Interviews
BeyondBooks: ‘Drawing brings me inner peace’
This young artist at Apeejay School, Kharghar, says creating art keeps her refreshed and supports her energy daily
What she truly enjoys are the moments when the art teachers teach us different art forms, like madhubani painting and mandala art. She finds it to be a stress-relieving experience, and the entire class gets excited to learn these new and colourful styles. Meet Dyuti S Patil, a student of Class V at Apeejay School, Kharghar.
In a candid interview, she shares how participating in arts and crafts has helped her express her ideas.
A project that made you feel especially proud of your work.
The project that made me feel most proud was titled My Dream World. It was organised by the Navi Mumbai Seaside Rotary Club in 2025. I won first prize in the category for classes V to VII, among almost 4,000 participants. I also won a prize in Colour Splash 2024, receiving an Amazon gift voucher. My name was even published in the Hindustan Times 2024.
How has participating in arts and crafts helped you express your ideas or feelings better?
Drawing makes my heart feel light and brings peace to my mind. It reduces stress and keeps me calm. When I draw, I forget everything around me, and ideas flow freely. Drawing gives me happiness and helps me express myself.
How do you feel when you’re working with colours, textures, or different craft materials?
When I work with colours or different art materials, I feel like I blend with the colours deep into the drawing. Gradually, I forget everything else and focus completely on the creativity I’m bringing to life.
Have you learnt any skills in arts and crafts that you feel help you on the handball court?
Yes. I have learnt a simple yet attractive art form called stick figures, a freehand drawing style that lets us show any activity we are doing. It is useful because it showcases specific actions, which other art styles may not include.
What challenges you more: Creating something or improving a handball skill?
Both creating something with my hands and improving handball skills are challenging, but drawing is more difficult for me. Miniature paintings require a lot of patience, and it takes real skill to show emotions and feelings through art. Executing this well makes it more challenging.
How do these two activities together make your school day more enjoyable or balanced?
Art spreads peace and keeps me calm, so it makes my day feel fresh and helps me stay active. I can balance academics, sports, dance, and other activities because drawing teaches me patience. My handball practice starts early at 7 am, and after that, I attend school feeling active and refreshed throughout the day.
