A chai session with Sayani Ray, the Kolkata-based graphic designer who created the Two Girls In A Field Of Flowers tattoo. Sayani talks about her art idols, Darjeeling tea and the never-ending problem of hoarding that many artists (myself included) face.

Can you recall a specific moment or event that inspired you and sparked your decision to become an illustrator? 

Both me and my art are very inspired by children's book illustrations, so I think I knew, that I wanted to be an artist right when I started reading these books, however back then I didn't know the right word for this type of art.

What was the very first thing you remember drawing, and how does it compare to your latest masterpiece? 

As a child, I often found myself sketching a lot of fish, because we as Bengalis eat fish every day, and I wanted to depict the everyday objects that surrounded my world through my art. Even now, when I think, my art still revolves around capturing the mundane, and I've discovered now that it resonates with a broader audience rather than only myself.

And that really helps me grow an emotional connection with my audience and gives me a lot of peace within.

How has your artistic style evolved since you first started making art? Are there particular influences that shaped this transformation?

When I first chose to pursue illustration as my profession, I looked up to many artists. I tried to mimic their styles and moods, this helped me improve but technically, it didn't really contribute to my artistic growth. Now I focus more on expressing myself in my art. I experiment with colors, humans, forms, and expressions. Although I have a comfort zone and I'm very well aware of it, I try to push myself to step out of it and be bolder when it comes to my art.

I've always found immense inspiration in the works of Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes, Benton Blake's illustrations in Roald Dahl books and of course, being a Bengali, I'm profoundly influenced by Satyajeet Ray and Rabindranath Tagore. I think the artistic culture of Bengal is so vibrant, it continuously fuels my creativity. The people, the discussions we have and the films and art that I've grown up watching definitely shaped up who I am as an artist and gave me constant inspiration.

What's your go-to remedy for overcoming creative blocks? Any bizarre rituals or techniques? 

As an artist, I often experience creative blocks, a challenge that seems to be more common. Now that I'm in my 30s, it is intensified by the need to stay relevant on social media, however, I have come to realize that my art is more than its online presence. It's about daily practice and exploration, even when I'm not producing shareable work.

I commit to drawing with whatever materials are available, particularly during creative block periods. But I deliberately stray from digital mediums to experiment with watercolors, markers, gouache, and anything that prevents a blank page.

If you could go back in time and give your beginner self one piece of advice, what would it be? 

One piece of advice that I would give to my younger self and to all emerging artists is to not put a lot of pressure on yourself. Overthinking leads to unnecessary drama that we can do without. Instead, be kind to your canvas and to yourself and let creativity flow naturally.

What's your go-to snack or drink while working on illustrations?

I'm a tea person. Give me a cup of some good Darjeeling tea and I'm sorted.

Share a guilty pleasure when it comes to art supplies or tools.

I am a little bit of a hoarder sometimes when it comes to art supplies. I love to collect different kinds of colors or experiment with different tools. Not always to be a master at it, but just to experience and know how it feels. That is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine.

If you could collaborate with any artist or illustrator, living or dead, who would it be?

Definitely Satyajit Ray because he was not only a wonderful filmmaker but also an equally amazing artist. He was a graphic designer who would design his own movie posters. The elements he would use, the fonts, the typography, the illustrations, in fact, he even made the storyboards of his movies. That in itself is such a huge inspiration to me. I am and will always be in awe of this person, and I wish I had been born in that period of time and I would have had an opportunity to collaborate with him.

If your art supplies rebelled against you, what do you think they would protest about?

I think my old art supplies would always rebel against me and protest for buying new art supplies. This is a habit I want to do away with because I'm being a little bit of a hoarder now, and I don't want to do that. That's not something I'm very proud of.

What's a common misconception about being an illustrator/artist that you'd like to dispel?

One common misconception about being an illustrator, that I want to dispel, is that it's very easy and it's a lot of fun. Yes, it is a lot of fun, but not every day is the same, right? And it definitely isn't easy because we too struggle with mental health. There are so many things we have to take care of in our daily lives, so being an artist is not an easy job, and I would really like to dispel this idea.

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