Smartak Trust – Pune, Tulika Kalakar Parishad – Udaipur, Art Teachers Exhibition – Camlin Foundation – Mumbai, Kala Mela 2 – Amritsar.
Since 1981, he has done many group shows to promote and display arts. Some of the group shows are, Contemporary Art Gallery – Ahmedabad, 22 Groupshows at S.M. Art Gallery – Rajkot since 1994 including 3 sponsored by RMC, Haltheesingh Visual Arts Center – Ahmedabad, Five Group shows at Rajkot art society – Rajkot, Vibrant Gujarat Event – Ahmedabad, Phoolchhad Platinium Jubilee show – Rajkot, Ravishakar Rawal Kalabhavan – Ahmedabad, Flame 99 – Show of Indian Institute of Architecture – Rajkot, Ahmedabad Art Society Group Show – Ahmedabad, Ami Chag Art Gallery – Rajkot, Fun world Gallery – Rajkot, “NOSTALIGIA” national group of art exhibition – Hyderabad, Artist of Gujarat journey of Colors Swaraj Vithi Ravindra Bhavan Parisar – Bhopal, The Mega Artist Show – Faculty of Fine Arts – MSU Baroda, Group show by Rupak Chaki – Chandigarh, By Manilal Sabrimala – Hyderabad, By Natu Makwana – Lucknow & Surat, Painting Exhibition sponsored by Premji Valji Jewellers – Rajkot, “Saviskar” Nachiketa Gallery – Rajkot & Ahmedabad ni Gufa Gallery – Ahmedabad.
For his outstanding contributions he received many awards and honors including All India Lok Manya Tilak Art Exhibiton Award – Pune, Gold Medal in online art contest “ 27 art points” – Jodhpur, 2 Prizes and 7 Honor certificate from Lalit kala Parishad – Vishakhapatnam, Award for best drawing at state level Exhibition – Surat, Best Art Teacher Award – Ahmedabad, Facilitated by Gujarat state Art Teachers Association –Surat.
With the colors and mixing of shades on his palette he ensures he spreads the same vibes in society through his students, family and all those associated with him personally and on the art platform.
Nice one