Hey there, folks! Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of Swarnavo Dutta, a Bangalore-based artist with a unique story that’ll make you believe in the power of following your passion. Swarnavo is not your run-of-the-mill artist; he’s a children’s book illustrator who went from studying engineering to sketching enchanting stories for Penguin India. Buckle up, as we take you on his incredible journey, filled with twists, turns, and valuable advice for all you aspiring artists out there.
The Early Days
Swarnavo’s story begins in the heart of classic Indian society, where art classes were all the rage for kids. At the tender age of three, he had an art teacher guiding him through the basics of drawing, a journey that continued right up to his board exams. But here’s the twist – when the time came to choose a career path after his 10th grade, art wasn’t the go-to choice. There was a lack of awareness about the potential career prospects in the field of art, so Swarnavo chose the path of science and went on to pursue an engineering degree. But he never stopped sketching, even amidst the equations and scientific experiments.
The Instagram Turnaround
In 2017, Swarnavo decided to share his artwork with the world and posted it on Instagram. To his surprise, the response was overwhelming. He also decided to participate in Inktober on a whim, sketching every single day. When Inktober ended, he felt a void that could only be filled with more art, and so, he continued sketching and posting regularly on Instagram.
Fueling the Passion
The turning point came in 2018 when Swarnavo got his first paid project to create a logo. From there, he ventured into custom illustrations for couples and gradually began to receive more commissions. That’s when he realized he wanted to tell stories through graphic media. In 2019, he set his sights on book illustration, diving into character design and connecting with self-published authors and publishers. His journey led him to work on a few book illustrations. One thing led to another, and last year, he collaborated on three books with Penguin India. This year, the tally is five books along with other exciting projects.
Balancing Act
You might wonder how Swarnavo manages to sustain his passion while keeping the bills paid. Well, he’s got a stable day job that takes care of the financial side of things. He dedicates his evenings and weekends to his art. He’s been through the ups and downs, facing heavy losses from ventures like Comicon and merchandise. These experiences made him realize that running a business, handling packing and shipping, and working a full-time job simultaneously wasn’t his cup of tea. It’s a tough road to solely rely on children’s book illustration for a living. Having a financial safety net to cover the bills gives Swarnavo the freedom to be selective about his projects.
The Artistic Hurdles
Like any journey, Swarnavo’s path has had its fair share of challenges. For instance, finding a publisher in the world of book illustration can be a daunting task initially. However, as he built his network and collaborated with prominent brands, this challenge gradually eased.
The second challenge artists face is determining the right pricing for their work. With no set regulations or standardized pricing, it’s a bit of a wild west. Networking comes to the rescue here, as it helps artists understand the market rates for book illustrations, making it easier to provide accurate quotations.
Words of Wisdom
So, what does it take to thrive as an emerging artist? Swarnavo has some golden nuggets of advice. He suggests that aspiring illustrators should not rush into digital illustration without a strong foundation in basic drawing skills. While tracing images digitally can be tempting, it’s not a sustainable approach. Swarnavo himself fell into this trap initially. He emphasizes the importance of building confidence through traditional sketching. It’s perfectly fine not to aim for hyper-realistic portraits; what matters most is expressing your unique artistic voice.
In the ever-evolving world of art and illustration, Swarnavo Dutta’s journey is an inspiration to all of us. It’s a reminder that passion, perseverance, and a willingness to learn can open doors you never thought possible. So, for all you budding artists out there, take a page out of Swarnavo’s book – follow your heart, create your path, and watch your artistic journey unfold.
