Strings and strokes of creativity

Anni Albers once said that ‘Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness’. That’s the liberating feeling that Keerthika gets whenever she’s working on something creative.

She found her love for art and craft in 2014. She just wanted to utilise her time efficiently so she joined quilling classes. But those classes didn’t give her what she was looking for; she dropped out after a couple of days and decided to teach herself the tricks of the trade.

She took the help of the internet and a year later, she became so good at it that she decided to conduct classes for others interested. She says, “I’ve done close to 25 workshops since then. But it was truly the exhibition of the quilling project displayed at HSR Club that encouraged me to experiment more.”

She did so well at the exhibition that she won a prize for it. But quilling wasn’t the only thing she wanted to learn. She soon took to decoupage and started experimenting with items available at home. “Volume decoupage is an American art that many enthusiasts are trying now. I went to learn the art when a workshop about it was conducted a few years ago. I found so much joy in it that I started experimenting more. I now take workshops for it,” she exclaims.

One-stroke method of painting is something she dabs in at times. This process involves a double or multi-loading of colour to achieve highlights, shadows and hue changes in one stroke. It is basically done by loading the paint-brush with many colours to achieve many features. She also has done a few murals on a broad canvas and used clay to give the artwork a 3D effect.

That’s not all, Keerthika loves making eco-friendly soaps too.

“When I started uploading my art and craft on my Facebook page ‘Vikee Creation’, people started encouraging me to try more things. This motivated me to do more research and learn as many tricks as I could in my free time.”

She prepares all these works in her home with ingredients procured from wholesale markets.

She also takes orders for the artwork that she does. She says, “My two-year-old is often with me when I’m doing my projects. He loves the frames I use for quilling and if he finds any of the materials on the floor, he starts playing with them. It’s like he’s trying to make something on your own too.”

Though she dabbles multiple things, her main inspiration with regards to designs is floral patterns. She explains, “I refer to many creators from the UK, the UK and from North India. I’ve noticed that they are more open to experimenting and that inspires me to try something on my own too.”

Keerthika is quite content with her hobby. She wants to continue learning and pick up a few more ideas for her to fall in love with.

“I don’t know what my life would have been if I had been a software professional. I find it so comforting to work on my creations any time of the day. It helps me relax and forget about my problems,” she says.

(Keerthika can be contacted at 9035226655)