Today we’d like to introduce you to Akanksha Yadav.
Akanksha, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Art has always been part of my life. Even as a kid, I remember collecting different pictures from various magazines, newspapers and greeting cards and then trying to recreate a new artwork in my own style. Coming from a traditional Indian family, art was seen as a hobby and not a career path, so I graduated in computer science and started working in an IT firm. Even after a very busy schedule, I tried to keep my art alive by sparing some time for my art over the weekend or whenever possible. After a long busy day, art felt like meditation and helped calm my mind.
Art has always been my biggest passion, but it was not until last year that I decided to take a leap and convert my passion into a business. Initially, I started selling through Etsy and after I gained a little bit of momentum, I started operating business directly from my Instagram page.
I keep experimenting and updating my art style, apart from the traditional art mediums and canvases, I recently started working on a project called “Art You Can Wear,” as the name suggests I use handbags, denim, t-shirts as my canvas and create unique customized artwork on them. This even inspired me to create a Fashion lifestyle page where I wear and style my own artwork.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Establishing my art as a lucrative business was not an easy process. I am a self taught artist, and nobody in my friends or family is from art or business background. I had to figure out everything on my own. Also, being a mother, with a full time job, balancing the business is a real challenge. Since my business is directly related to social media, so I struggle the most with networking and expanding my social media platform. It is very challenging, but that is what makes it fun, and each challenge has taught me a lot of things and helped me and my business grow.
ArtWithAks – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
ArtwithAks is an online art business. I specialize in customized, handmade artwork. I am mostly known for my hyperrealistic artwork, where I try to capture every minute details of any object in a painting. I believe that my unique selling point is that I work very closely with my clients to make sure that I can pour their vision on the canvas. In the end it is not just a piece of art but a sentimental piece that they can keep and cherish forever.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment was when I got the opportunity to display my artwork in the Cumming Courthouse in Forsyth county. My first art piece received positive responses, and hence I got another opportunity to display my second artwork in the Cumming Courthouse as well.
Pricing:
- Custom Handbags and Wallets starting $50
- Custom Jacket starting $100
Contact Info:
- Email: artwithaks@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artwithaks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artwithaks/
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
