Anyone who has visited his Facebook or Instagram profile will know that he is a phenomenal artist, but it's not just the gift of art he's been endowed with. He is also a poet and these days, apart from drawing, he is working on his novel, too!
"While I was at school, my teacher asked me not to participate in any competition because apparently I took everybody else's chance of winning medals. My teacher said that if I complied, I'd be given a title at the end of the school year," he confides.
Utsav claims to be a self-taught artist. He recently secured 3rd position in the International Ballpoint Pen Contest 'VIROARTPEN,' where he was required to sketch something using ball point pen only. He is one of those few artists who has proficiency in diverse mediums of art, namely: acrylic, water color, pastel, charcoal, ball point pen, graphite and pencil.
His artwork has helped him get financial independence at a young age, too. He started selling his work for Rs 3,000 and now he commissions his art for as much as Rs 80,000.
A high school graduate from St Xavier's College currently taking a gap year, Utsav is also busy applying to study Computer Engineering in universities abroad. Republica's Prashanti Poudyal caught up with him to talk about his passion for art, future plans, and many things in between.
Blake hurt while performing ballet
Utsav’s artwork using ball point pen.
How did you get into art?
When I was in UKG, I drew a picture of Goddess Saraswati on the back of a calendar using a ball pen. My friends and teacher saw that and praised me for my new found talent. The story spread in the school, and even my class teacher would ask me to draw stuffs on the blackboard. By the time I was in Class IV, my teachers told me that my strokes were as good as professionals'. They were astonished. Then in Class VIII, I tried my hands at hyperrealism—the genre of painting/sketch where the art resembles a high-resolution photograph. This genre intrigues me.
Are your parents supportive?
My parents have been very supportive about my passion for art. Perhaps because I've also been good academically, not bragging but I secured 89% in my SLC, they never discouraged me to draw. By participating in various extra-curricular activities, I'd win about a dozen medals every year. I was content and so were my parents.
What is art for you?
I call it a 'rupture of feelings.' Whether I'm happy or sad, I let it all out through art.
Didn't you feel it necessary to take formal training?
Well, I feel that art is innate and if you learn it from someone else, you're blocking its way out. Your 'rupture of feelings' won't be entirely yours, it will have some (if not many) elements of your teachers' too. So I enjoy tutoring myself.
How do you tutor yourself?
In the beginning, my art mostly involved copying an image. Later I started paying attention to light reflections and shadow on the objects I saw. I applied that knowledge while doodling in my free times.
What do you think is the problem of youth today in regard to following their passions?
I feel that many of us find it hard to realize our passion to begin with. For example, I think I'm good at a lot of things and I haven't really discovered my true passion. My well-wishers further confused me for one would encourage me to be an artist while the other would persuade me to pursue media studies. I guess there are just some things that take time. I'm still in the phase of discovering my skill and I'm enjoying the process.
What inspires you?
I've been blessed with encouraging friends and well wishers and it's their faith in me that keeps me pushing. Artists like Samuel Silva and Allan Barbeau also inspire me at a whole new level.
Samuel Silva, a lawyer from Portugal whose ball point pen drawings received viral recognition in 2012, commented on my piece on Facebook page, and I still can't help smiling thinking about it.
Your future plans?
Right now, my plan is to pursue Computer Engineering abroad. I feel, a degree would be handy in today's meritocratic era. Moreover, an artist with a Computer Engineering degree sets a different impression. Simultaneously, I also plan to learn and polish my artistic skills. Nepal doesn't have many hyper-realistic artists, so I want to show the world what Nepal has got. Having said that, I don't intend to compete with any of them. I simply want to enjoy my work and succeed in my own way.
Find Utsav on Facebook at facebook.com/artistutsav and at Instagram at instagram.com/artistutsav.
