Good morning Nishant and happy belated birthday and cheers to your upcoming year!!
I stumbled across the Sneaky Art pod cast this past spring searching for interviews with Emma Carlisle and Eleanor Doughty. I was blown away at the depth of your interviews and managed to listen to every single episode. I am now re-listening to some over for the second and third + times. So much amazing information in there, thank you for creating them and investing all that time and effort. It is greatly appreciated and I did become a Sneaky Insider though substack....so not sure how I get to the extra bonus pod cast content...or if any of that is still available. :)
On to my real question--yes, there is one in here, lol-- are you planning another season of podcasts in the future? I am totally addicted to listening on my way to work and would love more. HOWEVER, I completely understand your life has gotten an enormous amount busier with Rohan's arrival, and it might be a year or two, but just curious on your plans there.
Regardless of whether you are planning more or not, I am happy to re-listen and enjoy reading your written posts. You are so talented and inspiring.
Lori, I am so glad to hear from you. Thank you for the wishes! I am both delighted and encouraged to hear that people are still finding and listening and enjoying the podcast, even though I've been on hiatus for nearly a year now.
I plan to record more episodes starting December! A new format, and some conversations like the older style as well. I'm excited for it, this time away from it has really helped me refresh and regain my perspective.
Oh and is there a place I can go to listen to the 'long good-bye's' bonus content you speak of on the pod cast? That is if I qualify for it, as a substack subscriber and those still exist somewhere.
Thank you Beth! I used to get into the long answers more often but after seeing enough people's eyes glaze over I've learned to tell when the short answer is best. 😅
"Who tries to learn such things at such an advanced age? (I was already 29.)" - this cracked me up, I came back to art after a long hiatus at 29 too! Best decision made. Happy birthday! My question is - are you interested in venturing into other media in future (e.g. using paints)? Mostly asking out of curiosity and because I like learning the career paths of other artists! Sometimes its surprising how things change and develop.
Thank you Lisa! The only thing I know for sure is I cannot say a firm yes or no. If you had asked me two years ago if I would ever use color pencils, I'd have said no! My goals for a larger canvas right now are to use inks and maybe pastels. I think what medium I use will be about (1) curiosity, and (2) to say something only it can say. I try to have a clear idea for which medium suits which message best, it's one of my big takeaways from an engineering education - form follows function.
Oh, thank you so much for the answer! It makes a lot of sense - I followed a similar logic when decided to stop painting with oils, they stopped fulfilling the needs of my practice.
I so very rarely ask question because it feels nosy to me (hello childhood trauma around asking questions who knew you were still here) but I am fascinated by what you do.
Thank you for opening the floor to questions.
How are you finding the balance between parenting, being a partner and maintaining an art practice?
What a good question, Wake. I suppose the honest answer is that we are all fumbling, as we fumble through life. Parenting quickly showed me something that is true for maybe all life - by the time you understand something about yourself or your world, by the time you feel you know how to deal with it, things change again! We are lucky to be able to afford some care for Rohan during the day. And we have prioritized having flexible schedules so that we can spend enough time with him as well. Honestly, sometimes I think I'm getting more work done now than I did before he was around. It's like, having structure and obligations in your day makes you more efficient around the rest of it? I have so little time to free draw now that I grab it when I can, so little time to write at peace that I do it in all the little spaces that open up. I'm getting better at this balancing act, while also being kinder to myself. Rohan helps us put life into perspective.
Ah yes! How true! I remember being able to get so much writing done when my children would nap! And then again when they started going to school. After we decided to homeschool them…my time definitely became differently allocated. But now that they are teenagers I’m finding myself with so much time to create I feel…overwhelmed!
Thank you for your honesty. I love the idea that we are all fumbling through life and sometimes making it work. 🫶
Vedi, first up, welcome to the insider club. I am glad for your support! I have been a full-time creative since 2016. Before that, I was a part time creative - making a webcomic, writing stories and short films with friends, remotely working on a TV show in India, and a few other things too. Then, I decided to make writing my goal. I quit my PhD program, and joined my girlfriend (who is now my wife) in the US. I pushed with the writing until it would not go anymore, and picked up a sketchbook when I felt terribly stuck. Becoming an artist was never a goal, it happened quite accidentally!
That sounds amazing! An accidental artist haha. I'm pursuing creativity full-time now too but it's super new to me! Only since this May actually. I started with following your Instagram then found out you have a Substack when I started my own haha. So happy to be here! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Will you be doing another workshop on drawing people?
Yes, on the other side of my trip to India! Sometime in November probably.
Sneaky is as sneaky does. Or did.
🙌🏽
Good morning Nishant and happy belated birthday and cheers to your upcoming year!!
I stumbled across the Sneaky Art pod cast this past spring searching for interviews with Emma Carlisle and Eleanor Doughty. I was blown away at the depth of your interviews and managed to listen to every single episode. I am now re-listening to some over for the second and third + times. So much amazing information in there, thank you for creating them and investing all that time and effort. It is greatly appreciated and I did become a Sneaky Insider though substack....so not sure how I get to the extra bonus pod cast content...or if any of that is still available. :)
On to my real question--yes, there is one in here, lol-- are you planning another season of podcasts in the future? I am totally addicted to listening on my way to work and would love more. HOWEVER, I completely understand your life has gotten an enormous amount busier with Rohan's arrival, and it might be a year or two, but just curious on your plans there.
Regardless of whether you are planning more or not, I am happy to re-listen and enjoy reading your written posts. You are so talented and inspiring.
Lori, I am so glad to hear from you. Thank you for the wishes! I am both delighted and encouraged to hear that people are still finding and listening and enjoying the podcast, even though I've been on hiatus for nearly a year now.
I plan to record more episodes starting December! A new format, and some conversations like the older style as well. I'm excited for it, this time away from it has really helped me refresh and regain my perspective.
Oh and is there a place I can go to listen to the 'long good-bye's' bonus content you speak of on the pod cast? That is if I qualify for it, as a substack subscriber and those still exist somewhere.
Yes! Tap the podcast section on my substack page and you should be able to find all the extra episodes. Let me know by DM if that doesn't work!
Awesome news!!! I'm not one to ever wish my days away, but I am super excited for December now!
Me too! 😀
Happy birthday, Nishant! This was fun to read. I smiled at the short answer you actually gave them. 😄
Thank you Beth! I used to get into the long answers more often but after seeing enough people's eyes glaze over I've learned to tell when the short answer is best. 😅
"Who tries to learn such things at such an advanced age? (I was already 29.)" - this cracked me up, I came back to art after a long hiatus at 29 too! Best decision made. Happy birthday! My question is - are you interested in venturing into other media in future (e.g. using paints)? Mostly asking out of curiosity and because I like learning the career paths of other artists! Sometimes its surprising how things change and develop.
Thank you Lisa! The only thing I know for sure is I cannot say a firm yes or no. If you had asked me two years ago if I would ever use color pencils, I'd have said no! My goals for a larger canvas right now are to use inks and maybe pastels. I think what medium I use will be about (1) curiosity, and (2) to say something only it can say. I try to have a clear idea for which medium suits which message best, it's one of my big takeaways from an engineering education - form follows function.
Oh, thank you so much for the answer! It makes a lot of sense - I followed a similar logic when decided to stop painting with oils, they stopped fulfilling the needs of my practice.
I love seeing how your style changed from the drawing you did in 2017 to today! No question, just a yay, and happy birthday!
Thank you Suzan. I hope to be in NYC again next year, would love to organize a meetup. 🙌
That would be great! I’ll keep my fingers crossed—it was wonderful to meet and learn from you!
🤞🏼🤞🏼
Thanks for the glimpses of life I. Your drawings, and the glimpses of your process I. Your writing. All interesting and helpful!
I'm glad to hear that! 🙏
Happy birthday!
I so very rarely ask question because it feels nosy to me (hello childhood trauma around asking questions who knew you were still here) but I am fascinated by what you do.
Thank you for opening the floor to questions.
How are you finding the balance between parenting, being a partner and maintaining an art practice?
I appreciate you!
What a good question, Wake. I suppose the honest answer is that we are all fumbling, as we fumble through life. Parenting quickly showed me something that is true for maybe all life - by the time you understand something about yourself or your world, by the time you feel you know how to deal with it, things change again! We are lucky to be able to afford some care for Rohan during the day. And we have prioritized having flexible schedules so that we can spend enough time with him as well. Honestly, sometimes I think I'm getting more work done now than I did before he was around. It's like, having structure and obligations in your day makes you more efficient around the rest of it? I have so little time to free draw now that I grab it when I can, so little time to write at peace that I do it in all the little spaces that open up. I'm getting better at this balancing act, while also being kinder to myself. Rohan helps us put life into perspective.
Ah yes! How true! I remember being able to get so much writing done when my children would nap! And then again when they started going to school. After we decided to homeschool them…my time definitely became differently allocated. But now that they are teenagers I’m finding myself with so much time to create I feel…overwhelmed!
Thank you for your honesty. I love the idea that we are all fumbling through life and sometimes making it work. 🫶
Are you a full-time artist or do you have a "9-5" job as well?
Vedi, first up, welcome to the insider club. I am glad for your support! I have been a full-time creative since 2016. Before that, I was a part time creative - making a webcomic, writing stories and short films with friends, remotely working on a TV show in India, and a few other things too. Then, I decided to make writing my goal. I quit my PhD program, and joined my girlfriend (who is now my wife) in the US. I pushed with the writing until it would not go anymore, and picked up a sketchbook when I felt terribly stuck. Becoming an artist was never a goal, it happened quite accidentally!
That sounds amazing! An accidental artist haha. I'm pursuing creativity full-time now too but it's super new to me! Only since this May actually. I started with following your Instagram then found out you have a Substack when I started my own haha. So happy to be here! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Thank you! And best of luck on this journey, it isn't easy but it's very fulfilling!
I love your posts, and the way you write (and draw) and that classical art meme made me laugh out loud, no question but just a thanks :)