1. Tell us more about your background and journey.
I was born and raised in New Delhi, India but I always knew I wanted to travel. Since I can remember, I've had an interest in making art and being creative. I tried my hand at dancing, music, theatre, you name it.
But I always ended up in my room with some paints. I was very lucky to have the freedom to pursue art in New York.
Initially, I wanted to be an illustrator but as I went to my sophomore year in college I found myself being more interested in abstract painting and that's what I still do. It was almost like my art did a 180 turn after my first year in college.
2. When did you decide you wanted to be a painter/illustrator?
I don't think doing art as a career was ever a decision I had to make, it was a given. Even in school, I always had a journal in hand. I used to bunk classes to go draw in the field. I was never good in school but I remember never stressing about it because I knew I wanted to be an artist.
3. Is it a financially stable career?
haha not at all. I feel like I chose the least stable job ever because I'm not even looking for a job. I don't even have an end goal of where I want to end up with my work; I just know I want to keep painting and for now, that's enough. In my field we usually freelance and that's kind of what I want to do.
4. Who is your favourite painter and why?
I try not to put people on the pedestal. After being in art school for 3 years I realized the people who are well known aren't really that great and most of the time, they're very shitty people. I did see a Hima af Klint show 2 years back and I got obsessed.
I've seen her work before the show but it was never in person. She makes art that needs to be seen in real life because her paintings have some energy.
I always wanted to have that energy in my paintings. She creates an experience for the viewer with her paintings. Sometimes I feel she creates more of an experience for herself that anyone else though. I also admire her as a person.
5. Where do you get inspired to create art?
Sounds cliched but literally, everything inspires me, that's kinda why I carry a journal everywhere. I've found in the past few years that I love admiring and listening to people- strangers or friends. Most of my ideas come from those stories and experiences.
I like the idea that everyone has their own life which I might not be a part of. Living in New York, I started making stories for people I saw in the subway and sketching those ideas out.
6. What does your typical day look like?
The positive side to such an unstable field is that your day can look however you want. Every day is different. I can't plan my days in the future, I kind of wake up and see how much work I need to finish and plan my day accordingly. Even though I love being in a routine, I like that I don't have to plan my art.
7. What piece of advice would you like to give to future aspiring painters?
Probably to put yourself before your art. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about art; that you need to struggle to make good art. That mindset is very toxic. I spent more time in the studio than anyplace else in the last 3 years and I saw the damages it did to my physical and mental health.
It's very important to know where you as an artist end and you as a person begins. Another advice would be to allow yourself to make bad art. There's no shame in having certain artworks not see the light of the day; it's kind of nice to have some just for you.
There's too much pressure to make good art and measure your self-worth through those pieces.
8. Which is your favourite book and why?
I hate to tell you this but I don't like reading books. I have tried so hard to get into books but I am a very visual person and I always find myself getting distracted while reading.
Having said that, one of my painting teachers told me to read "When Paris Went Dark." I haven't finished it but I am surprisingly enjoying it. It has a lot of parallels to the world of COVID we're living on right now.
Interview by - Shamayla
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