Six Years in A Hundred Strokes

  •   Sat, Oct 25 2025
  •   By Sanrita Jasmine Madtha

October 25, 2025 

 “Art is not my cup of tea. No to art. I can never draw.” Those were my words years ago. Back in school, I was a kind of student who excelled in every subject except drawing. Though I excelled in every subject with an A+, drawing stubbornly stayed at a B+, making me believe art wasn’t meant for me. I carried this belief for quite a long time until life had some other plans. They say sometimes, the things we once disliked become the things we fall in love with. The pandemic turned this saying into reality. While people around me were experimenting with cooking and vlogging, I was left wondering, what am I good at? What is the thing that truly makes me happy? That’s when art knocked on my door. It began with a simple thought. Why not try drawing? Why not prove myself that even I can draw? Yes, inspired by a mandala post from Ananya Gupta, a self-taught painter from New Delhi, I recreated her work and shared it online. To my surprise, she noticed and left a comment — “Loving the details.” Those three words changed everything. For the very first time, I felt maybe my art wasn’t that bad. Maybe I could actually do this. 

 

From then on, mandala became my world. It taught me patience in moments when frustration and anger took over. Slowly, drawing took a transformation from a pastime to a therapy. What started in black and white evolved into colours and with every shade my perspective on life changed too. From paintings to stencils, bottle art to crafts, my journey kept branching into new forms. My parents, who once casually tossed out waste bottles, now paused to ask if I needed them for my next artwork. Behind every stroke was an untold emotion. Behind every color, there was a hidden story. Behind every final touch was a quiet sense of healing. Art gave me an identity beyond just called by my name. But it wasn’t always easy. There were days I couldn’t draw a thing. When nothing looked right, fear of failure began to take hold. Yet appreciation from visitors, admiration from peers and recognition from others kept me moving forward. 

Then came the real turning point in my artistic journey. My professor at SDM asked me to draw a caricature for Bettada Hoovu, a book based on the legendary film of the late Dr. Puneeth Rajkumar. Seeing my name in print as an artist was a feeling I can hardly describe. It was nothing but just pure joy. When I received my first payment for that caricature, it felt like a poor man receiving his daily bread. It may be a small thing, but the satisfaction it carried was priceless. Later, at an art exhibition at NITTE College, I stood watching people admire my work, take photos, and share kind words. I couldn’t help but think back to the days when I used to click pictures of other artists’ creations. Now, others were doing the same for mine and that moment left me speechless. 

Art also gave me a way to connect with people I love. Instead of expensive gifts, I found joy in creating thoughtful and handmade pieces. There’s a special kind of warmth in gifting your work because nothing compares to sharing a little part of your soul with somebody who matters. From creating mandalas to pop art, from canvas to face painting, what began as a challenge to overcome my weakness transformed into a lifelong passion. Like a mother, art nurtured me when I was broken, held me when I felt lost and shaped me into a stronger, more disciplined, more confident woman. It guided me with patience, healed me with love and taught me lessons no classroom ever could. Throughout my journey, my imagination became my greatest inspiration, turning simple thoughts into stories and blank spaces into a world of colours.

Today, six years later I look back with gratitude. I have created over 150 artworks so far and it still feels surreal. I started with nothing more than a pencil, a sheet of paper and an eraser. Now, I buy my own art supplies with money I earn through my work. I am Sanrita, an artist, and I can proudly say that art isn’t just something I do, it’s something I live and breathe. Art has been my greatest transformation. Every stroke has made me stronger, every colour has taught me hope, and every creation has helped me grow. To my parents, my supporters and everyone who believed in me, thank you for being part of this journey. And finally, to art itself, my greatest teacher, I will cherish you forever.

 

 

 
By Sanrita Jasmine Madtha
Sanrita Jasmine Madtha from Bantwal, is currently pursuing her PhD at NITTE Institute of Communication. Alongside her academic journey, art has always been her true passion. She is a pop artist, and over the past six years, has been exploring vibrant expressions of life and culture through her work.
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