Story on Oil Painting Artist

Being a Parent is tough and I agree. It’s all about choosing the right things to their child to bring that huge smile on their face. Well, here’s a story of Parents who have successfully made to bring that huge smile on their child. All thanks to my 13 year old Lab and to the Artist’s 4 year old Pug Morning Walks. Her name is Ravali. What’s interesting in her story is that she has done Graduation in Arts from a reputed University in the City – JNAFAU in the year 2017, soon after her High School. Read her story to know more about on how she convinced her parents and started career in Arts.

When I was a kid, I used to grab a piece of paper and pencil, observe things around me and start drawing. My mom found the interest I have for art, she sent me to summer camps regularly and this was in my 4th grade. For the first time, I got to know art more interestingly. I continued going to the summer camp the whole month and I liked it. I took it as a hobby and I was busy with my studies. There came a time I had to choose my career options after +2 – either to do Engineering or any other Degree. While I was preparing for my Entrance Exam for Engineering, I gave a thought – “While everyone does Graduation and land up with a Job, there’s nothing found to be interesting in life. And life would just flow with the work”. I gave a serious thought about it and asked myself – “What am I good at?” and “What else can I do for my career and future?” I recollected my Art skills which I like and enjoy working with. I then told to myself – “Why not make my Hobby be a my Profession?” I started to research on it. I never knew until then that Fine Arts Colleges – Degree and Masters Existed. I researched on Architecture Designing, Graphic Designing and other Art related Degree. Though Fine Arts had courses on Digital Designing, I opted Painting. I found that playing with colors by hand, drew my Soul closer to it. I never thought that I would make it as a career.

That was a really difficult phase for me. Like every parents, my parents had the same thought to get me settled in a good job and income. When I suddenly said my opinion which was not related to us, it blew their mind. Generally when we say we want to be a doctor or engineer, it was easy for them to accept. My Brother was graduating in Engineering in those days. The choice I made was a risk taking, I have to promote myself, my works and it’s more like a business. My mom was supportive as she always knew my interest in arts and she too loved it. I had difficult time to convince my dad. I told him – “I researched on it” and referred all the sources I found, saying “There’s a career in it. Art work might not have value to the people who don’t know but, it has demand and great value to the people who know art in the rest of the world. I can do it and I can prove it.” My brother was always there to help me out in what I want and we managed to convince my dad and eventually  he gained trust in my efforts . I am happy that chose a career that I really enjoy in my life.

I started working on Basic Pencil Sketching, Pencil Shading, Pastels – Soft Pastels, Oil Pastels, Ink, all the mediums of painting – Watercolors, Acrylic Colors, Oil Painting, etc. I did a research on Oil Paintings – they me attracted to the texture and the realistic look and feel in the finishing of the painting.

There are many options in Arts – Advertisement, Graphic Designing, Digital Animation, Gaming, Ideology in Advertisement, etc for any Creative mindset. You can even start working on your own working as a freelancer or starting up your own business. Or one can be an Art Teacher, Art Administrator – Art Gallery Holder or start an Institute. I work on project basis.

We don’t have such jobs, we work on project basis – We tie-up with interior designers. For Example: When there’s a new Hotel opening up soon, the interior designers connect with us when there are paintings needed to decorate the walls. My first Commercial Project was from CARE Hospitals and it was a great working experience on painting for them. I am Grateful to Dr D N Kumar, Medical Director, CARE Hospitals, Nampally for giving me this opportunity.

I like what I’m doing and I’m happy with it, that’s the basic thing I can I say that helps me stay inspired and motivated which would last forever for sure. I enjoy working on it every moment.

As I have just started my Career, I want to put up my work on Shows and Galleries. I have a dream plan to start an Institution for Arts in future for all the age groups.

My parents are my Strength and Support. My mom always knew my interest and in fact she was the one who held my hand, let me know how to draw. After my dad got convinced by my career choice, he help me a lot to stay strong. They are my critics as well. They let me know what’s missing, as I see things through one point, to conclude everyone’s perspective is different and that helps me improve my paintings. They also helped me in marketing my works. Parents in India supporting their children in this field is not easy, they took the dare and supported me all the time and they are Very Proud of what I am now. My belief and confidence in myself that “I can do it!” is also my Strength and Support.

When you’re working on an empty canvas for a painting, your thoughts would change while you think. A creative mind is set with Ideas of our own life experiences or messages are conveyed. I present my paintings in a positive way. I have made few portraits that have emotions to a person – Recently a lady from the U.S. requested me to paint her dog who passed away, she loves sitting on their lawn with a pond and I portrayed it. I make a note of what they want in the portrait and try to capture their feelings and other emotions on to the painting as they are meant to be a memory that stays forever. And I feel amazingly happy when they love the work I have done.

As I fresh up in the morning, I sit directly at my work when I have projects. I work continuously for 3 – 4 hours at least and then take a break. I work only when I feel like or I’m never satisfied. Sometimes I relax doing sketches – it’s a practice that helps me improve my skills or sketch few ideas.

When you have a hobby which you really like and a belief that you can excel in it by changing it to your profession, you can fight for it. Every Profession has its own value. It’s the path we are a going through would decide us reaching our goals. One has to try hard for it. Never give up your Passion. When a Career or a Profession is chosen, it stays with us forever. It’s the choice we make lets us stay happy throughout our life. One should like their work and career. There are many skills in a single person. Identifying that one talent we excel by ourselves is the key to build our career.