Artwork by Parul Pancholi
My name is Parul. I am 30 years old and I reside in India. I completed my graduation 8 years ago as a software engineer. I never could find my heart with my career as a coder. Painting always came to my rescue then.
I left my job to find more jobs that paid the bills. I worked in fashion, in marketing for startups and also started my own online jewellery store but I got the feeling of belonging only during times I held my paint brush or my charcoal pencil.
Last year in May, I finally gathered the courage to quit my day job to learn art and pursue what I loved the most in life.It took me 8 long years to do this. Art courses are expensive and India doesn’t have courses that teaches classical art. So I had the intent but no direction and guidance. I realised very soon that I have to teach myself instead because it’s not going to be an easy path. Going abroad to study was not an option because I would never be able to afford the expenses. But I did not give up nor I succumbed and went back to the day job.
I am and have always been fascinated by works of the great masters like Rembrandt, Sargent, Repin, Bouguereau and so many others. I couldn’t really control the urge. So I started teaching myself to draw and paint. …
