We recently connected with Sikha Das and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sikha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I mostly learned digital art on my own when I was in middle/high school – experimenting, practicing, and looking at tutorials online. This was even before Youtube or social media was ubiquitous, so it really required a lot of playing around with the tools. At the time, I taught myself Photoshop and Illustrator and basic concepts about how to work with shapes, brushes, and other tools. Later on, I was gifted a digital tablet, which required a completely new skillset, so I slowly familiarized myself and practiced using it by mostly drawing Japanese Anime and Chibi characters. I even tried other drawing programs, such as Paint Tool Sai, which I enjoyed using the most. A few months ago, I decided to get back into digital art and bought myself an iPad and Procreate. Thanks to the basic knowledge I had developed before, I was able to quickly pick it up. This time, I could also learn from a rich art community on Instagram and Youtube!

Looking back, I would’ve practiced drawing more than I used to – I would draw on/off, which really slowed down my progress, and it changed my art style frequently. I could’ve also built a habit to sketch daily in a notebook, so I wasn’t tied to being around a computer and could continue to practice the basics of drawing. Part of the reason for this was that school/work took up a large chunk of my time and was the biggest blocker in pursuing art as even a daily hobby. However, I think that even spending 10-15 min sketching digitally or traditionally every day can lead to improvement in the long run.

The main thing I’ve learned is to trust the process!

Sikha, 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 self-taught digital and watercolor artist based out of NYC. Throughout my life, I’ve enjoyed spending my free time experimenting with different art tools, techniques, and styles. I like to draw inspiration from objects and scenes around me including anime and pop culture. My goal is to invoke feelings of joy and coziness with my illustrations!

Currently, I provide commissions of people/characters, animals/pets, or custom designs, which include logos, cover art, banners, etc. What sets me apart is the ability to use a variety of tools/techniques (i.e. Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Watercolors) and even learn new techniques on the job to provide clients with their unique needs.

I’m proud of illustrating the cover art for a recently published poetry book (Linguistic Therapy), winning runner up in a boba shop’s (Milklab) giftcard design competition, publishing my website, and starting an art Instagram!

In the future, I plan to expand my art business to sell prints, stickers, and other items.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, there are two most rewarding aspects of being an artist. The first is the ability to express myself freely through my art, which I find to be highly therapeutic. The second is to work with clients to implement their vision into a tangible product.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Although I’m still building my audience, I’ve learned a few things along my short journey so far. The first is the importance in genuinely engaging with other artists within the community and supporting them by commenting on and sharing their work. The second is to make your style/vision/brand clear, so your audience knows what to expect from you. Lastly, it’s very important to be consistent with posting in your platform – that gives your page more chances to reach new users.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://whiteflame.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiteflame_art/

Image Credits
N/A