"For Me It Is Trees, Flowers, Creepers and Random Patterns That Is My Foot in the Door With My Art" - Ankita Bhattacharya

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1. Tell us more about your background and journey. 

Hello! I am Ankita Bhattacharya. Born and raised in Bareilly (Utter Pradesh).

Since beginning to the present, drawing has been a hobby for personal growth, story telling, and of-course mental health. Being always interested in drawing and studied art/design from my schooldays.

Upon realisation that it might take a little longer to change the world than I thought, I got distracted. I found myself working in the industry as a textile designer. But there was a problem, the work was doing, didn't feel like actually need any creativity. Its like repeating the old stuff that was done by traditional and skilled craftsmen with just a few tweaks here and there. After a while, it actually felt like a high school kid, who can do it also.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be an painter/illustrator?

Fast forward a bunch of years from what I have told in my last answer. I started drawing in my free time which was negligible due to our age-old labor grade industry. But it was that tiny bit of time that I spent drawing in which it felt like that I am doing something.

I have recently launched my YouTube channel as well, you can visit me at Abstract Life And Art. I am also actively posting my arts on my Instagram handle, which is @abstract_life_and_art.


3. Is it a financially stable career?

Frankly speaking I have just started my life as freelancer. I am planning to reach out to the right people & organisations whom I can work with and I am hoping to have clarity by the end of 2020.

4. Who is your favourite illustrator and why?

Oh! I have many favourite Artists and one of them is Miles Johnston (An artist from UK).

His works primarily in pencil drawing. His surreal art explores psychological transformation in portraits and figurative images. His work of art is a journey itself and it will force you to dive within and transform yourself with it.

5. Where do you get inspired from to create art?

I guess its an inner journey which we express outwardly. When you start questioning yourself who am I, what does make me tick.

Its not completely cultural thing but may be something else too, it drives me through to really find and seek out my inspiration, for me it is trees, flowers, creepers and random patterns that is my foot in the door with my art.  

6. What does your typical day look like?

At this point of time (which is very special) spending time with my parents, watching random stuff and drawing random things.

7. What piece of advice would you like to give to future aspiring illustrators?

Draw/Create what you feel like making and not worry about the end result or the consequences (people will like it or not/it will sell or not/will I be to make money or not) because if you love what you do that will be fruitful for you  and only for you (may be in a traditional or may not be)

8. Which is your favourite book and why?

I am reading a very interesting book called "Mind is a myth" by U. G. Krishnamurthy

I am loving it because its penetrating in every belief I have and forcing me to question every single thing I have ever experienced (culturally).



- Ankita Bhattacharya (IG: @abstract_life_and_art)

Interview by - Abhirup Dey