Rising Stars: Meet Bhoomi Patel of Okemos, MI

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bhoomi Patel

Hi Bhoomi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Bhoomi Patel, and I am a visual artist. I was born and raised in Gujarat, India. I have always been a creative soul, and by the age of eight, I had decided to pursue an art career. My determination was so strong that by fourth grade, I had already chosen the college where I wanted to study for my Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). I am immensely grateful to my parents for recognizing my artistic interests early on and supporting my fine arts education and career without hesitation.

I completed my BFA from M.S. University in Baroda, India, in 2017, which is renowned as one of the most prestigious institutions for fine arts in the country. During my studies, I undertook various freelance art projects, including mural paintings and portraits. I developed expertise in acrylics, watercolor, gouache painting, and pencil drawing, excelling particularly in drawing and handling fine brushstrokes.

In 2018, I moved to the USA to pursue my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). During my MFA program, I discovered my passion for digital art, especially through a video art class that expanded my artistic horizons. I began animating on top of my paintings, creating a unique visual language. PAFA used to host a competition known as “Fourth Wall” for second-year MFA students. It was very competitive as art critics outside of college would come and see all the students’ work on a big screen and give critiques on it. They would declare 3 winners from that event. Students’ names remained anonymous to the critics while critiquing the artworks and declaring the winners. I was honored to win the “Fourth Wall” competition. The critics chose my video art as one of the top three winners.

I owe much of my success to the encouragement and support of my professors, David Dempewolf, Mark Blavat, and Renée Foulks, who fostered my love for detailed painting and animation. Their guidance inspired me to enroll in a BA program in 3D Animation at Columbia College Chicago after completing my MFA in 2020.

As much as I love paintings by traditional artists like Raphael, Henry Mattise, Raja Ravi Verma, and Anita Kunz. I have always been a huge lover of Disney animation. My initial love for art developed while watching Disney movies. So I thought why not study animation and be a master in it then I can successfully combine my paintings and animation.

But It was a big leap for me as I was doing traditional art until that time. And 3D animation turned out to be a completely different type of work. I still remember after spending 5 months in a basic 3D modeling class, I was questioning whether animation was actually for me or not. But I didn’t give up. Despite the challenges of transitioning from traditional art to 3D animation, I persevered and graduated in 2022 with a Magna Cum Laude degree, earning a spot on the Dean’s List being 4 pointers.

All the art degrees I’ve earned have empowered me to create a diverse array of visual art. I am proficient in software such as Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, and Adobe Illustrator. Additionally, I excel in acrylic canvas painting, pencil drawing, embroidery art, and gouache on paper.

Following my graduation, I worked as an animator on a live-action short film “Identity” produced by Tarleton-Dawn Productions, which was nominated for an Emmy Award. I also completed an eight-month contract with a 3D game company, Arcade Distillery. I moved to Michigan from Chicago in Dec 2022 after my wedding.

I started my art business “Sketchberry Art Studio” early this year. The word ‘sketch’ stands for the portrait drawings I offer and ‘berry’ stands for all the colorful paintings I do! Sketchberry Art Studio offers a range of services, including portraits, customized paintings, mural art, hand-painted wood crafts, digital illustrations, caricatures, and animation. My primary focus is on portraits, pet portraits, and customized paintings. I have a deep love for animals and enjoy creating cute pet paintings for fellow animal lovers. Creating portraits gives me joy because I am converting an image into a life-long memory through my pencil strokes. When I start my portrait drawing, I look at the photo and try to get the vibe and mood from it, let the feeling sink in me, and bring it into the drawing. That is the reason my portraits look “live” and not just the drawing version of the photo. I make portraits from photos as well as live portraits.

I love to create paintings that radiate happy and calm energy, often featuring landscapes, cute characters/pets, and intricate patterns. My fine arts work reflects my enthusiasm for Indian fabric patterns, Persian carpet designs, and Mughal miniature paintings.

As an artist, I have two distinct sides. One side involves creating art that brings joy and laughter, which I feature in Sketchberry Art Studio’s products. My goal with this work is to spread happiness to my clients. The other side is my “fine arts” approach, where I delve into dramatic, narrative-driven paintings that convey my personal stories and emotions like Frida Kahlo’s works.

I currently showcase my work at the Meridian Township Farmer’s Market in Okemos every Wednesday, where I also accept custom portrait orders and offer free delivery to residents in the greater Lansing area. I recently participated in my first art fair in Grand Ledge and have upcoming events at Art on the Bay in New Baltimore, MI, on August 31st and September 1st. My booth will feature landscape paintings, pet paintings, hand-painted wooden coasters, decorative plates, and live portrait sessions at these fairs.
I aim to establish Sketchberry Art Studio as a recognized brand for traditional artworks and to achieve international acclaim as an artist, exhibiting my work in top global galleries.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m currently navigating the early stages of my art business, which has been a learning experience because I recently started my business. Recently, I participated in my first art fair, and while it was a valuable experience overall, I faced some challenges with selling my artwork.

I’m also in the process of building my brand here in the USA. Most of my freelance experience with portrait and mural art comes from my time in India, where I established connections that made marketing and securing projects easier. For example, a mural project I completed in a restaurant in Baroda City led to additional opportunities through the same interior designer. Since moving to Michigan two years ago and starting my business this year, I’m still working on making new connections and establishing my network.

Although building these connections has its challenges, I’m confident that I will overcome them with time. I believe in my work and rely on my extroverted and friendly nature to help me navigate this journey.

Currently, I am creating a wide range of artworks to give people more options. I am navigating my niche that connects me with my clients. From a business point of view, there are some dry days and there are some really busy days so I am learning to even out the curve.

I am focusing right now on stacking up my inventory to stay prepared for any upcoming events.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I primarily focus on creating paintings, pencil portraits, and digital illustrations.

My common painting themes include clouds, patterns, biological organs like “a heart” or “intestine”, cute characters or pets, and flowers. I enjoy crafting illustrative paintings that tell a story, as well as capturing beautiful scenery.

In my personal fine arts work, I explore topics like spirituality, relationships, and life philosophy, Conceptually, I am portraying emotional-mental chaos that derives from the material world and how it leads to the idea of spirituality. How difficult it becomes to adapt spirituality and put it into practice for human beings in the material world.

My commercial artworks feature landscapes, vibrant color schemes, intricate patterns, and charming characters that radiate happiness. I also make caricatures along with portraits. I create hand-painted caricatures on ceramic plates ( for home decor), offering a unique and personalized art gift. I also offer digital caricatures with illustrative compositions.

I specialize in acrylics, gouache, and watercolors, and I’m also highly skilled in pencil drawing and portraits. Additionally, I’ve experimented with fabric art using embroidery, which allowed me to combine my love for patterns with a new medium. This led to the creation of embroidered faces that turned out beautifully.

One of my standout qualities is my refined and meticulous brushwork for painting intricate details, which distinguishes my art. I excel at replicating detailed patterns with precision and genuinely enjoy adding small details to my work.

My fine art watercolor paintings are inspired by Mughal miniature art. During my BFA program, I attended an Indian miniature painting workshop where I learned to handle a brush with great precision, even on small 4 x 6-inch paper. This training sometimes required me to hold my breath to keep my hand steady.

I’m also proud of my speed and efficiency in adding fine details, particularly in floral works. Despite working quickly, my brush lines remain precise, which sets me apart and showcases my unique skill set.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My childhood was truly the most cherished period of my life. Thanks to my parents, it was filled with color and joy. My mother ensured that my brother and I experienced our childhood like royalty.

One of my favorite memories is how my parents celebrated all of our birthdays in grand style until we turned 16. With a large family of around 60 close relatives, each birthday party included at least 90 guests including friends, family friends, neighbors, and relatives. I always felt incredibly special on my birthdays. My mom took great care in planning each celebration, often incorporating themed decorations that made every year unique and memorable.

I’ve always been a sensitive person. I recall having a beloved bunny soft toy named “Hunny.” I decided to celebrate Hunny’s birthday, and my mother, never questioning my childlike request, graciously organized a small party for my toy’s special day. It was a truly wonderful time.

Pricing:

• 1 person Portrait 8″ x 10″ paper – $60
• 2 person portrait 8″ x 10″ paper – $ 115
• 1 person portrait 14″ x 17″ paper – $ 120
• 2 person portrait 14″ x 17″ paper – $239
• 1 person caricature painting on plate- $30

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.waslartstudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sketchberry_art_studio/profilecard/?igsh=dHR0cTA2cmlybjRm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560237172505&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sketchberry-artstudio?si=FJGpeHMHeqFuOYyW
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/wasl_artstudio/profilecard/?igsh=enY2azg0ZWg0NXBz