In April 2024, sophomore Avantika Prabhu flew 9,000 miles from India to the United States, after eight years of being away from her home in America. With her came multiple canvases and papers filled with paintings and sketches of her life in India.

As a child, Prabhu eagerly participated in the art projects her teachers would assign at Eagle Ridge Elementary. She loved to make messes with paint and enjoyed seeing a variety of colors.

“I remember sitting in Ms. Mohammad’s class, and she used to show us how to use charcoal and acrylic paints, and I think she was one of the main reasons why I was so intrigued by art,” Prabhu said. “She would show us how art has more meaning and how it shows emotion… I think after that, she even used to encourage us to try new art styles and just explore which motivated me to try, and that’s how I got to where I am today.”

Prabhu’s family also played a role in the development of her hobby. Her grandparents showed her art pieces her mother had completed in high school. Prabhu’s mother had stopped pursuing art after high school, motivating Prabhu to explore art herself.

While she was learning, at 8 years old, Prabhu was told that she would be moving to India. Although she was against the idea at first, she gave in and agreed to the move. In India, she continued to hone her skills by sketching, drawing and painting whenever possible.

“After living in India, I got to witness so many beautiful sites and I want to show my audience that India is way more than what they know it for,” Prabhu said. “I wish to expose my audience to these more intricate forms of India and the aspects of my culture that are known to very few.”

While Prabhu easily adapted to the new environment, her big move was not without its challenges. She had to make new friends, adjust to the more conservative culture and attend schools with a different style of education. She also started to think a lot about her future.

In eighth grade, Prabhu’s relatives began to ask her about her future career plans. They disapproved of her becoming an artist, taunting her for her attempts at becoming a professional in the field.

Prabhu was heavily discouraged from continuing her hobby, causing her to have negative feelings about her art. However, through the support of her parents and friends, she persisted through the adversity.

As Prabhu practiced art, she experimented with a variety of styles. When she began high school in India, her teacher introduced her to realism, a style of art that focuses on depicting subjects as realistically as possible, unlike cartoonish art styles.

“My art style was a very standard art style up until the ninth grade, when I took art as a subject
in my old school,” Prabhu said. “My art prior to that was more of sceneries and starry nights, usually what every Pinterest page looks like when you search paintings for teens.”

Along with art, Prabhu also dances. In India she learned Kathak, a style of Indian classical dance. This was her inspiration for her favorite art piece, called “The Dancer.” The painting displays the feet of a dancer, with anklets and other decorations.

“I wanted to create a piece that connects two of my hobbies,” Prabhu said. “Originally it was just an assignment worth 30% of my grade for the class, but as I went through the process of planning, sketching and painting, I connected to the painting way more than I thought it would.”

Prabhu’s other favorites are Mandala Art, a geometric design in Hinduism consisting of many details and patterns in multiple circles that loop around each other. Each circle took around one to two hours for Prabhu to complete.

“While I was making it I convinced and told myself this process needs a lot of patience, especially because of the intricate designs and patterns,” Prabhu said. “Once I finished the piece, that feeling of satisfaction was an amazing feeling.”

Another piece of hers that Prahbu favors is a replica of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night. At first, Prabhu believed it was boring; however, she soon took interest in the project and devoted her attention towards it.

“It was originally supposed to be an art assignment submission, but during the process of painting it, it started to mean much more,” Prabhu said. “Layer by layer, it started to come together and look complete.”

Throughout her life, Prabhu was heavily influenced by a variety of artists, such as Picasso and Van Gogh, to create her pieces. She appreciated their art styles and work ethics.

“But my top influential artist will always be my art teacher from India, Ms. Deborah Dias,” Prabhu said. “She really showed me my potential, and her art always mesmerized me.”

Prabhu continues to practice her skills in art to this day. Although she no longer has an art teacher, she sharpens her abilities by working on her projects in her free time. As she shares her hobby with others, she hopes to inspire them to pursue their own passions and interests.

This story was originally published in the March 2025 Eagle Eye print edition.