Today we’d like to introduce you to Priesha Jhala.
Priesha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
When I was in elementary school, I came across Mark Crilley’s Mastering Manga – a how-to book for beginners interested in the popular Japanese art form. I begged my parents to get the book. I couldn’t take my eyes off Crilley’s fun, expressive illustrations that told stories without words. From then on, I followed tutorials, watched videos, and made tons of art, especially character art, on my own. I make a lot of illustrations, and I also love stickers – so I started exploring ways to print my own stickers and art prints. Along with opening an Etsy shop, I started my Instagram page to share my art and connect with other artists! I post behind-the-scenes clips, sketches, illustrations, and more. The thing that really helped my business grow were local markets. After my first in-person market experience (a small-scale neighborhood market), I felt joy and excitement interacting with a variety of customers and vendors. Being part of the local art community provided motivation and camaraderie to keep going. Since then, I’ve done several larger markets in the area – check my Instagram for updates on the next one!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has definitely had its share of ups and downs – and it still changes a lot even now. One of my greatest struggles occurred before I even started my small art business. As an artist, I constantly want to improve and as a result, can be very self-critical. But as someone who shares their work, I’ve had to learn how to be proud of my work and not be afraid to share it. There isn’t any point in waiting for the “right time” to start; I’ll always find things I want to improve on. Understanding this was huge in gaining the confidence I needed to put myself and my art out there and start my Instagram page and Etsy shop. This made me realize that running a business requires many other logistical skills beyond just artistic ones. For instance, I had to struggle with finding good quality, affordable, and reliable printing services for my commissions that also satisfied my customers. For anyone thinking about sharing your art – believe in yourself!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My art has been heavily influenced by manga and similar pop culture styles. I love blending semi-realism with fun colors and fantasy concepts! I specialize in drawing characters and portraits, and I especially enjoy designing original characters. Some of my favorite pieces are the ones that incorporate parts of me in them and tell a story under the surface. From something as small as an eye or hair strand to a color palette or composition, I hope to give each part of my drawings meaning and personality. People walking by at art markets or leaving comments on social media saying they resonate with my character designs and stories always remind me why I love art and what motivated me to start sharing my work.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Right now, it seems like artificial intelligence (AI) is all anyone can talk about. As this technology has developed, it’s fundamentally changed the way people do things. As an artist, I’ve witnessed firsthand how much it affects the creative community. Many people have speculated how it will affect the industry, with some claiming AI is here to steal artists’ jobs and provide a more “productive” alternative to human art. However, I don’t think it’s that simple. AI will inevitably change the future of art and the creation process, but I see human art remaining a valuable tool of conveying emotion and forging connections. In the future, professional artists might be using AI tools as a way to streamline their process and enhance their own human stories and creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pridesigns248.wixsite.com/portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pridesignsart/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFyfXmJdtDf0oBjtc0pUNcQ
- Other: https://linktr.ee/pridesignsart
