Work On It Till You Make It - Siddharth Mishra

"I had a knack for sketching. I was naturally good at it. My parents decided to refine my ability and put me into drawing classes. The teacher, just because I wasn't able to hold my pencil the way he wanted me to, declared that I cannot become an artist, ever. So, that was the end of drawing in my childhood. 

Things turned around when I entered college. Out of the blue, I started painting daily and shared my work with my friends. My friends' encouragement gave me the boost that I had lost because of my childhood art teacher. After my parents, they are the ones to whom I'll always be grateful for pushing me in the right direction.

Post college, when I started working, I felt empty. I wanted to do something relating to art. Thus, I decided to pursue designing, besides my job. I appeared for various exams, but couldn't make it, just by a margin of 7 marks. I tried again, but still couldn't make it. By this time, my colleagues also got to know about my art and I started taking sessions for them. Over my Instagram page also, I started taking sessions. Later, I went on to quit my job and my manager said, "Either you are too dumb, or too bold".

 

During the first lockdown, an art group, Artisana, approached me. I took sessions on their platform and monetized my skills. I also went on to join another firm, in which I do my second most favourite thing, that is, coding. 

There is a proper balance in my life right now. Coding and painting fill my days and my heart. To my fellow Odias, I'd like to say that work on your skills. You might fail at times, you might not enter into your dream college, but that doesn't mean you cannot pursue it any other way!" - Siddharth Mishra.