It was a prize in grade seven that turned Nanditha Sandeep's focus towards the world of arts and craft. "We had an annual event called 'Open day' in school where children displayed their artistic creations. My artwork was chosen as the best that year and it is still one of my most cherished memories," she says.
She kept at her hobby over the years with praises and encouragement coming her way. Now the entrepreneur has an extensive inventory as well as a place in the Limca Book of Records to her credit.
"After marriage, I decided to do something while sitting at home. Within a span of a year, I made 1,000 paintings of Lord Ganesha. I did so with an aim to set a record but someone had already done the same thing."
Nanditha refused to give up and set about creating a unique dress for her daughter - a long gown made entirely of 1,000 'Dairy Milk' wrappers. A record was set and recognition followed.
"Everyone was impressed, especially my family. They knew the struggle and effort I had put in for my paintings so when I didn't get the record, they thought I would give up. But the frock was next and they were all so proud of me," says Nanditha.
Now Nanditha makes a variety of things, which are proudly displayed on her Facebook page. From explosion boxes (a type of photo album) to name boards, she manages to give a colourful twist to even the most mundane items. Zentangles, sospeso art, laser cutting, decoupage - everything finds a way into her artefacts.
"My favourites are the scrap album. Each and every page has to be different yet creative. In designs, I love working with zentangles. When I incorporate this into my work, the finishing is very good. It's a very satisfying process; more so because I can directly draw these with a pen," she explains.
She spends about three hours a day in her world of images and colours. Her inspirations are varied and range from a print on a bedspread to a picture on social media. She aims to make her themes and colour combinations as different as possible ("my favourite colours are pink and white though"), though this can sometimes be a challenging task. "When I don't get something right, I will be upset but I keep trying. I take it as a challenge and ensure that I get it right eventually, no matter how tough it is or how many attempts I have to make," she points out.
Asked about the requirements to stand out in the field she explains, "An interest in arts and craft is necessary. Not everyone has a flair for it. Those who have the capacity can just pick it up but others can hone their interest and skill by way of workshops and classes. Patience is also necessary."
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