CanvasSutra, a 22-year-old's brainchild to create art and help dogs 

Imitation might be the ultimate form of flattery, but for Sindhoori Somayajula, even creating art that is inspired by something means that “the art is not truly yours,” which is the dictum she follows with her own artwork too. So, all that you see on her Facebook page, CanvasSutra, which was started in November, is the product of pure imagination. The 22-year-old who studied in St Francis College for Women, Begumpet has no qualms about the fact that there is no deep meaning or metaphors when it comes to her paintings; they are just bright and vibrant, she says.

Colour splash: One of Somayajula's creations

Before CanvasSutra, she was on a quest to find a job, but wasn’t successful. So, after a lot of persuasion from friends and for the love of art, she started putting up her work on Facebook for sale. And being a dog lover, she decided to donate 20 per cent of her earnings from sales towards their care. “Dog care is so expensive. We need more people to step up and do more for them,” says Somayajula, who has a pet too. 

Somayajula uses acrylic paints and sometimes, watercolours too. She calls her technique ‘abstract art’ and is completely self-taught

So, how does this work? The youngster puts up her art on her page and people who see it can request for it on canvas or paper, in the size of their choice. Currently working on a painting that she plans to sell at Rs 10,000, Somayajula has a steady flow of orders and surprisingly, is not scared of plagiarism, “After all, I’m not someone who is in demand you know,” she tells us matter-of-factly, adding that she does have a watermark on all her work.

I have parents who do a lot of charity work so I thought I could do the same through CanvasSutra

Sindhoori Somayajula, artist

And when we ask her about criticism, she says, “I haven’t received any yet, but it’s not like I have been showered with compliments either,” she pauses and then reasons, “Maybe that’s because I’m not really out there yet.” Currently, her marketing plan only involves word of mouth as she would like to see how far that goes.

In hand: She has an offer letter from the University of Birmingham for next year

Check her work out at facebook.com/canvassutra/