Meet this artist who is also a green belt in Karate

Akshat Shankar is a class 9 student at Apeejay School, Kharghar. He is a ‘pro’ when it comes to clay art. And why shouldn’t he be. For he made his first clay art, a Ganesh idol, when he was just 5 years old. Selected as the Aspiring Artist of this week, the young man gives us an insight into his artistic worldview.

Read edited excerpts:

Since when did you start drawing?

I started very early in life. When I was 5 years old I made a Ganesh ji idol from clay for the first time and from that point I started drawing. And the journey has continued ever since.

That’s great! So which art form is your favourite and why?

Madhubani painting is my favourite art form. I am from Bihar and I have grown up seeing a variety of Madhubani paintings with different patterns and bright colours in the painting.

And how does your school support you as an artist?

My school encourages all artists to take part in many drawing competitions as well as motivates us to submit our drawings for school. I am thankful to my school for its support.

Akshat, every artist has their own understanding of art?  What’s yours?

My definition of art is that it is something created with imagination and which is beautiful and attractive to all.

How much time does it take you to complete one artwork? What are your common themes?

I take roughly two hours or sometimes even a day to complete an artwork. The common ideas and themes are usually about nature and landscape.  I just love nature.

Upcoming artworks?

I am beginning to learn charcoal art. I will soon submit it to the Apeejay Newsroom website.

We are waiting eagerly for it! So tell us about a new artform you wish to learn?

There are more than 50 art forms in India. I want to learn all of them but first I wish to learn Patachitra painting.

And lastly, other hobbies apart from art?

Football and karate; I am currently a green belt in karate.