[Disclaimer: This post is neither to gain any sympathies nor to make you call me ‘inspiring ‘or like that... Just today, I felt to share some of the part of my little journey so far... Neither it is to blame or hurt anyone. What I'm expressing here are real facts and incidents. What I’m sharing is not to make it associated to my physicality as that doesn’t make ‘me’, though it’s going to be my part throughout].
Looking back is too early at this phase. But, retrospection is always preferable to keep ourselves on the right track in the present and even in the future.
After my graduation in 2006, I faced an ailment for almost whole year throughout in 2007 and was treated for it. But, painting and learning design kept me going through it.
I had studied for elementary and intermediate exams of drawing and painting under the guidance of my art teacher Artist Shri. Rakesh Deorukhkar who guided me well whenever possible. I achieved B+ grade in the intermediate exam in 2008 by appearing as an external student.
I also completed a correspondence course of one year duration, 'Diploma in DTP' (DeskTop Publishing) in 2008-2009 from a private institution in Pune.
After a self study of graphic design for almost four years after graduation in English and History, finally, I started working as freelance graphic designer and artist on 4th April 2011 (Gudhipadwa) under a name 'Dzyn Studio' from legally created workspace at home. My father told, "give importance to quality of your work than quantity always!".
After my graduation in 2006, I faced an ailment for almost whole year throughout in 2007 and was treated for it. But, painting and learning design kept me going through it.
I had studied for elementary and intermediate exams of drawing and painting under the guidance of my art teacher Artist Shri. Rakesh Deorukhkar who guided me well whenever possible. I achieved B+ grade in the intermediate exam in 2008 by appearing as an external student.
I also completed a correspondence course of one year duration, 'Diploma in DTP' (DeskTop Publishing) in 2008-2009 from a private institution in Pune.
After a self study of graphic design for almost four years after graduation in English and History, finally, I started working as freelance graphic designer and artist on 4th April 2011 (Gudhipadwa) under a name 'Dzyn Studio' from legally created workspace at home. My father told, "give importance to quality of your work than quantity always!".
Without the wonderful co-operation and guidance of my technician friend who is hardware engineer, Shri. Mansoor Nadkar, my technical support for 24x7x365, this wouldn't have been possible at all.
All of my mentors from CorelDRAW Community, my designer and artist friends have been with me throughout each phase of my journey. Some of them are no more and have left forever whom I really miss always. The printing press 'InkFloat' has been very co-operative to get my vector graphics printed well. it was suggested to me by one of my very talented mentor CorelDRAW Master Artist Shri. Anand Dixit, who has always helped me to upgrade my versions of my all-time favourite software CorelDRAW.
After starting my work, tougher part was ahead, facing many different kinds of mentalities almost daily at each step.
While learning graphic design, since beginning there was negativity surrounding me. I was literally called insane, an emotional fool who was unable to differentiate between practicality of life, as if I didn't know the importance of steady and stable life and income. Almost none believed in my dream except my sister Kshama.
I was continuously being hammered by so many others that I should start tuitions or work as a teacher only and leave this path of pursuing graphic design and painting. I had been facing this hammering till recently but I simply didn't budge and have kept travelling on my path. Be it wrong or right, its my own. I wanted to create my own identity. It wasn't easy as already my father's and paternal family's huge hard-earned success and reputation for their honest work has been bigger and it was hard to carve my own niche.
Even an artist I considered as my mentor indirectly and who created designs for our factory, told me that this field isn't for females from the little town like ours, especially if they are working from home, as one would need to go out and meet clients or hired models for photography needed for commercial designs as that time, internet service was not much available in our hilly area initially. Also, reality was design files were not compatible to be sent by email and required to be sent through floppy disk or CD only via courier or required sending personally, during that time. He also had told me to rather learn animation than graphic design as it was trendy that time. But, I believed time will change till I start working and of course it did later. But his guidance for just an hour once about graphic design and software CorelDRAW, has proved forever helpful for me even till now. I always kept studying his designs by observation.
I was frequently asked what do I do at home. Whenever I told, I work as a freelance graphic designer and artist, I received strange replies, for example, "do you work as a hobby?", "why do you need to work as you are from a well-settled family?!", "you must be getting a good timepass, what else would you do at home otherwise?!", etc.
Things started changing since my vector graphics created in CorelDRAW 'Yellow Flower' and 'Wild Flowers Branch' won 5th and 4th prize in 'Corel Asia Pacific Digital Art Competition' held by Corel Corporation (Taiwan), a division of Corel Corporation (Canada), in 2010 and 2011-2012. In 2011, my vector graphic 'White Lilies' won 3rd prize in 'CorelDRAW International Design Contest' which was held worldwide by Corel Corporation (Canada). These prizes included licensed versions of softwares like CorelDRAW and Corel Painter along with some other softwares and also a certificate, electronic gadgets like headphones, stylus and tablet used to draw digitally and such things. More importantly, the vector graphic 'White Lilies' was displayed on the official website of CorelDRAW from year 2011 till 2019, also used on their social media and used for their promotional purposes. It was also printed as an example in the printed guidebook (user manual) of 15th version of CorelDRAW (CorelDRAW X5).
Since beginning, I was just a member artist of the official CorelDRAW Community on their website and now, since last 3-4 years, I was made one of the admins of CorelDRAW Community on Facebook (created by the members) by other admins. That time and still, I have been the youngest, less experienced than them all. This has been a wonderful experience for me to learn more and more be more tolerant about the views and ideas of others about design as well as Currently, the group has more than 15000 member artists from all the countries throughout the world who use CorelDRAW and daily the membership is growing rapidly. Here, members share their ideas and concepts through design, technical issues which they face as a designer while using the software. The members of the community and admins comprises of beta testers appointed by Corel Corporation and also, officially declared CorelDRAW Master Artists. Hence, this was a very pleasant surprise for me and a wonderful opportunity to work with them all. I just wish more female designers join and actively engage in sharing their experiences and issues because till now, I'm the only one female designer in the team of admins. I'm still learning and I'm not yet much efficient enough as other very experienced admins but I try maximum to help the members to sort their issues with design. I'm fortunate to have many talented designers as my mentors and friends through this community.
Because of the wonderful mentors, I learnt that I could use licensed versions of CorelDRAW and became a premium member. Since beginning, so far I have used CorelDRAW 7, 8, 11th, 13th (X3), 14 (X4), 15th (X5) (this version was among my prize software), 16th (X6), 17th (X7), 18th (X8) and currently using CorelDRAW 2018 (19th) and soon will be upgrading to the new version 2019 (20th) for creating my vector graphics.
I love to create vector graphics more than bitmap graphics. Most people have a common prejudice that vector graphics have a limitation in creating them than bitmaps. But, no, that's not completely true. Instead they have many advantages than bitmaps as they can be scaled to any size without losing clarity while conversions and printing. They are 2D graphics but can appear almost like 3D as well if properly created. So, they are bit difficult to create but that makes them my favourite! Design has been my passion....
I also have been always learning painting through various mediums. I use graphite pencils, colour pencils, glitter gelpens, gelpens, technical pens, brushpens, acrylic colours, watercolours. I love to paint even with oil colours but stopped it because the weather at my town is generally humid and painting doesn't get properly dry, thus it damages earlier with fungus or dirt particles in the air.
In 2009, one of my colour pencil painting was selected by very senior Artist Shri. Ravi Paranjpe Sir and given third prize in a competition and exhibition held by the NGO 'Nivedita Pratishthan' in Pune. Later, I had participated in the group exhibitions by the same NGO but they started using my physicality to gain sympathies which I actually never had associated with my passion. Even later at the first experience of group exhibition at Balgandharv Kaladalan (Pune) through this NGO, I was used by them to gain the sympathy in front of chief guests and my paintings were sold to those who didn't even were interested in the art genuinely, leave alone getting an honest critique which helps to improve. This made other co artists obviously furious as their beautiful works were simply ignored by the chief guests and the co artists simply left me out who had been so friendly till then and no one talked to me after that. It was such an insult.... I stopped attending the exhibitions since then though I have been participating, just to seek honest critique and to not let anyone focus on my physicality than my work. I always prefer to get honest criticism than false praise. I do miss meeting other art lovers, getting advice from the senior artists and attending art demos at the exhibitions, as I'm not present there. But, mentalities of categorising of people as inspiring prohibits them from living a normal life. This fact affects my life frequently, especially when it is related to my work. If I don't associate it with my work, why should others?! Even after my requests, they didn't stop this, so, I myself left the group by NGO.
I have participated in various other group exhibitions at Pune and also in Mumbai till now. My paintings were displayed and sold in such exhibitions without revealing why I'm absent and that was a proof that quality of work matters even in the absence of artist.
Also, the inaccessible, incompatible places for wheelchair makes me avoid attending or being present at my display of artworks like other artists.
Through design, I met many new people, new friends and artists. A whole new world opened up for me through design daily....
My clientale has spread from various places and from various fields. Creating graphics for them helped me learn something new everytime and also to improve as an artist.
Whenever I felt low or depressed, my mother kept telling me to continue by pausing temporarily for a bit and not to stop my work permanently. My father always provides me a perfect critique and he made me learn commonly used business techniques and terms.
Experience has been the best teacher for me.
The first client didn't even pay for the design. Some clients were really hard to work with inspite of all the hardwork while some were really particular about time and clarity of concepts. Some clients tried to exploit by making me work for free as they didn't pay after the completion of the work. Some clients were so considerate that even during the phase of my mother's severe illness, they kept waiting for me, till I restarted my work even though I had told them that I can hand over the work to more experienced senior designers to continue with the work. One of the client (whose book cover was designed by me) celebrated my birthday by bringing a cake at their book publication ceremony! Once one of the client surprised me by sending box of sweets and told that after I had designed their product's package, the sale increased by double in just 15 days than usually before, thus creating a new record for their business. Gradually, even my father's factory also turned out to be my client which was actually like a dream as my father prefers quality of work and for him it doesn't matter who does it, whether his own family member or a person other than his family.
After starting my work, tougher part was ahead, facing many different kinds of mentalities almost daily at each step.
While learning graphic design, since beginning there was negativity surrounding me. I was literally called insane, an emotional fool who was unable to differentiate between practicality of life, as if I didn't know the importance of steady and stable life and income. Almost none believed in my dream except my sister Kshama.
I was continuously being hammered by so many others that I should start tuitions or work as a teacher only and leave this path of pursuing graphic design and painting. I had been facing this hammering till recently but I simply didn't budge and have kept travelling on my path. Be it wrong or right, its my own. I wanted to create my own identity. It wasn't easy as already my father's and paternal family's huge hard-earned success and reputation for their honest work has been bigger and it was hard to carve my own niche.
Even an artist I considered as my mentor indirectly and who created designs for our factory, told me that this field isn't for females from the little town like ours, especially if they are working from home, as one would need to go out and meet clients or hired models for photography needed for commercial designs as that time, internet service was not much available in our hilly area initially. Also, reality was design files were not compatible to be sent by email and required to be sent through floppy disk or CD only via courier or required sending personally, during that time. He also had told me to rather learn animation than graphic design as it was trendy that time. But, I believed time will change till I start working and of course it did later. But his guidance for just an hour once about graphic design and software CorelDRAW, has proved forever helpful for me even till now. I always kept studying his designs by observation.
I was frequently asked what do I do at home. Whenever I told, I work as a freelance graphic designer and artist, I received strange replies, for example, "do you work as a hobby?", "why do you need to work as you are from a well-settled family?!", "you must be getting a good timepass, what else would you do at home otherwise?!", etc.
Things started changing since my vector graphics created in CorelDRAW 'Yellow Flower' and 'Wild Flowers Branch' won 5th and 4th prize in 'Corel Asia Pacific Digital Art Competition' held by Corel Corporation (Taiwan), a division of Corel Corporation (Canada), in 2010 and 2011-2012. In 2011, my vector graphic 'White Lilies' won 3rd prize in 'CorelDRAW International Design Contest' which was held worldwide by Corel Corporation (Canada). These prizes included licensed versions of softwares like CorelDRAW and Corel Painter along with some other softwares and also a certificate, electronic gadgets like headphones, stylus and tablet used to draw digitally and such things. More importantly, the vector graphic 'White Lilies' was displayed on the official website of CorelDRAW from year 2011 till 2019, also used on their social media and used for their promotional purposes. It was also printed as an example in the printed guidebook (user manual) of 15th version of CorelDRAW (CorelDRAW X5).
Since beginning, I was just a member artist of the official CorelDRAW Community on their website and now, since last 3-4 years, I was made one of the admins of CorelDRAW Community on Facebook (created by the members) by other admins. That time and still, I have been the youngest, less experienced than them all. This has been a wonderful experience for me to learn more and more be more tolerant about the views and ideas of others about design as well as Currently, the group has more than 15000 member artists from all the countries throughout the world who use CorelDRAW and daily the membership is growing rapidly. Here, members share their ideas and concepts through design, technical issues which they face as a designer while using the software. The members of the community and admins comprises of beta testers appointed by Corel Corporation and also, officially declared CorelDRAW Master Artists. Hence, this was a very pleasant surprise for me and a wonderful opportunity to work with them all. I just wish more female designers join and actively engage in sharing their experiences and issues because till now, I'm the only one female designer in the team of admins. I'm still learning and I'm not yet much efficient enough as other very experienced admins but I try maximum to help the members to sort their issues with design. I'm fortunate to have many talented designers as my mentors and friends through this community.
Because of the wonderful mentors, I learnt that I could use licensed versions of CorelDRAW and became a premium member. Since beginning, so far I have used CorelDRAW 7, 8, 11th, 13th (X3), 14 (X4), 15th (X5) (this version was among my prize software), 16th (X6), 17th (X7), 18th (X8) and currently using CorelDRAW 2018 (19th) and soon will be upgrading to the new version 2019 (20th) for creating my vector graphics.
I love to create vector graphics more than bitmap graphics. Most people have a common prejudice that vector graphics have a limitation in creating them than bitmaps. But, no, that's not completely true. Instead they have many advantages than bitmaps as they can be scaled to any size without losing clarity while conversions and printing. They are 2D graphics but can appear almost like 3D as well if properly created. So, they are bit difficult to create but that makes them my favourite! Design has been my passion....
I also have been always learning painting through various mediums. I use graphite pencils, colour pencils, glitter gelpens, gelpens, technical pens, brushpens, acrylic colours, watercolours. I love to paint even with oil colours but stopped it because the weather at my town is generally humid and painting doesn't get properly dry, thus it damages earlier with fungus or dirt particles in the air.
In 2009, one of my colour pencil painting was selected by very senior Artist Shri. Ravi Paranjpe Sir and given third prize in a competition and exhibition held by the NGO 'Nivedita Pratishthan' in Pune. Later, I had participated in the group exhibitions by the same NGO but they started using my physicality to gain sympathies which I actually never had associated with my passion. Even later at the first experience of group exhibition at Balgandharv Kaladalan (Pune) through this NGO, I was used by them to gain the sympathy in front of chief guests and my paintings were sold to those who didn't even were interested in the art genuinely, leave alone getting an honest critique which helps to improve. This made other co artists obviously furious as their beautiful works were simply ignored by the chief guests and the co artists simply left me out who had been so friendly till then and no one talked to me after that. It was such an insult.... I stopped attending the exhibitions since then though I have been participating, just to seek honest critique and to not let anyone focus on my physicality than my work. I always prefer to get honest criticism than false praise. I do miss meeting other art lovers, getting advice from the senior artists and attending art demos at the exhibitions, as I'm not present there. But, mentalities of categorising of people as inspiring prohibits them from living a normal life. This fact affects my life frequently, especially when it is related to my work. If I don't associate it with my work, why should others?! Even after my requests, they didn't stop this, so, I myself left the group by NGO.
I have participated in various other group exhibitions at Pune and also in Mumbai till now. My paintings were displayed and sold in such exhibitions without revealing why I'm absent and that was a proof that quality of work matters even in the absence of artist.
Also, the inaccessible, incompatible places for wheelchair makes me avoid attending or being present at my display of artworks like other artists.
Through design, I met many new people, new friends and artists. A whole new world opened up for me through design daily....
My clientale has spread from various places and from various fields. Creating graphics for them helped me learn something new everytime and also to improve as an artist.
Whenever I felt low or depressed, my mother kept telling me to continue by pausing temporarily for a bit and not to stop my work permanently. My father always provides me a perfect critique and he made me learn commonly used business techniques and terms.
Experience has been the best teacher for me.
The first client didn't even pay for the design. Some clients were really hard to work with inspite of all the hardwork while some were really particular about time and clarity of concepts. Some clients tried to exploit by making me work for free as they didn't pay after the completion of the work. Some clients were so considerate that even during the phase of my mother's severe illness, they kept waiting for me, till I restarted my work even though I had told them that I can hand over the work to more experienced senior designers to continue with the work. One of the client (whose book cover was designed by me) celebrated my birthday by bringing a cake at their book publication ceremony! Once one of the client surprised me by sending box of sweets and told that after I had designed their product's package, the sale increased by double in just 15 days than usually before, thus creating a new record for their business. Gradually, even my father's factory also turned out to be my client which was actually like a dream as my father prefers quality of work and for him it doesn't matter who does it, whether his own family member or a person other than his family.
Some of the printing presses were at first bit not ready to work with me as they didn't like a newly working less experienced female designer suggesting them about printing better in different ways than usual. Some printing presses were extremely supportive and even helped me to get used to prepare my graphic artworks ready for various types of printing.
I had learnt using oil colours from Artist Mrs. Swapna Joshi ma'm in 2012 and later after my mother's demise in 2016, she supported me to restart my work by making me join the Women's Artists Group (a group of almost 25-30 female artists and designers), as I was facing horrible depression. That was one more turning point for me. I restarted designing and painting while managing my home.
Because of the support from Artist Mrs. Priya Patil ma'm and Curator Mrs. Ghayathri Desai, I dared to dream of displaying my artworks at Mumbai as well.
Together, we all members from Women's Artists Group have done social service for the needy by utilising our art.
Being with this wonderful group made me aware of my broken dreams of higher education and thus, when I was feeling completely broken down after my dearest aunt's (father's sister) demise just few months after my mother's demise, while working, I have enrolled for the correspondence course of Diploma in Graphic Design from Open College of Arts (UK) affiliated to the University for Creative Arts (UK). I have completed first Unit of Level 1 and currently studying for the second Unit of Level 1. One more unit of Level 1 and two units of Level 2 will make me achieve my diploma.
I haven't yet tried to exhibit as solo, just because I might be unable to be present throughout
I never had dreamt of displaying my artworks abroad as I still need to improve and learn a lot. But, watching some artists displaying at Dubai, dmade me curious. Also, Curator Mrs. Ghayathri Desai ma'm had once asked me about my plans of exhibiting outside India and also asked for joining her there at Dubai. But, that time I wasn't prepared even mentally.
I just asked two of my friends Artist Mrs. Madhuri Gayawal and Artist Mrs. Hina Bhatt about displaying out of India as they have experienced it. Their views were encouraging and made me rethink as I was always in quest of something new to try. I started gathering information, discussing with various curators, artists and staffs of galleries, comparing the information. This search continued for almost six months in 2018. That time, some people were discouraging me but I kept my search going on. I finally concluded that as I won't be able to air travel since my custom modified wheelchair can't be taken through the flight with me and it can be taken only through the cargo and also as I'm not exhibting as solo artist, I need to have a curator/gallerist who will represent me, take good care of my artworks throughout the shipping, handle, arrange and display them properly, in my absence and also one of the most important fact : affordability of expenses as I'm myself paying each expenses of my design and paintings always from the savings of my income from designing and painting. (I'm clarifying this as some people had doubts "who will pay, you or your father?!"... Why will he pay for me?! If he pays, then why I'm working?!). There were three options : 1. World Art Dubai 2. Nook Asia Singapore 3. ArtExpo New York.
Dubai event was my priority but it didn't work out. Singapore event was not on my list as some aspects were unfavourable. ArtExpo New York was suitable in every way.
Finally, I took up the decision after studying many aspects of exhibiting abroad. Discussed it with my father. My father was at first bit thoughtful and told, "take any decision you wish but always be prepared even for the worst, never shrug off the consequences of your decision, be they good or bad, favourable or unfavourable. Go for it if you wish".
In November 2018, conveyed to Gallerist Mrs. Daxa Khandwala ma'm about my decision to participate in ArtExp New York, by being one of her participant there. She simply guided me so well that all the worries, all difficult aspects got cleared away.
I was already facing deteriorated health issues and was again diagnosed with same old kidney ailment and required surgery again. All of the preparations were going on side by side. Kept preparing for the ArtExpo even on the day of surgery on 7th December 2018. Daxa ma'm was worried about my health more than the preparations as she frequently enquired me first about my health. She even said, that I can do preparations on your behalf but more important is your health getting back to normal. She even herself advised me to not courier my artworks (while all other curators didn't take responsibility of carrying along) but to send personally to her office, so that she could take it along with her and not by courier to avoid damage. At each step, she was very supportive and guided really very well.
Under Gallerist Mrs. Daxa Khandwala ma'm, five of my vector graphics created in CorelDRAW will be displayed as prints at Booth no. 177 - 179 along with the artworks of various mediums by other wonderful artists at ArtExpo New York (2019) from 4th April to 7th April 2019.... Co incidently on the day which marks 8 years of starting my work.... Such an honour… All of the efforts so far proved their worth.
Well, this is my belief that time really proves our work's worth, if it is really done with passion, perseverance, dedication and patience.
This isn't the end of the story.... This is just one more step of life.
I have already started working on other design projects. I have also been exploring some new possibilities. I'm working on them. Soon, I will reveal them one by one as they get ready.
For me, my future is really dark, that I know.... But, art is the only resort, my asylum, my painkiller, my passion... It has showed me my way.... I simply wish may my hands be creating till my last breath....
I had learnt using oil colours from Artist Mrs. Swapna Joshi ma'm in 2012 and later after my mother's demise in 2016, she supported me to restart my work by making me join the Women's Artists Group (a group of almost 25-30 female artists and designers), as I was facing horrible depression. That was one more turning point for me. I restarted designing and painting while managing my home.
Because of the support from Artist Mrs. Priya Patil ma'm and Curator Mrs. Ghayathri Desai, I dared to dream of displaying my artworks at Mumbai as well.
Together, we all members from Women's Artists Group have done social service for the needy by utilising our art.
Being with this wonderful group made me aware of my broken dreams of higher education and thus, when I was feeling completely broken down after my dearest aunt's (father's sister) demise just few months after my mother's demise, while working, I have enrolled for the correspondence course of Diploma in Graphic Design from Open College of Arts (UK) affiliated to the University for Creative Arts (UK). I have completed first Unit of Level 1 and currently studying for the second Unit of Level 1. One more unit of Level 1 and two units of Level 2 will make me achieve my diploma.
I haven't yet tried to exhibit as solo, just because I might be unable to be present throughout
I never had dreamt of displaying my artworks abroad as I still need to improve and learn a lot. But, watching some artists displaying at Dubai, dmade me curious. Also, Curator Mrs. Ghayathri Desai ma'm had once asked me about my plans of exhibiting outside India and also asked for joining her there at Dubai. But, that time I wasn't prepared even mentally.
I just asked two of my friends Artist Mrs. Madhuri Gayawal and Artist Mrs. Hina Bhatt about displaying out of India as they have experienced it. Their views were encouraging and made me rethink as I was always in quest of something new to try. I started gathering information, discussing with various curators, artists and staffs of galleries, comparing the information. This search continued for almost six months in 2018. That time, some people were discouraging me but I kept my search going on. I finally concluded that as I won't be able to air travel since my custom modified wheelchair can't be taken through the flight with me and it can be taken only through the cargo and also as I'm not exhibting as solo artist, I need to have a curator/gallerist who will represent me, take good care of my artworks throughout the shipping, handle, arrange and display them properly, in my absence and also one of the most important fact : affordability of expenses as I'm myself paying each expenses of my design and paintings always from the savings of my income from designing and painting. (I'm clarifying this as some people had doubts "who will pay, you or your father?!"... Why will he pay for me?! If he pays, then why I'm working?!). There were three options : 1. World Art Dubai 2. Nook Asia Singapore 3. ArtExpo New York.
Dubai event was my priority but it didn't work out. Singapore event was not on my list as some aspects were unfavourable. ArtExpo New York was suitable in every way.
Finally, I took up the decision after studying many aspects of exhibiting abroad. Discussed it with my father. My father was at first bit thoughtful and told, "take any decision you wish but always be prepared even for the worst, never shrug off the consequences of your decision, be they good or bad, favourable or unfavourable. Go for it if you wish".
In November 2018, conveyed to Gallerist Mrs. Daxa Khandwala ma'm about my decision to participate in ArtExp New York, by being one of her participant there. She simply guided me so well that all the worries, all difficult aspects got cleared away.
I was already facing deteriorated health issues and was again diagnosed with same old kidney ailment and required surgery again. All of the preparations were going on side by side. Kept preparing for the ArtExpo even on the day of surgery on 7th December 2018. Daxa ma'm was worried about my health more than the preparations as she frequently enquired me first about my health. She even said, that I can do preparations on your behalf but more important is your health getting back to normal. She even herself advised me to not courier my artworks (while all other curators didn't take responsibility of carrying along) but to send personally to her office, so that she could take it along with her and not by courier to avoid damage. At each step, she was very supportive and guided really very well.
Under Gallerist Mrs. Daxa Khandwala ma'm, five of my vector graphics created in CorelDRAW will be displayed as prints at Booth no. 177 - 179 along with the artworks of various mediums by other wonderful artists at ArtExpo New York (2019) from 4th April to 7th April 2019.... Co incidently on the day which marks 8 years of starting my work.... Such an honour… All of the efforts so far proved their worth.
Well, this is my belief that time really proves our work's worth, if it is really done with passion, perseverance, dedication and patience.
This isn't the end of the story.... This is just one more step of life.
I have already started working on other design projects. I have also been exploring some new possibilities. I'm working on them. Soon, I will reveal them one by one as they get ready.
For me, my future is really dark, that I know.... But, art is the only resort, my asylum, my painkiller, my passion... It has showed me my way.... I simply wish may my hands be creating till my last breath....
