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

Shachi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

I firmly believe that if we have even a little and we see someone who needs it more, we should give it to those who are in greater need. I learned this from my mother, and I try to follow her example every day, giving whenever I see an opportunity. I don’t typically align myself with just one or two organizations. Instead, I respond to needs as I encounter them—whether it’s a fundraiser, a family in need, or a person on the side of the road who looks genuinely distressed. I also support NGOs like Raksha, which work tirelessly for the benefit of women and children, and I enjoy sponsoring meals whenever I can. There are so many moments we witness every day, and I feel a responsibility to give my 10%.

Shachi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As an artist, I believe that colors bring happiness to every soul they touch and are a true delight to the eyes. I find beauty in the simplest things around us and aim to capture it through a variety of mediums and styles. My work is deeply inspired by the intricate and magnificent details of Madhubani Art from my region in India. With a continuous desire to learn and master new skills, I have a strong affinity for creating vibrant and colorful pieces using acrylics, pens, markers, and mixed media. My mission is to spread joy, beauty, and smiles through my dynamic color palette.

Srijan Shachi Art is a brand I’ve been developing over the past few years. Fueled by a passion for painting and exploring various art styles, I initially started Srijan Shachi as a hobby to showcase my artwork, experiments, and explorations. It quickly became an integral part of my life, leading me to take the leap and officially register it as a business. I’m excited to elevate my passion to new heights and contribute to society in meaningful ways.

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

There was a time when I was far from being considered an artist. I painted purely as a hobby, without any clear ideas, visions, or skills. I recall a moment when a dear friend and colleague in India advised me to stop painting, saying that my work was painful to look at. That comment ignited a spark within me, fueling a determination to challenge myself and one day hear her say, “Your paintings are amazing!” My journey with art took a significant turn in 2012 when I was grappling with personal grief. I turned to art as a means to heal my soul and find solace.

I joined a Facebook group called the 30 Days Art Challenge and began creating art every day. This continued for a couple of years until the group was shut down. However, the friendships I formed with fellow artists, along with their encouragement and support, inspired me to persist in pursuing my dream of becoming an artist and achieving recognition.

After two or three years of persistence, perseverance, and resilience in building my art brand, something unexpected happened. The colleague I mentioned earlier commented on my work, saying that my pieces were awesome and that I was inspiring many people. That was the day I felt truly successful.

Now, when I meet aspiring artists who lack the confidence to begin, I tell them that with dedication, persistence, and resilience, any dream is achievable. I encourage them to keep working diligently and to approach both successes and failures with humility. This, I believe, is the key to turning dreams into reality and achieving one’s goals.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I attend numerous art festivals and booths to promote my work and generate capital for my brand. As a new artist building something for the first time, I was lacking in both experience and information. After my first event, I realized that the costs needed to be lower. For the next event, I reduced the expenses significantly to better align with my customers’ needs. However, a Patron of the Arts inquired about the effort I put into my work and examined the originality of my pieces. After learning about my process and thoughts, he advised me to value my work and myself more. He suggested that I define my value in terms of my time, originality, and efforts, and then develop a pricing strategy based on that assessment. That’s when I realized I needed to unlearn some of the lessons from my first booth experience and develop a new strategy. I worked on showcasing my work with greater confidence and clearly expressing the value it creates.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.srijanshachi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srijanshachi
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/srijan.shachi

Image Credits

Shachi Srivastava