My Story

Who are you, Swarup?

– “Swarup, what is your style?”
– “What do you paint?”
– “What is your favorite media?”

As an artist, I regularly face questions like the above. And I hear myself replying “Well I, erm, I…”

Every. Single. Time. And like dear Mrs. Ariadne Oliver*, I feel a little lost and clueless. Because there’s no one single answer to that! Instead, why don’t you ask me: “Who are you, Swarup?” Now, wouldn’t that be more interesting, for both me and you?

[*A fictional character in the novels of Agatha Christie. Mrs. Oliver is a mystery novelist, extremely fond of apples, and a friend of “the one and only” Hercule Poirot.]

The early life

Long, long ago, in not-so-a-faraway land, started the fairy tale of my art.

I was just another small child in just another small town. Middle of three brothers, shy and introvert. Imaginative and day-dreamer.

Letters and numerals were not my best friends, and memorizing tables or learning poems by heart seemed like insurmountable challenges. My only solace was my drawing book, pencils, and a half-used watercolor box handed down from my big brother.

I didn’t even know what’s art back then.

Life was divided into two clear halves by then. The typical ‘back bencher’ in the school, and the ‘hero’ of the art class. Nobody who knew (and pity) the shy, unobtrusive, apparently clueless schoolboy, would have recognized the happy, smiling, all-confident art student.

I made my first art sale at the age of 13.

Christmas was knocking at the door, and I created some greeting cards for family and friends. I brought blank cards from the market and drew small watercolor paintings on them. They were a success! And then the thought struck me for the first time: why not paint some more cards and sell them to strangers? A little extra pocket money during the holidays wouldn’t hurt!

The painting part was easy. But it took a lot of courage to go knock at the first door.
– I’m a student and am selling my own hand-painted greetings cards. Will you buy my cards, sir?

The gentleman was evidently very surprised but gave me a warm smile, bought some cards off me, and wished me success for the next rounds of sale. All cards were sold on the first day itself! I ran quickly back home, and right away started painting the next bunch. By end of that week, I sold enough cards to buy my mum an electric food blender (and still had some pocket-money left!). She uses it to this day, bless her!

And then, Art School happened.

Those 5 golden years in the Art School

It was like a dream when I set foot for the first time in one of the most renowned art schools in India. The grand white neoclassical-style building, its broad wooden staircase with the red carpet on it, the strong smell of paint, the first introduction to history of art — everything still has a very special place in my heart, and will have so forever.

At the end of the first year of art school, I drew 10 watercolor paintings for the annual exhibition. One of them was exhibited while the rest were sold then and there! With that booty, I bought my first SLR camera (digital cameras were not available in the market yet).

But artists starve, don’t they?

The fear was prevalent among my well-wishers in those days, and it crept into my mind as well. So I decided to graduate in a more commercial form of art, namely Graphics Design. Right after art school, I started working as a website designer, then shifted to news design and visual journalism, then to the corporate world of marketing communications.

Life became safe and secure. Financially stable. Creatively draining.

Cut to 2015. I said “goodbye” to a successful, 15-year-long career in Communications Design, to become a full-time, professional artist. My friends and family were utterly confused to hear that. Why did I do it?

Well, didn’t Bon Jovi tell us?

“It’s my life. It’s now or never.”

As an Art School graduate, I always felt the “hunger pangs” to create something that would come straight from my heart. Something that would not be regulated by industry norms, client requirement, or market trends. I had planned and planned. Finally, in 2015, I took the bold step forward, leaving behind a world of security and stability, plunging into a journey to the unknown. It took me time and a rigorous routine to claim back my artist self, but every bit of it was fulfilling. I do not merely create fine art today; I am on a journey to rediscover myself.

Decoding the creative process

My art is an ongoing conversation between the world I live in and the world that lives within myself. What I see in the world outside forms an impression in the world within me. The impression thus formed evokes certain feelings and memories, and elicits responses that eventually take shape in my artworks.

My creative process starts with plein air layouts, which are converted into full-blown paintings in my home studio. The first step consists of making several sketches and taking reference photos. Above all, I try to soak the whole atmosphere of a place in using all my senses.

Back in studio, I then go through the sketches and photos for days. Gradually, scenes mix and match, experiences get superimposed on each other, and impressions begin to take forms. Only when I know what I want, I start to paint.

Beyond my studio

I love baking and cooking. So if you don’t catch me in my studio, most certainly I’m in the kitchen, trying my hand at different cuisines from all over the world. I also have a small garden at home, and love to take care of my plants. They are indeed my family!

I’m evolving and so is my art

Artists are not a different species. We are Homo Sapiens, too.

We all represent some things, believe in some things, and have an opinion about some of the other things. That’s fundamental.

But we change as well. What we like doing today, we may not think of again tomorrow. Our vision and goals in life change, our priorities change, our ideas and opinions change. Like every other human beings, we artists also evolve.

And so, I refuse to restrict myself to one media, one subject, one style or one expression. I draw what I want to, when I want to, and how I want to. Likewise, my art is changing, moving, laughing, thinking, growing, flowing, always going from one place to another.

Wanna be a part of my art journey?

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