As Thomas Merton once said, "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time."
He rightly described how art often begins where words end, as an expression, a reflection, and sometimes, a revelation. Yet, how frequently do we see it this way? To a lot of people, art is a distant idea, beautiful to look at but uncertain to follow.
Reframing the lens of creativity
The session "pencil, paint, and pixels" questioned that very notion and invited young minds to see creativity as a mirror, to reflect on who they are and what they can become. Through such tales, experiences, and reflection, Stick aims to help youth track their growth, explore their interests, and take charge of their creative journey both physically and digitally.
The conversation featured two incredible artists, Masarrat Asrari, an Art Researcher and Multidisciplinary Artist, and Adnan Ansari, a freelance Artist and a Commerce graduate; both of whom shared the journey of purpose and passion.
Exploring the landscape of Art
Ms. Masarrat first introduced the audience to the broad world of visual arts, a field encompassing many art forms including photography, animation, VFX, graphic designing, etc. She shattered the myth that "Art cannot provide financial security", citing remarkable examples of MF Hussain and Amrita Shergill, who have achieved record breaking sales. Further, she encouraged art enthusiasts, who understand art aesthetics but feel restricted by skill gaps, to ditch traditional methods and transition to digital tools.
Creative freeze
She also addressed the issue that even many great artists struggle with, i.e., Art Block. Her advice was not to fight it but to feed it: read, learn, explore, and rebuild perspective. She advised students to approach creative pauses through research by learning more about the social, cultural, and emotional dimensions of what they create.
Art beyond profession
While Masarrat offered a glimpse into the structural and intellectual side of art, Mr. Adnan added a more personal lens to the discussion. He stripped down art to its core and began by questioning a thought many creators hold - Art should instantly lead to fame or income. "If you start Art for the purpose of earning, abandon it," he said, as a reminder to everyone that real creation starts from understanding and perseverance. Mr. Adnan shared how he continued his creative side while pursuing M. Com, demonstrating that Art is not restricted by academic choice or career path, it is one form of expression that can coexist with anything that you do.
The journey of making
In the artworks he shared, he showed how an artist negotiates with meaning. From leaving portraits and refusing to repeat what no longer sparked creativity to eventually creating something that carried its own story. This evolution wonderfully explained that creativity is not about mastering a skill overnight but trusting the process and allowing oneself to shift, to pause and to start again with purpose.
He highlighted, Art is not meant to impress but to express, drawing a clear line between creation and imitation which resonated with every person who had ever doubted their creative instincts. His words reminded them that value lies in authenticity, not approval. Additionally, he also guided students to use social media to promote their artworks and standout through uniqueness and authenticity among other artists.
A shift in perspective
By the end, the impact of both the artists' words was visible. Students who had previously thought of art as an unpredictable profession started to view it as a meaningful form of self-expression and growth. The session helped them to put aside stereotypes surrounding creative careers and focus, instead, on learning, experimenting, and developing their unique styles.
For many, it was an attitude change, from wondering "Can I do this?" to the realization, "I can begin now". This we once witnessed when a student shared after the session that he bought his first ever canvas, a small act that represented a quiet revolution within. At that moment Stick's vision came alive: empowering youth to not just admire art, but to begin their own pursuit of meaning through it.
This session was one glimpse of Stick that encouraged its audience to look past what they're told, taught or have experienced. As this chapter ends, the next awaits at ShiftCon 2.0.
