Though art has always been one of the most widely used mediums of expression, the role of art in society has been greatly overseen in the last few decades but now it is coming to with a better perspective to people. With the internet boom, many artists have surfaced recently and many among these did not choose art as a viable career option. In India, it’s a common belief that pursuing art limits careers options and is not beneficial monetarily, which is why many are suppressed from pursuing their passion.

Growing up I loved sketching but, unlike many others, I never stopped drawing. I remember learning how to make statues using clay, stitching, making dolls out of waste cloth at a very young age. I have a very vivid memory of how it became such a critical part of my everyday life.

All that I needed was a pen and blank space, almost all the last pagesin my books and notebooks had strange patterns on them, and I drew these in class while teachers were busy teaching. In 8th Standard with my mother’s help, I made my first Madhubani painted saree; though it was tough I enjoyed the process of experimenting with colour and switching between nib sketching and brush strokes.

It was the untiring support and belief that my parents and my friends had in me that helped in making my passion into a profitable profession.

My foray into personalised illustration was a result of hours spent on drawing strange patterns and doodling in my notebooks. It was my friend, Jibin C Joseph, who suggested that I start selling handmade posters and greeting cards. That was how it all started and I went on to develop a product chain called ‘Artistick’.

I was initially scared and sceptical about my skills as well as about people liking the work. Now, I take up freelance assignments, which is fairly doing well. The products range from posters and greeting cards to wedding cards, clocks, bottles, cups, and bookmarks.

I believe that people today want a personalised gift for their loved ones which reflects their personality and something that instantly brings a smile to their face.

Don’t ever let somebody tell you that you can’t do something… trust your gut and go for what you believe in. Art is filled with emotions. It is the only medium which can freeze all the special moments of one’s life as a package.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own