‘Find out what differentiates you from others’ - Suresh Huidrom, Harts Studios

Entrepreneurs and artists share some things in common, including the ‘4 Ds’ of success: dedication, diligence, discipline, and differentiation.

PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In this second photo essay on Chitra Santhe 2018, we cover perspectives on the art boom in India, and more pictorial highlights (see also Part 1 of the photo essay).

In the earlier 160 posts, we brought you a wide range of creative photographs from a cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, art gallery, climate change expo, street art festival, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, Vesak, millets fair, and jazz festival.

Chitra Santhe, widely regarded as India’s largest street fair for art, is organised as a one-day festival in January by the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (see my photo essays from the earlier editions in 2017, 2016 and 2015). This photo essay shows more samples of the paintings, murals, sculptures and mixed-media works on display this year.

“As a child, my first love was art and it has always been the primary objective of my life. My notebooks at school were invariably filled with sketches and paintings,” recalls Suresh Huidrom from Harts Studios in Manipur, one of the exhibiting artists at Chitra Santhe.

“Know your market. Develop a roadmap that outlines your art business goals and how you are going to achieve those goals. Find out what can differentiate your artwork from the others,” he advises aspiring artists.

“Once you know your market and have determined your business is viable, you should engage your target market. You might consider starting a blog, since most people use search engines to find the things they need including art,” Suresh adds.

“Art is a career where every time you start painting or drawing you will learn a new method and experience. Always try to explore yourself, flow with the colour and never stop doing what you love,” he advises.

"Art changes people and people change the world" is one of Suresh's favourite quotes. "Art comes alive when it has a soul," he signs off. We totally agree!

Now what have you done lately to explore your artistic side, or help other artists?

Got a creative photograph to share? Email us at [email protected]!

See also the YourStory pocketbook ‘Proverbs and Quotes for Entrepreneurs: A World of Inspiration for Startups,’ accessible as apps for Apple and Android devices.