Ashima Kumar is a visual artist. She has been working at the cutting edge of Graphic Design and Fine Art. Her style is a unique fusion of doodle art with traditional mediums and digital media. She juxtaposes graphic simplicity with painterly strokes. Her serene artworks aim to “penetrate the deepest part of us where no words exist.”
She uses graphic forms and colour emotively as a translation of her dreams and personal feelings. Always looking to transmute the experiential into visible patterns and abstract forms, she sees her artistic practice as threefold: “dream, doodle, design.”
Kumar produces fine artworks and runs ‘Doodle Art Workshops for Mindfulness’. She utilises elements from this style to impart tools for well-being. Her workshops help participants to discover unconscious thoughts, improve focus, reduce stress, and boost creativity.
Self-taught or art school?
I have completed a ‘Bachelor of Fine Arts’ with a specialization in Applied arts from the prestigious College of Art, in India. After completing my degree, I started my career as a graphic designer in advertising. While on one hand, I was creating designs and campaigns for clients on their briefs on the other hand I was exploring and developing my own style of art. Over the years the creative calling of an artist in me took over and I switched focus to become a full-time artist.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
The one artwork I wish I could own is Joan Miro’s “Women and Bird in the Moonlight”. I like the abstract symbolism of women, moon eyes, and the use of strong colours.
How would you describe your style?
My style is a unique fusion of doodle art with traditional mediums and digital media. I juxtapose graphic simplicity and natural patterns with painterly strokes.
The patterns are the key in my style, they translate my dream and feelings into a visual expression.
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
I see my artistic practice as threefold: “dream, doodle, design.”
I always start with a form and that form gives me an idea, the idea elicits another form, and everything concludes in shapes, figures, and objects that are relatable. I weave symbols, patterns, and colours to narrate a story. My work is symbolic of beauty, wonder, and serenity.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
I admire a lot of artists but I tend to get drawn more to contemporary art. To name a few, Takashi Murakami for pop sensibilities, Yayoi Kusama for pattern and symmetry Joan Miro for abstract symbolism, Kara Walker for graphic silhouettes.
What or who inspires your art?
I am greatly inspired by natural patterns found in nature (high and low water waves, clusters of fresh leaves, or dry leaves) and abstract forms used in traditional art. It’s the relationship of nature, people, and spirituality that influences me.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My studio is at my house. My art table is next to traditional English Juliet balcony overlooking green foliage frequented by beautiful colorful birds and a fox.
Do you have any studio rituals?
I have a pile of blank paper lying on my art table. My day begins with hand and mind coordination exercises, which is meditation for me. It is like transmitted my feelings and thoughts directly onto paper through the mere act of breathing. These are simple lines and shapes. This prepares me to sail through the day with a smile.
Next follows a coffee cup which is often mistaken as a cup of water if I am painting.
What are you working on currently?
Currently, I am working on ‘Feminine Energy’ series. This series is the result of a long journey lived through self and others. It is a journey into the minds and hearts of women – women young and old; mothers and grandmothers; daughters and partners; friends and girlfriends; working women and homemakers; the aggressor and the aggrieved.
The second project I am working on is co-authoring a book that is very close to my heart. It is a gratitude book to enable people to live in ‘now’ and ‘today’.
Where can we buy your art?
My art can be viewed on my website https://ashimaart.com/
Not all the artworks are featured on the website. But one can send me a message via the contact on the website and I will share images of more works.
The collection is updated on my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ashima_2016/
For those who wish to custom commission a piece, I have a contact form on my website that they can fill in their requirements and I will get in touch with them to discuss the details.
