Art is more fun when you can share it

"Every child is an Artist. The problem is to stay one, once we grow up." These words by the famous artist Pablo Picasso resonate with me in every sense. I am Harshi Agarwal, founder of Brushes N Strokes & Kaarrii Designs. With no formal training in art, I began my journey as a doodle artist in 2014. Inspite of an MBA degree under my belt I still strove very hard to not let the artist in me die. I started sketching and drawing at a very early age and would always be on a perpetual creative high even as a child. What started as a hobby during childhood when my mother took me along for her art sessions turned into a passion I could never leave behind. When I went to my MBA school, I realised that it was not my calling and started doodling during lectures and creating fun classroom stories. This passion for doodling grew and I started making doodles for friends and family to capture their beautiful moments and since then there was no looking back. One commissioned order led to another and soon I began taking up corporate projects and started painting walls for corporates and homes.

During my journey of learning and unlearning, experimenting with various forms of art, meeting new people every day I realised everyone has an artist in them and they just need the correct and simple guidance to hone their talent. That’s what led me to start taking workshops for schools and corporate groups. I also encourage artists across various platforms and work with people from diversified backgrounds.

Harshi's Artwork

Now I create various forms of art. I loved the idea of playing around and experimenting with a plethora of colours and patterns on different mediums. I splash my ideas on any surface I can find. Every artist has a unique style, and acrylic oil, pen or ink are the key tools for my art. I leave no stone unturned when it comes to exploring mediums on which I could display my talent. There is a lot of intricate, abstract and traditional detailing that goes into my work.

I have taken my art to different industries, from designing promotions for Bollywood movies Toilet ek Prem Katha and Padmavat, painting buildings and restaurants for Oyo & Bikanerwala, to creating communication materials for Asian paints, and wall papers for a play area chain. But amid all this hustle between projects I began to realise that art was more fun when I was just creating it for myself, without the pressure of a deadline or too many client inputs. So along with doing commissioned projects I began creating and teaching.

Art workshop in progress

I always loved to be around children, so I started conducting workshops for school children and worked with various NGOs and organisations. I cannot express the feeling of joy when I was around children of different age groups and backgrounds, I learnt so much from them along with teaching them. They inspired me to create, explore and try new things which helped me be a better artist and a human. Every child I have met in my workshop has inspired me, they are so pure just like a blank canvas. They have taught me patience, to think beyond imagination and that art can really bring a lot of smiles.

A few years ago there were floods in Nepal and some parts of my home town Biratnagar were also devastated by the calamity leaving lots of families homeless and children with no roof under their head. I had gone there to visit my family when a friend approached me and asked if I could conduct fun art sessions for children who were living in camps set up by UNICEF, these children had lost a lot to the floods. Without thinking twice I immediately agreed and began these sessions. We carried basic stationery items and headed to the camp. I was amazed looking at the number of children there of varied age groups all laughing and giggling looking at us, so excited to do something new. And even after all that they had been through they were so excited, warm and welcoming. We spent 3 days with the kids there, teaching them Zentangle art, doodling and just colouring. The purpose of the workshop was to divert their minds from the floods and help them overcome their losses, honestly I don’t know how much of a help I really was to them but they really helped me to look at things differently and I transformed a bit myself in those 3 days. I learned to strive harder to bring a smile to another face, to smile even if there’s little or nothing, to cherish every moment be it big or small.

Art sessions at the UNICEF relief centre, Nepal

Thereafter conducting workshops for children and adults became one of my important goals in life. Art has no barriers of language, culture, religion, age and that’s what makes it so beautiful. I began reaching out to different organisations like Kidshelp Cambodia and NGO recess, Mumbai, where I would usually spend my weekend with the residents drawing and painting, teaching and learning.

Happy faces after a workshop

As a self-taught full time, artist, the journey hasn’t been easy. But my personal motto is “don’t stop creating”. Every artwork need not be a masterpiece but painting for oneself and helping others make art is liberating and helps keep your mind off lots of unwanted thoughts. Art is like meditation to me. I always say this to all my students that anyone can draw, one just needs a little push with some guidance and some fun tips and techniques. And the best part is the reaction you get from the students after they have managed to make something on a mere piece of paper with a few colours and pens is out of the world!

In my journey of 8 years I learned that its not just about becoming a world famous artist and selling expensive pieces of work or hosting fancy art shows, it is more about sharing the talent, helping make changes, helping someone overcome depression ,stress, anxiety and giving back to the ones in need by enhancing their skills. And I just hope I can connect to and reach more children and adults across the globe with one language of unity, ART.

Harshi Agarwal

Founder, Artist - Brushes N Strokes

www.harshiagarwal.com