In Conversation with Pujan

Hi, everybody!! I trust you guys are doing well and good with your life. Today I have some amazing news to share, I interviewed one of the finest digital artist Mr. Pujan Shresthaa, who is quite popular with his work and take pride in what he does.

So without further delay, I am sharing the virtual conversations we had recently. Read out our conversations, you might get to take a few pointers from this.

• Where are you from and how does that affect your work?

I'm from Banepa, Nepal. I'm a freelance digital artist. Since I'm usually working virtually, the place I'm living currently has no effect on my work at all.

• What influenced you to take it as a career?

I started drawing because of Sanju from Shaka Laka Boom Boom. I used to carry a small drawing pad and draw whatever I see pretending I have a magic pencil from "Shaka Laka boom boom". Maybe that's how I got into art. But right now @samdoesarts[IG] has the biggest influence on the art style that I do. I started doing stylized digital portraits just because of him. I started learning digital stylized painting by watching his working process on Patreon. I'm still trying to incorporate my own style into my paintings.

• Let's talk about your favorite medium and why so ?

I've been drawing ever since I can remember. My current favourite medium is digital. I use a graphic tablet on my PC but I started my digital art journey with a cheap homemade stylus made up of aluminium foil and my phone. As I started out as a traditional artist with pencil and paper, switching to a digital medium was a breeze.

• What should an artist keep in mind while creating art?

Don't ever compare yourself with other artists. You're gonna suck when you first start out. Don't get demotivated looking at the work of your favorite artist. They were too in the same place as you are right now. Just keep on drawing. Your skills will improve as you go.

• What are the major steps in your creative process?

When I choose the reference image I always look for an interesting pose, lighting, background etc. I just can't draw any random person from a random image. I have to like it to be able to paint it. Imagine sitting there for 6 hours painting something you don't even enjoy painting, how terrible it would feel. When I start a painting I already know how it's going to look when it's finished mentally. Then it's just a matter of producing it in a visual form so others can see it too.

• What according to you is an integral part of an artist's work?

You should be able to enjoy what you're doing. Regarding me, I get into a whole different zone when I sit to work. I can't work even for a minute if I'm not in a good mood. Also, you'll find your niche as you slowly start developing your skills. Even though I started out by drawing realistic portraits with real face proportion, I actually don't like doing realistic paintings anymore. Personally, there's nothing fulfilling about reproducing a photo and trying to make it look exact same. Of course, there's a lot of skill and technicality to it, but not much creativity involved. There are lots of artists who are insanely talented at realistic/hyperrealistic drawings and paintings but I don't think that's my cup of tea anymore. I have been doing the stylized painting for the past couple of years and I still want to insert my own styles and motives into it. I still have a long way to go.

• Let's talk about your childhood memory connecting to art?

There used to be a printing press near where I live when I was a kid. Everyone working there knew my grandfather so they used to let me take the printing paper as much as I can carry whenever I went there with my grandfather. That gave my art hobby a push.

• What’s your favourite artwork?

It's definitely the painting of Samriddhi Rai and her dogs.

• Name three artists you’d like to compare with

These artists are actually way better than me but we have similar artstyle @samdoesarts @ericanthonyj @hibatan

• Tell us the whereabouts of an artistic life?

It is as normal as non-artistic life. I'm always surrounded by people with painting requests saying "Pujan Dada, Please do one painting for me too". But seriously as an artist I'm used to working for long hours without any human interaction. I can get through my whole day without speaking a single word. This habit of mine has gone to such an extent that I don't even like meeting people and I don't even know how to interact with them anymore. Currently, I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone and go out as much as I can.

• What is an artistic outlook on life?

You should understand that you will never be satisfied with your artwork. While doing artwork there comes a point when you have to stop painting and call it done. You'll never finish it completely. Similarly, you can expend your lifetime but there will still be soo many things remaining to learn.

• Tell us about your memorable responses on your work.

Again, It's from Samriddhi Rai. She was soo happy with my artwork and gave me a follow back on my Instagram. I tagged her painting on Facebook and got a friend request from her on Facebook also. She still has that painting on her Instagram as a profile picture.

• What advice would you like to give to the upcoming generation?

I would suggest don't get demotivated by comparing your artwork with other artists' work. You don't know how many years it took them to reach the level they are at now. The only artwork you should be comparing with is your own previous artwork. Also, this is to my fellow artist, don't hesitate to say "NO" to free art requests. If I like your photos which can be used as a reference, I'll do it for free but if you ask me first to do your portraits, you should be ready to pay. There are always exceptions and it's totally okay if you kindly ask if I take requests. But what's not okay is if you are like "Can you draw me? lol" and expect me to do it for free. You have every right to CHARGE for your work and every right to turn down requests if you don't want to do it. I had some people in my DM's who were like "Yeh toh mein snapchat filter se effect daalkar 2 rupaye mein print maarlungi" after I denied their requests.

Samriddhi Rai's Artwork

If you have read till the end, congrats that means you enjoyed reading our talk, stay tuned as Effervescent Diary always cultivate to bring creative people's creative work together on one platform.

For more such artwork, you can click on the below link and visit the Instagram page.

Click Me

Disclaimer: The artwork solely belongs to the artist. Any unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

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