For Indian contemporary artist Avani Patel, the best part about being an artist is the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them.
One of the great joys of creating art is being able to share it with your audience. As an artist, I want to create work that moves people. When your work resonates with another person, you are building a connection with them.
How did your tryst with art begin?
Art has been an integral part of my life since I was a young girl. I used to go to the theatre with my sister for rehearsals and her dance shows. Looking at all the colorful costumes, flowing dresses and festivity around, I felt that the colours are speaking to me. It made me joyful and painting became an entertainment for me. Few youthful years of entertainment helped me tap into the power of art. It enabled me to live joyfully and creatively. After all these years, I have found that nothing brings me more happiness than expressing my imagination through art.
What is the primary role of an artist? How do you describe yourself in the context of challenging people’s perspectives via your work and art?
As an artist I am aware of my surroundings, what I admire. I connect with people through my work. People have different perspectives in art. I create the work that makes sense to me as an artist and audience will eventually see the context.
How do you deal with the conceptual difficulty and uncertainty of creating work?
As a conceptual artist, I let difficulty in my paintings challenge me so that I understand my own work. Uncertainty helps in learning: choosing colours, patterns in abstraction and so on. I call my drawings studies. They help me choose the ideas for my bigger format paintings, and elevate them to a new imaginary life. I like to challenge myself and let mistakes happen.
Let’s talk about the evolution of your practice over the years. Tell us about your commitment to your current medium.
What I like the most is the way I draw along at times and it demonstrates something to me. Such a study might take a few months to create. That helps me understand my colours and pattern, what is working and which element I could transfer to a bigger format etc. I’m a visual learner, so this helps me personally and also as an artist. Doing this helped to not only improve my personal skills but gave more credibility to me as an artist.
Let’s talk about your career, or if you prefer artistic journey. What were your biggest learning and hurdles along the way?
My passion and love is being an artist. That inspires me to create my own journey. Being an artist gives me freedom to learn from my mistakes.
I have had difficulties in artistic journey. As an Asian I was doubted and some did not believe I could be an artist. At times, I did feel pangs of self-doubt. My dad and mom are my biggest inspiration. They told me not to give up and follow what I love doing. I was also homeless, with no job, for few months and stayed with friends for a year. I could not create art and I felt like, how the hell am I going to live without art? But everything happens for a reason and things eventually fell in place. I learned not to give up and started believing in myself.
How does your audience interact and react to your work?
One of the great joys of creating art is being able to share it with your audience. As an artist, I want to create work that moves people. When your work resonates with another person, you are building a connection with them.
Let’s talk about your frameworks, referencesand process. What inspires you?
The rich colourful culture of India, music, nature and other people’s work has always inspired and influenced me. I travel to different parts of the world and connect myself to endless source of ideas, cultures and surroundings. I capture these moments and revive them into creative images.
What are you looking for when you look at other artists’ work?
I respect many artists’ work. Especially those with whose work I have a strong emotional connection. I like artworks that are visually meaningful and make sense. I enjoy art that is pleasing to my mind.
Life To Be. 2011.
How do you balance art and life?
As an artist you have to claim your own personal space and have a separate your studio area, away from your family space. That helps me balance my art and life. I set my boundaries and commit to my work single-mindedly.
What was your first sale? Do you handle the commercials yourself or is it outsourced to a gallery or an agent?
My first sale was when I was studying at Penn State University. My professor fell in love with my drawings and made a collection for herself. I have my work on Saatchi Online Gallery, and have also outsourced sales through some art galleries.
How does your interaction with a curator, gallery or client evolve?
I think a curator and a gallery should have mutual understanding as far as an artist’s work or creative process is concerned. To have a freedom to work with people who are willing to engage with my work and not be afraid to ask what is the next step in your art practice, that’s important.
Are you more of a studio artist or naturally collaborative by nature? How do you feel about commissions?
I am more of a studio artist. My space is surrounded by nature. I would describe the place as organically magnificent. I would love to do some commission work and collaborative projects in the future.
What is that one thing you wished people would ask you but never do?
I want people to ask me how I can eat that much in the morning and why am I always happy in the morning. Why do I love to be in my studio in the morning?
Nature Calling Us. 2019.
What are you working on now? What’s coming next season?
I am working on a series of new paintings, which are five by five feet, using a different technique on Mylar. Also, I am working on a new series of drawings, textiles on Photoshop and experimenting with acrylic paint on fabric by creating textile designs of my creatures.
As an artist I always like to create new ideas and seem to surprise myself when I play around with the colours and patterns that I have not explored yet. An artist always discovers new ideas in their work, what eventually becomes magical to them.
I am also working on commissioned pieces for a client in New York City and applying for a few residency programmes.
Before you go – you might like to browse our Artist Interviews. Interviews of artists and outliers on how to be an artist. Contemporary artists on the source of their creative inspiration.c
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