"My Inspiration Comes From My Observation" - Arpit Vyas


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1. Tell us more about your background and journey.

My journey has been unpredictable. From being a mechanical engineer to an artist, I think I have faced many questions and second thoughts which led me to where I am today. I have always been engrossed in art. Since I was a kid, comics fascinated me a lot. 

I started drawing and painting on my own but never really thought of making a career out of it. After I completed my engineering, I struggled to get myself a stable career so I tried my hands on various other fields like Graphic designing, learning Java. And in the meantime, I kept my heart to paints and brushes also. 

After a while, I realized I was stuck in balancing between being financially stable and doing something I really love. And that's when I started getting involved in open mics, events, workshops, exhibitions to interact with people, to explore this world and portray my art. 


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

In the beginning, paintings and sketches were just a hobby for me but when people started appreciating my art as if it's something which isn't the kind of ordinary thing to be left as just a "hobby." I thought of giving this a shot. I had to give it a chance. 

I knew it didn't have it in me to be the world's best engineer but somewhere in me, I knew I can give everything to be the world's best artist.


3. Is it a financially stable career? 

It can be. See, there is a difference between a skillful artist and a successful artist. If you are extremely talented but fail to display your art and yourself out there then it is worthless. It's very important to have a proper business mindset here. I have seen my mistakes and I have learned from them. 

You cannot expect your art to be a money-making machine at the starting of your career. You have to give it some time and most importantly you have to have a sharp sense while building your career.


4. Who is your favorite illustrator and why? 

Can't say one, I'll admit that I while loving the work of all the surrealist work by Salvador Dali, Max Earnest, Rene Magritte's, Giorgio Di Chirico and lots of other surrealist painters, I also love the work of abstract modern art by Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Picasso, and many more. 

But one Polish artist Zdzislaw Beksinski known for his surrealist dystopian imagery, I consider him truly a master for his craft. He was a self-taught artist who grew up in war-affected Poland, a large part of his work refers to, is the experience of the second world war. 

He tried to show us that there is more than the mere reality of the external world and the human experience of true traumas during time barely possible to imagine. 


5. Where do you get inspired to create art? 

My inspiration comes from my observation and, a little bit of my imagination. I have always been keenly observant when it comes to people and things. I like studying faces, expressions, hands, emotions, and much more. 

My brain likes revolving around surrealism so I try adding a different perception to the reality I want to display. People kind of find some of my art to be bizarre and maybe that's why it's different. 


6. What does your typical day look like?

Honestly, my typical day varies a lot. But music, Netflix, and my sketchbook are essential parts of any day in my life. I carry my sketchbook everywhere I go. I often invest my time in workouts and gym as well but somedays you just feel lazy. 

I also like traveling a lot. Because of work or some events, I get to travel to different cities and places to explore. Walking aimlessly on unknown roads gives me peace. But I also enjoy my time with friends. Chilling and hanging out at night with no worries is a happy moment in itself.


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

Firstly, be curious. For any career or any field, curiosity helps you a lot to spread your knowledge and skills. It keeps you engaged. It helps you to be a better person every day. Secondly, get out of your comfort zone. 

Initially, I was very much comfortable with charcoal as a medium but I couldn't let myself be limited to it. I had to try my hands on every other medium even if I fail to be among the accomplished ones. Don't limit yourself or your skills. You can do much better than you think.


- Arpit Vyas
  IG - arpitvyasthai

- Interviewed By: Anurag Jaiswal