From seasoned artists to a budding millennial, women from different walks of life and age groups find succour in their unrelenting quest for inspiration in times of pandemic. Their artistic endeavours not only help them keep their spirits up but also enables them in exploring new vista of creative expression. Asrashaheen.in gives you a sneak peek of their art corners.
Every artistic mind seeks its own unique way of rejuvenating and nurturing imagination. Some creative people find solitude and comfort in the chaos of a bustling coffee shop; there are others who go soul searching in the lap of nature; and for many others it’s simply about spending time in the company of their loved ones. An unrestrained experience of movement, touch, one-on-one conversations and more are so integral to being an artist. Until the COVID-19 pandemic struck our lives, these experiences were either quite matter-of-factly routines or a discrete choice one could make without a big deal. However, the post-pandemic world has changed it all. For the inherently free-spirited artists, the carefree flow of thought is not the same anymore. But then creativity finds its let out, no matter what.
Even as all of us are grappling with the constantly lurking fear of the disease, thoughts of uncertainty and staggered social isolation during this global crisis, some of us have exceptionally turned the lockdown experience on its head with their artistic instincts.
Three creative women, from very diverse streams of art and age groups, find succour in their artistic endeavours in #lockdown and #unlock times. Their unrelenting quest for inspiration has helped them cope with the general challenges of the global pandemic along with exploring new vista of expression. Asrashaheen.in gives you a sneak peek of their creative corners.
Sayeeda – Expressing Optimism through Abstract Art
There’s never a dull moment in the life of Sayeeda, an abstract artist who is always full of energy and ideas. A self-taught painter whose art, aesthetics and style go beyond the definitions in any rulebook, Sayeeda endorses her stamp of individuality in everything she chooses to explore. Her acrylics on canvas works includes abstract expressionism of nature and landscapes, which are close to her heart, and portraits. Sayeeda’s paintings, which display a sense of evocative optimism, have been displayed in various art galleries and shows across India and abroad, including in a 2012 group show, “Bound Unbound” by J Lima Art Studios, Pennsylvania, USA.
And for all those of you who have been whining of not getting to venture out as much these days, here’s someone who has not stepped of her home in the last six months, even for once! “In the interest of my own health and the wellbeing of my family, I feel safer staying indoors and keeping myself engaged with a host of daily chores and interesting creative activities,” she says.
For more than 15 years, she has been pursuing her passion for colours by painting the canvas with her imagination. With a combination of her entrepreneurial skills and an eye for uniqueness in style, she once successfully managed her own fashion boutique for almost a decade, before taking to painting. From 2009-2013, Sayeeda created and managed a space for art lovers called Strokes – Space for Art. She organised various events, including an international art workshop and creative activities for children.
Continuing painting and pursuing new hobbies such as kitchen gardening have been her major life hacks in this phase. Splashes of green can be spotted not just on her canvas but also on the walls and shelf of her creative corner, which she hand-painted recently! She has also transformed her open terrace into a lush garden of blooming aloe vera, lemongrass and a variety of vegetables and fruits. She spends a substantial time of her day caring and nurturing for her “children”. A die-hard optimist, Sayeeda maintains an active and healthy lifestyle and believes in keeping herself busy with her creative pursuits.
Shilpa Jain – From Glam Makeup of Celebrities to Classy Makeover of Interiors
Celebrity makeup artist and stylist, Shilpa Jain is one of the coveted names in the industry of makeup, styling and grooming. Interestingly, the isolation phase of the pandemic unleashed a new dimension of her creativity. The classy makerover she gave her cosy home not only received applause from her friends on social media but has also earned her some very interesting professional projects. What started as a DIY idea during lockdown is now becoming her full-time engagement.
“I put all my focus on my creative bent of mind and felt that a happy aesthetically done up home would brighten the days during the pandemic. I took special care of doing up every nook and corner of my home, which made it very pleasing to the eye.”
Growing up in the lap of pristine beauty, Shilpa was surrounded by colourful flowers and sprawling tea estates of Dooars (foothills of Darjeeling) and Assam. It was the nature’s bounty that inspired her to dabble with vivid colours. “Doing interiors of homes has been a passion with me ever since I was a kid. I have grown up in colonial bungalows, nestled in the tea estates, and it always gave me joy to do up our home in these beautiful locations,” she says.
Times have changed and today she lives all by herself in her apartment in Hyderabad. “I love being able to experiment all the time and my home is an eclectic blend of the bygone era with a mix of retro and antique furniture (some over a hundred years old),” reveals Shilpa who keeps herself busy reading, watching world cinema, connecting with friends and family, working out, trying new dishes, experimenting with makeup and interiors.
Shilpa feels most people do not understand the difference between a house and a home. It is this very pursuit of discovering the little nuances that “set me off on my quest and learning of the ‘interior’ beautification of spaces.” The self-taught specialist in designing living and work spaces also attributes her understanding of design and colour palettes to her travels to Europe and other countries.
“For me, designing interiors is just an extension of myself as an individual and an artist, and an expression of my thoughts and creativity, the rewards of which I see in the smiles of my clients.” Shilpa is currently working on the interiors and beautification of a 40-acre residential school project.
Saloni Unnikrishnan – Practising & Perfecting Mandala is the Healing Mantra of this Millennial
Saloni Unnikrishnan, who’s a copywriter by profession, started practising the Mandala art since 2016. Mandala originates from the Sanskrit word “Mandal”, which literally means “circle”. True to its long-standing spiritual traditions of inducing meditation and trance, the sacred and symbolic art has gained immense popularity among the millennials of the day. The 29-year-old Bangalorean too confesses, “It’s my way of meditating. I can sit for 4-5 straight and not think about anything else other than look at the repetitive patterns that I’m drawing. It helps me stay disciplined and gives me a sense of balance.”
Saloni’s fineliners, watercolors, gel pens and brush pens have become her best companions for good, especially at a time when social distancing is the new normal. She also makes discrete use of digital software for achieving special effects on selective artworks.
Saloni agrees that “Creating a mandala can be a healing experience. I’ve always been an anxious person, and an over-thinker. Drawing mandalas has helped me channelize my thoughts on to a piece of paper. It has helped me become more focused and mindful, not just while I’m drawing but also in various other aspects of my life.” “Since we are forced to stay indoors, I’ve been drawing every day. The more I draw, the happier I am,” says Saloni. In fact, she has a dragon and mandala tattoo on her arm, which is indeed a very special expression of her love for the meditative art.
For someone who describes herself as an introvert, the lockdown and social distancing didn’t quite change her routine, which pretty much remained the same. But this Bangalorean at heart does miss meeting her friends and colleagues and going out to the gym.
Here’s an “aww moment” of Saloni’s art corner! It’s quite amazing to see how the darling of her heart, Kitchi, her cat, settles down next to her the minute she picks up a pen to draw every time. “It’s strange because she sometimes intently looks at the patterns I draw and reaches out to touch the patterns. After a while, she falls asleep and wakes up only after I’m done. I guess she too can experience the calming effect mandala art.” Now, isn’t that awesomeness?
