1- Introduce yourself:

My name is Roshni Merchant. I’m a graphic designer and an illustrator/watercolourist. I like to describe what I do as “designing dialogues”- the interaction between senses and emotions, visuals and perception, objects and people. I’m always interested in the relation between things. To me art and design has always been about a gut feeling; a sense of knowing from within. When it comes to creating by hand, watercolour is my preferred medium. The unpredictable playfulness of every stroke gives a sense of not knowing where you're going or what you will land up with. It is the process I find evocative rather than the end result.

2- What inspired you to become a Visual Artist, and how did social media contribute to your success over having influence over people?

It all started with imaginative doodling in my childhood, making its way into my study books. This became a very instinctive habit; an obsession, to translate my observation or thought into something visual. Right from my school days I was always drawn towards imagery, colour and illustrations as opposed to absorbing lengthy textual content. Drawing and making images to me is a way to explore and express something; it satisfies an impulse that words cannot. I completed my degree in Bachelors of Fine Arts which was the starting point, a sneak peek into the world I wanted to be immersed in.

3- How would you describe your artwork to someone who has never seen it?

“Vivid. Aesthetic. Feminine.” Colour has the power to elicit how we feel and how we behave. It is the starting point of inspiration and it’s what gets me excited about creating something. It evokes a certain emotion and I try to capture the essence. I love communicating through colour; I think it’s a language I’m drawn to instantly and can express a certain thought or feeling.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Roshni Merchant (@roshnimerchant) on Oct 7, 2017 at 1:41am PDT

4- If your artwork were a brand, what would be its slogan?

“Shades of Beauty”

5- What are you most proud of? (What has your work on social media contributed to your goals?)

I started documenting scribbles, sketches and process of my work on social media; a visual diary - a digital journal of sorts. I had no intention of growing my following at that point of time; I began exploring different mediums and creating by hand more. I was creating for myself and what inspired me. My illustrations got featured in various places across social media which I am grateful for. But, what I didn’t expect is my work having an emotional connect with the audience, evoking certain memories or feelings. Among all the mails/messages I received, people have approached me about acquiring certain pieces which they connect with on a very personal and intimate level. This made me relook/re-visit my work in a whole new way and I am working towards a series of watercolour pieces being available online soon. Other than print design, illustration and watercolour, I am exploring three dimensional mediums and working on a line of products featuring my visual stories.