Satvika Menon: Little Body, Big Talent
Artist name: Satvika Menon
Area of art: Sketching
Title of work: Untitled
Just recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Satvika Menon, a Grade 7 student. Although she focuses mostly on sketching in her art, her style can be very versatile in itself. It's unusual and she is not afraid for it to be that way. It is simple with a complex story behind it. But most of all, it will never bore you because no two sketches of hers are alike. She will give you variety. She will give you minimalism. She will share with you an artistic representation of how she views the simple things in life. But as of right now, it is I who will be sharing with you the short, sweet but spellbinding interview I took of hers (with an added bonus of some of her art work!)
-- While you read the interview, please keep in mind that all questions asked and answered (except for the general ones) are directed towards the sketch above (or the one that you can view on the cover). Other pictures are of additional work that she has done and wants you to view and may not have anything to do with certain questions asked.) --
Tell me a fun fact about you!
"I like many sports like dance, gymnastics and taekwondo."
What is you work about? (Referring to the picture above)
"When I was in the US, I watched Melanie Martinez’s (American singer-songwriter) live stream on YouTube and I got really inspired by her so I became a huge fan of her. I decided to draw her after that."
Are there any details of the process of creating your work that you can give us?
"First, I actually did like a really rough sketch but I didn’t like it and it was too hard to make. Then, I changed something. I was actually drawing a picture of her sitting but then I decided that I would only do her face. And then I colored it with soft pastels and color pencils."
Did you have any inspirations for that work?
"My parents told me that I can do whatever I want when it comes to art. They told me that if I want to do people, I can do them as well."
Why do you think this is “art”?
"There are many different aspects of art but I feel like this is one of the easier ones to do because it’s a sketch. It’s definitely art because a sketch is something that you would do in, let’s say, an art class. It’s something that many people call art."
Which characteristic of yours does this artwork represent, if any?
"Melanie Martinez is nothing like what I have done with my artwork, and this is actually kind of dull for her. But I tried to make it as dull as possible because I feel that it reflects the fact that I am an introverted person, and can be very shy at times too."
Is there anything else you'd like your viewers to know?
"There’s a series my younger sister really likes. In that series, the artists make the heads much bigger than the bodies. I used that interpretation in my work to make it look very fantasy-like."
So that's it for the interview. But it does not end here. I am sure that Satvika Menon may be coming off as very skilled to you, despite her very young age. It is important that we must encourage such artists from very early on in their lives because that is what will keep them interested in doing their work in the long run. If you wish to contact/compliment/message her, her e-mail ID is satvika.menon@oberoi-is.net.
Look for more next weekend!
