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Passion To Profession — Meet The Artist Who Is Living Her Dream Every Day!

Written By: Sonali
September 20, 2020
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When I first talked to Neha, I got this instant vibe of positivity and all the excitement and enthusiasm in every word of hers!

I found her so colourful, so vibrant and exquisite — just like the art she makes!

And before I keep on typing all the good things about her ‘Kolour Theory’, let me introduce you to our ‘entrepreneur of the day’. In our all ‘Passion to Profession’ series, we are going to talk about Neha Nagpal today who is redefining what you call ‘art’!

Neha belongs to a Sindhi family and was brought up in Bengaluru. A B.Com graduate, she also did a lot of courses in Fashion Designing, Graphic Designing and Computers. No matter what she was doing — she was always connected with art — in one way or another. She worked as a Jewellery and Accessories Merchandiser prior to starting her own venture. 

Inception of Kolour Theory

When asked about her venture, Neha said that she always wanted to do something of her own — and art was the only answer to her every entrepreneurial question. Painting and making candles was just a hobby, and she barely thought of monetizing it. But it was her family and friends who encouraged her to convert her passion into a profession.

Hobby = Business Model

Neha took a leap in October 2016 — to see if she could really convert her hobby into a sustainable business model. She created social media handles for her dream venture and started uploading her art.

It was complicated, maybe a bit clueless too, but as she feels, “it’s important to love what you do,” and for Neha, clearly art was her calling. 

Through the lens of the artist

Behind the Kolour Theory

Kolour Theory is all about art — vibrant colours, beautiful designs, vintage collections and lively products — all handmade, hand-painted and handcrafted! 

Home decor is not about ‘mehange paintings’ anymore — your house reflects your life, and that’s what Neha does. She likes to breathe life into mundane objects by adding a burst of colours to it.

The artist who lives her dream every day

While I type this, I know it may sound all fancy and fab, but I tell you it’s not. There are everyday lessons, profits, losses, confusion and everything you do not want to think about. Neha says that there is no end to learning, “I’ve learnt that one needs to be comfortable with unpredictability while running a business!”

Yes, running a business is not easy, but if you are really passionate and sure about it, you know it’s not impossible either. For Neha, art has always been her ‘bachpan ka pyaar’, and she believes that she inherited this artistic flair from her mother, who was also an amazing artist. 

Neha with her mother

“I do feel artists don’t get their full due to an extent. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into making handmade and hand-painted pieces. Not everyone understands that,” says the Kolour Theory founder who also upcycle products. From vintage phones to painted teapots, keepsake boxes and luxurious candles, you will spot everything on her Instagram.

The risk factor

As an entrepreneur, one would know that starting up a venture is a big risk, and it demands a lot. You make a huge investment in it — both personally and professionally. Neha believes that if one can transform his/ her passion into a profession, then it’s the best amalgamation. “You never know what the future holds. I never imagined running a business and selling my artwork,” Neha continues. She doesn’t hold any regrets and feels that each day brings a new lesson for her.

Neha tells how her venture helped her in enhancing her skills more. From thinking right from the logistics to the social media promotions, product details, research and procurement, she learnt how to take every tiny detail into consideration. It’s important for an art-preneur, she feels, to explore the possibilities and experiment with the imagination.

Neha further plans to diversify into accessories without breaking her concentration on handmade and handcrafted pieces.

Passion To Profession — Meet The Artist Who Is Living Her Dream Every Day! (1)

Giving up should not be an option

A lot of people, when starting up a venture, think of an exit plan or the ‘other’ option, which I feel must not exist. Neha calls an artist’s life unpredictable but also believes that patience and determination is the key to success. “It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen. It’s a long journey, and you have to remain positive and humble,” advise the entrepreneur who is handling her venture solely.

The final note

“I have always believed that women are brilliant at multitasking. They manage their homes and job/ business beautifully. Women have a ‘never give up’ attitude, and that’s what makes us special. We know that each day can’t be in our favour, and it’s important to be realistic and practical,” Neha ends on a high spirit note.

I loved the conversations I had with Neha, not only because she is an amazing artist but also because she carries the vibe of a young, confident and passionate woman who dreams of changing the world — with one brush at a time.

Got any questions for her? Or want any ‘expert artist’ advice? Neha can be reached by email or Instagram.
Share your ‘Passion to Profession’ journey with us via email or social media. #PassionToProfession

Images: Neha Nagpal

#PassionToProfessioninspirationPassionPassion To Professionstartupswomen

Sonali

A 'non-9-5 desk job' ambivert geek who chooses her own audience, Sonali loves sharing stories and finding the corners where humanity still exists! She believes that every individual's story is unique and special. She loves writing about the untouched and unspoken segments of society. When not writing, you can find her listening to someone's stories or playing with dogs. Sonali values mental health and encourages people to speak their heart out!

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Passion To Profession — Meet The Social Media Influencers Pursuing Their Passion Projects As Full-Time Profession!

Written By: Sonali
December 6, 2020 | 07:30 PM |
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Remember the time when the term social media influencer started to pick up? Today, it has turned into a full-fledged profession, and people are doing exactly what they love in the name of it.

Today in our #PassionToProfession series, I’m happy to introduce three such social media influencers from the industry of food, film, and fashion who are not only doing what they love but also inspiring their thousands of followers to follow their dreams — for them, this is not some side project but their passion which they are living and enjoying wholeheartedly!

Shikha Shetty

Who doesn’t love food? But for Shikha, her clear passion was in the food space, and thus she started her venture Chief Foodie Officer (CFO) three years back, with which she is pursuing her passion project.

“I belong to a family of hoteliers, and the creativity one can get to your food has always amazed me. I like to enjoy food styling and like to innovate with various ingredients and cuisines,” says the Mumbai food influencer.

“The three-year journey of CFO has been terrific and has inspired me to the next level. I have connected with hotels, food brands, institutions, corporates, media publications, and so many wonderful people. My followers on my page drive me and inspire me to try out various avenues in the food space,” she continues.

On asking about the type of investment one might have to make while entering this industry, she says that financial investment for any business can be subjective. Still, the investment of time, effort, passion and consistency is what one should make while venturing into any industry.

And every investment brings an ROI. The business process is cyclic. It starts with investments and grows with the product, information and knowledge one offers. Collaborations, partnerships and deal with food brands, restaurants, products are good marketing avenues which create a win-win situation and are strong pillars for success for any influencer.

Shikha, today, has more than 54k followers on her Instagram page, and her venture has already completed three whopping years of success. The major regret she holds though is that she should have started this more early, and should not have held herself back fearing the results and consequences.

In the end, she says, “women, you know, can do miracles! They could be the best in everything, and the sky is the limit for them. All they need to do is push themselves a little more!”

Supriya Mishra

I know her as a beautiful human, adorable daughter, lovely sister and an amazing poet — she is known for her writings and poetry recitations. And probably the zeal and passion for writing made her start Whitebirdtrails which is a platform to celebrate a cross-cultural conclave of artforms that reach us in forms of literature, film, music, etc.

“Our platform brings the struggles and stories of individuals from the various fields of the medium that bring light to the creative process and the idea behind finding an artistic voice, to provide a path of guidance for the youth trying to find their way into the industry, while also celebrating the craft and love associated with these mediums,” says the 27YO founder who started this wonder in April 2020 with her friend Ankit Tiwari.

In just eight months, Whitebirdtrails have got an unexpected response from the speakers and the audience. From notable people like Rajat Kapoor, Sudhir Mishra, Jameel Gulrayz, to the team of Mirzapur, Leslee Udwin, Alokanand Das Gupta, the list is very long. And the Mumbai girl is giving her best to make it a hit.

Few suggestions that Supriya would like to share with our readers are,

“Be yourself and choose & grab your opportunities. Learn from your failures, and keep working hard.”

“Manage your finances well. Don’t overspend. Don’t underspend too. This was a digital initiative, so initially, we only invested in buying a premium plan for Zoom. And now on social media. But before you get into it, find what’s important for your venture and remember: money only comes when you are dedicated and passionate about it. Choose a good team. People who believe in you and your mission,” she further continues.

Once you start getting viewers/ traction on your page/ content, you can consider generating revenues out of it too. Supriya suggests monetizing your content or organizing paid events could be one of those options. But, before that, quality content and dedication is what it demands.

In the end, she says, “all you need to have is dedication, time management, planning, and execution. Believe in yourself, and your dream and things will start falling in place.”

Pooja Motwani

A fashion influencer & designer by profession and a social activist by heart, Delhi-based Pooja is a perfect inspiration for people who want to start their passion project from scratch.

“I started working just after finishing my school in 2004, and I always wanted to do something different and creative in life,” says Pooja who was always fond of fancy jewellery and trendy clothes. She knew what was in trend, and what wasn’t in fashion.

It has been 15 years since Pooja stepped into this industry and with multiple exhibitions in more than 16 countries, people love her work — both online and offline. Her brand offers a complete range of Indian wear including suits, sarees, lehengas, and costume jewellery designed by herself and handcrafted by skilled craftsmen. Apart from this, she also owns My Rajasthan Concept and Moh Essentials Rose Gold Oil.

“Always believe in giving 100% to your work, and you will definitely get a positive result,” says the fashion influencer. “Investment could be the second part; the most important thing is to have the courage and ability to do something different. And this can only be achieved by believing in yourself more than anything else. And yes, invest in creativity and hard work.”

Pooja says that being a fashion influencer has its own perks — one can earn by setting up an exhibition or by affiliate marketing or by selling through shops, social media collaboration etc. and can make up to INR 2-3 lakhs per month. But she also mentions the fact that it takes time and patience to reach that stage.

The soft-hearted social activist also mentions that she regrets trusting people who cheated her for goods/ money. She believes in women empowerment and has encouraged and helped many women in establishing their business by giving innovative ideas. She has also contributed tremendously during Kashmir floods, Nepal earthquake, Chennai floods, St Marteen Hurricane, Kerela floods, and has given ration to more than 3000 families in COVID-19 relief.

In the end, she says, “follow your dreams. Please study hard and trust yourself. Do not give up easily as anything takes time to bring a positive result. But if you remain focussed, you can achieve anything and everything.”

Nothing comes easy, but then who wants it easy? Do you know any social media influencer or an entrepreneur or are you one? Write your #PassionToProfession story to us and let the world get inspired by your wonderful journey!

FashioninspirationInspirational womanLifestylePassion To Professionsocial mediasocial media influencerstartupswomen empowerment

Sonali

A 'non-9-5 desk job' ambivert geek who chooses her own audience, Sonali loves sharing stories and finding the corners where humanity still exists! She believes that every individual's story is unique and special. She loves writing about the untouched and unspoken segments of society. When not writing, you can find her listening to someone's stories or playing with dogs. Sonali values mental health and encourages people to speak their heart out!

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