The beginning of any journey is always special, and my art journey is no different. Looking back, I see a tapestry of experiences, inspirations, and serendipitous moments that guided me toward where I am today. Let me take you through the story of how it all began.

A Spark in Childhood

Like many artists, my love for art started since childhood. I remember spending countless hours drawing, painting, and creating imaginary worlds during my schooling days. So, post my 10^th grade I want to pursue fine art as my career but my dad wants me to take commerce and pursue a career in banking. Hence, I did my commerce and after graduation I got a job in stock market. I did work with couple of corporates for almost 15 years post which I moved my career to banking.

Although everything was going smooth in my life, destiny took a turn. A diagnostic centre called me for a free diagnostic offer for Women’s day, where I thought I should take my mom for a complete body checkup. Since the offer was on, I thought of getting myself checked where the doctor found cyst in my chest area. This was in the year 2017, I had to undergo surgery to remove the cyst and it was benign. Then further in the year 2019 during exercise at gym, I found something pricking from inside me. I had to undergo some tests and when I saw my biopsy report, I was shocked to see that I had been diagnosed with cancer grade 2. I felt as if the ground shook beneath my feet. This was a time of utmost uncertainty where I did not know what the future had in store for me. I simply decided to take things as they come.

While I was under treatment, I knew I had to divert myself somehow and I decided to take up my brushes again. Six months down the line, before I knew it, I was out of this deadly disease. When I look back upon this time, I know it was my art that helped me overcome this difficult situation. Inspired by nature, cultures, and the work of renowned artists, I began experimenting—sometimes succeeding, sometimes failing, but always learning. Soon the colors started to impact me positively and my house was fully occupied by my art work. After completing my treatment, I had 2 choices before me, either to go back to my career or continue with my passion which had kept me alive. Eventually, I took up my passion over my career, thus launched my brand Tvastra in the year jan 2020.

Facing Challenges

I began taking art classes. My first batch was a mandala where I had  14 participants attending my class. I was excited as well as happy with the thought that by investing just 2 hours, if I was able to earn a decent income, then by increasing this to 8 hours a day, I could definitely make it much bigger doing the same thing. My small business started to grow gradually.

But no journey is without its challenges, and mine was no exception. Mar 2020 was the time when pandemic happened, hence my physical classes was all shut. Despite these struggles, my passion kept me going. Every challenge taught me resilience and the value of perseverance. It took me 6 months to learn the online platform and I eventually started taking classes online.

A Turning Point

By the year 2022, my student base increased and that was the time I took a decision to move to a commercial space where I knew I could get more exposure. One pivotal moment came when I participated in my first art exhibition at Nesco. Seeing my work displayed alongside other talented artists was exhilarating. The positive feedback I received fuelled my confidence and made me realize the potential of turning my passion into something more meaningful. I started to build my team and introduce courses for all ages.

Transforming Passion into Purpose

Over the years, art became more than a hobby; it became a way of life. My passion got me to my purpose of starting this journey. Backed by all these experiences, I feel that I want artists with the same passion to grow along with me. This realization led me to start projects and initiatives like Shilpakriti, where I could empower other art enthusiasts to follow their dreams, just as I did.

Continuing the Journey

Today, I stand as a proud artist, constantly evolving and seeking inspiration. I started my journey with 2 students today we have proudly reached a student participants of 800 +. We have conducted more that 300 workshops and courses till now. What started as just 1 course has gradually evolved into 25 courses for kids and we teach more than 30 plus artforms to adults.

My journey has taught me that art is not just about creating; it’s about connecting, expressing, and inspiring. To anyone embarking on their creative journey, remember this: your unique voice matters. Nurture it, embrace the highs and lows, and let your art tell your story.

What started as a childhood hobby has grown into a lifelong passion and purpose. And as I continue to paint my way through life, I’m excited for the many blank canvases waiting to be filled.

Thank you for being a part of my journey. I’d love to hear about your own experiences with art. Let’s connect and inspire each other!