We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Oshi Sanyal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Oshi below.

Alright, Oshi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

We had just baught our new home and I was already toggling with the idea of creating an art space for myself since I was already a selling artist and loved donating art for charitable fund raisers.The formal dining area of our home seemed a perfect corner since it was just by our entrance and didn’t interfere with the rest of the house .With kids in elementary didn’t even need that extra space other than our breakfast nook for our meals ! It was then that I thought of opening up an art space for kids too who would like to paint with me an idea I couldn’t put to execution while we were in our rented apartment that way I’d be able to get my children involved too to attain an extra skill and satiate my love for working with kids creatively .
I put in an ad at our Nextdoor App and within a couple of days got a call from a mom who just moved from Florida Tampa with a middle and a high schooler and wanted her boys to explore art .
Jan 10th 2016 was the day I first started my Artscape’s journey with Devansh and Rohan being my first students. And it’s after so many years of guiding them through various art techniques to various competitions ,art exhibits ,different art shows in libraries and museums , art sales they have now successfully embarked on their Pre Meds and Pre Law careers still keeping art as their passion.
It was only through word of mouth that my student pool started growing.
All I tried to do was keep art as an inspiring ,interesting and evolving discipline among youths where you could create beauty through different techniques and mediums.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Art had been always a part of me since childhood . Being timid and quiet child I always found my solace in making art , writing and music. However I went on to attain a Degree in English Literature and a Post Graduation in Public Relations and embarked on a career in Hospitality and later becoming a Banker. I worked with some of the best brands in corporate including ITC, Citi , HSBC, JP Morgan Chase etc. but always kept art and art appreciation as something to fall back to to unwind and rejuvenate.There was a time I would be a Banker by the day and Artist by night ! It was Covid that made me pause and think what I enjoyed the most and put in my heart and soul to it ! I went ahead and became a Certified Therapeutic Art Life Coach and started holding various art events including corporate workshops and setting up classes for adults . Soon the Brand Oshi’s Art evolved where the mission was to deal with everything Artsy ;be it curating and selling art ; teaching and holding art events at Oshi’s Artscape Studio ; creating fashion ,designs through Oshi’s Wearable Art platform basically upholding our vision -Delve into Art ,Inspire,Dream,Create!
What I feel I do a bit differently as an artist and an art instructor is that I let my students and myself follow the heart and create what is best inspiring to oneself and enjoy the journey with implementing different art techniques making art a happy place where you want to revisit to unwind and enjoy and yet reap several benefits it has to offer .
The Philanthropist in me believe that there is always a greater good to give through Art and for this very reason I collaborate with various organizations to help our community. Currently I am serving as a Member Chair of the Art Club of McKinney the oldest club of Texas and am also the Chair for their Student Art Show as well. . My studio partners with City of Allen’s annual Art Extravaganza to provide a platform to bring forward the artistic talents across Collin County . I also donate my art for auction at various non profits including Lily Foundation of America supporting underprivileged kids education in developing countries and have served as their Secretary for 2 consecutive years in the past . Through Oshi’s wearable art we try to give a global platform to rural Artists and Artisans with various collaborative efforts making it a progressive sustainable brand by itself.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

So the Covid Hit in 2020 . We like many other businesses shut shop for a while waiting for ‘Stay Home ‘ quarantine to pass us ! My studio dealt with a large number of student base at that time. Parents and even myself were not comfortable in operating in close quarters with in person lessons!
Till then I had no idea or knowledge how we could teach art online but as the call of the hour i started online classes where i had to teach myself the technical aspects of online teaching and then deliver the required art lessons. This not only helped me sustain my small business but it expand my business and transcend geographic boundaries. Now I have students from not only Dallas but Atlanta California and Austin.
It also helped us work as a family to extend the art studio giving it a better bigger area and having the opportunity of working together and building it from the scratch with our own hands .
So being resilient not only helped sustain my small business but create avenues for it’s growth and expansion..

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I would say the strategy that helped grow my clientele was by being consistent; accommodating and open to the ideas and perspectives of the clients . Not trying to micro manage either my students or my artisans but allowing them the freedom to utilize their artistic edge and working towards their vision and being a guide and facilitator to attain their goal more effectively.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oshis.art/
• Instagram: Oshi’swearableart
• Facebook: Oshi’sArtscape