We recently connected with Hansamali Sirinimal and have shared our conversation below.

Hansamali, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I don’t think there was one dramatic lightning-bolt moment — it was more of a slow realization.

I actually started in art very young — around four years old — and continues doing it all the way through age 14. Art was always one of my favortie subjects, the place where I felt most at home. It wasn’t just a class to me; it was where I felt expressive, imaginative, and fully myself.

Then everything changed unexpectedly. My art teacher suddenly passed away, and the position wasn’t replaced right away. Without that anchor, I shifted to English literature as my aesthetic subject. It was meaningful in its own way, but I deeply missed actively creating. Over time, art quietly slipped out of my daily life.

When I began studying science and chemistry in college, my focus became entirely academic. Aside from a few small creative projects during college, I lost touch with art almost completely. I went on to graduate as a chemistry major and later earned my PhD in organic chemistry. On paper, everything looked like a clear and successful path.

But when it came time to explore careers, I felt a surprising void. None of the standard roles felt exciting or motivating. There was this quiet but persistent feeling that something essential was missing. That “something” was art. Later, as I tried to imagine myself on a more conventional path, I kept coming back to the same question: Would I feel fulfilled if I wasn’t creating? The answer was always no. Even during busy or stressful periods, making art was what gave me energy instead of draining it.

A dear friend of mine saw that before I fully admitted it to myself. They encouraged me to start again and even bought me art supplies. That simple gesture meant everything. I started small — creating whenever I could, without pressure or expectations.

As life became busier with career and kids, I adapted. I turned to digital art on Procreate, experimenting with patterns and illustrations whenever I had a spare moment. It became a way to reconnect with a part of myself that had been dormant for years. It wasn’t about becoming an artist professionally at first — it was about feeling whole again. I often spend sleepless nights each week creating art yet, I rarely feel drianed.

Looking back, I don’t think I “decided” to pursue a creative path in one single moment. It was more of a return — a realization that art had always been part of who I am, even when I tried to follow a different direction. Science shaped my discipline and way of thinking, but art is what fills the void.

And once I felt that again, I knew I couldn’t ignore it. That’s when I knew it wasn’t just an interest — it was part of how I’m wired. Pursuing it professionally felt less like a bold leap and more like an honest decision to follow what had always been there, which is what I’m working on now so ardently.

Art is my Shangri-La, the place I return to when I need restoration and meaning, a place of peace, escape, and renewal, a sanctuary where time slows and everything feels aligned and the refuge I didn’t realize I was searching for all those years.

Hansamali, 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?

I’m a multidisciplinary artist working with watercolor, acrylic, oil pastels, and digital pattern design. My journey into art began as a natural curiosity about color, texture, and the beauty found in everyday life. Creating has always been a way for me to observe the world more deeply and express emotions and stories that are sometimes difficult to capture in words. Over time, that personal passion grew into a dedicated artistic practice where I explore different mediums to bring ideas to life in unique ways.

Each medium I work with offers something different to my creative process. Watercolor allows me to explore softness, transparency, and the organic movement of pigment and water. Acrylic gives me the freedom to experiment with bold color, layers, and texture. Oil pastels bring an expressive quality through rich color and strong mark-making. Alongside traditional painting, I also create digital patterns, which allow me to translate hand-drawn elements and artistic ideas into repeatable designs that can be used for textiles, stationery, surface design, and other creative applications.

Much of my inspiration comes from nature, culture, and the small details that often go unnoticed in daily life. I’m also drawn to patterns, natural forms, and color combinations that evoke a sense of harmony and warmth. Whether I’m painting a piece by hand or designing a digital pattern, my goal is to create work that feels thoughtful, expressive, and visually engaging.

Through my work, I offer original artworks, prints as well as pattern designs that can be applied across a variety of creative products and surfaces. I take commisions and am avaiable for licensing all my art work, especially the digital patters. I love the idea that art can live in many forms—from a framed painting on a wall to a pattern that becomes part of a fabric, product, or everyday object. In this way, art becomes something people can experience not only visually but also as part of their daily environment.

What sets my work apart is the blend of traditional art techniques with digital creativity and its authenticity. I enjoy moving between the tactile experience of paint and pastel and the versatility of digital design. This combination allows me to create work that feels both handcrafted and adaptable to modern creative industries.

One of the things I’m most proud of is continuing to explore and evolve across different mediums while staying true to my artistic voice. Each piece I create—whether it’s a painting or a pattern—reflects my curiosity, passion for color, and appreciation for the beauty of simple moments. The journey of being an artist is one of constant exploration, and I embrace that process wholeheartedly. Each new piece is an opportunity to experiment, learn, and push my work further.

Ultimately, what I hope people take away from my work is a sense of connection and inspiration and that it comes from a place of genuine passion and curiosity. I want my art to encourage people to notice the beauty around them, to feel a moment of calm or joy, and to see how creativity can transform everyday experiences into something meaningful.

Art, for me, is about connection—between the artist and the viewer, between emotion and form, and between the visible world and the inner experience it inspires. If someone pauses in front of one of my paintings and feels a sense of wonder, calm, or reflection, then I know the work has fulfilled its purpose.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As I see it, one of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is the way creativity makes me feel. More often than not, it brings a sense of pure joy, peace, and calm—a combination of many beautiful emotions that are sometimes difficult to put into words. There’s a deep sense of fulfillment that comes from engaging in the creative process. Very few things give me that same feeling; the only thing that truly compares is spending time with my children.

I also deeply cherish the freedom that comes with being a creative person. The ability to explore ideas, experiment with color and form, and work on pieces without too many restrictions or limitations is something I had always longed for in a career. At the same time, I don’t like to think of being an artist only as a profession. For me, art goes far beyond that—it is a way of life. It’s a lifeline that allows me to express myself, find balance, and connect with the world around me.

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

Despite my strong desire to leave my corporate career and become a full-time artist, the journey has been challenging for many reasons. However, those challenges have never discouraged me from continuing to work toward that goal. My passion for art has always been stronger than the obstacles along the way.

For now, I balance my creative life with a full-time job, but I make it a priority to create art at least a few days each week. That time is essential for keeping the creative part of me alive and nurtured. No matter how busy life becomes, I always find my way back to art.

There have been moments when I felt disconnected from my creative practice, but somehow art always finds its way back to me—or I find my way back to it. Each time that happens, the passion is reignited and reminds me why I started this journey in the first place. It gives me the motivation to keep moving forward and continue walking the path toward becoming a full-time artist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_hansarts_studio?igsh=MWdzMjZqNGN4cjEzdQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHansArtsStudio?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Image Credits

image 8 pencil sketch: Photography: Ahmed Hanjoul Photography