From notebooks to noteworthy!
Amar spent his early years in a village where luxuries like art supplies were a dream. Armed with nothing but a humble pen and the pages of his notebooks, he started creating intricate sketches as well as toys using natural clay. It was during his secondary school years that he came closer to the world of colours, drawing books and other art material. This newfound access fueled his passion and he went on to pursue a degree from the prestigious Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai. That is how his journey started and ever since, there’s been no looking back.
Amar's Work
Amar takes The Independent World's QnA.
Q1. Tell us about your journey.
I fell in love with sketching and art pretty early on in life. But the village I grew up in, had nothing that could inspire my creativity – no colours, no canvases, nothing. So I started sketching in my notebooks. As I grew up I realised that my love for illustrations and sketching wasn’t just a hobby. I decided to take it up seriously and started finding out about schools that imparted education in Art. The turning point came when I got admission in Sir J.J School of Arts in Mumbai. And that’s how my journey began.
Q2. Which are your best pieces of work?
My all-time favourite has to be a portrait I made of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I feel it portrays my skill and talent in the best possible way. Besides, belonging to a small village, I am also very fond of sketches that depict rural life in some way or the other.
Q3. If there’s something Illustrators today need to learn, what would that be?
Newer technologies, software and AI are ruling our world and it’s the need of the hour to keep oneself updated with the knowledge. But, I feel it’s very important to start with the basics. A thorough understanding of anatomy, composition, perspectives etc. give you a lot of scope for experimentation. Also, not many things can give you the perfection that comes with regular practice.
Q4. What are the skillsets a successful illustrator must have?
I feel the most important thing is that your work should be good. Having said that, it’s also essential to have a creative vision and diversify one’s skillset. But creating a masterpiece is not enough because ultimately it all boils down to how you market and advertise yourself. That’s the reality of the world we live in.