With a heart for art

When most youngsters in their early twenties are busy hanging out with friends, Nishka Mehta is tirelessly working with her pencils and paints to create something that one wouldn’t normally find in the market.  

She feels that art is a subjective term and takes a lot of trouble to interpret art in her own style. She started ‘Art Beat’ last year and before she knew it, her work gained popularity.  
A graduate of Business Management from Christ University, Nishka decided to convert her hobby and talent into a full-fledged profession by adding colour into everyday products like coasters, fridge magnets, miniature frames, wedding packages and even wall hangings.

Be it a product of utility, an item for decoration or a customised order, affordable art for everyone is what ‘Art Beat’ aims to achieve.

“My paintings are something basic and range from funky doodles to colourful drawings,” she says.

Through a lot of hard work and commitment, ‘Art Beat’ has caught the fancy of a lot of people. Her items are not only a hit among youngsters, who like to own the funky items but the older people as well. “Art knows no age,” she says.    

Nishka’s venture is a one-woman show. She handles all the facets of her business like accounts, marketing and sales and thanks to her enthusiasm, Nishka’s energy will never drain.

She says that she can make 40 key chains per day and will continue working at the same pace.

Although, she comes from a management background, it didn’t take Nishka too long to dig out the artist in her. But like any other new entrepreneur, Nishka too faced her share of challenges.

“However, technology has been very helpful to me and Facebook has helped spread the word. It’s fun to have your own venture but the entire responsibility lies on you. I work through the day and manage the accounts by night. There is no weekend for me,” she says.

There is no looking back because Nishka is confident of her venture, thanks to the appreciation she has been receiving.

“I made an Archie painting, my favourite comic character and it was signed by Dan Parent, the creator, at Comic Con,” she says. 

The bubbly youngster is expanding her range of products as she is now into selling phone cases and painting door-hooks and key hooks.

Nishka also hopes to set up a full-fledged storesoon and is currently working for Comic Con Mumbai for which she is painting a number of products themed around superheroes.