Born and brought up in Oman, Komal Ganatra is popular artist and calligraphist and is the founder of Komal & Color – a creative design studio she started out of her love for modern calligraphy and watercolours. Her art pieces, which she looked at only as a hobby initially, quickly gained traction on her social media pages. “I enjoyed this art of writing and practiced it day and night, while looking for jobs on the side. I played around with different forms and mediums and started posting my work on Instagram. This sparked interest and people seemed interested in learning the art,” she said.
In response to the continued requests, sometime in March 2017, she decided to host her first ever workshop in Muscat. On receiving a great response, she decided to dig a little deeper into the industry. She said, “Doing some research, I figured that there’s a whole new industry of calligraphists and wedding stationers in the West. The fact that people actually made a living out of writing beautifully styled words caught my attention; and without realising it I was working towards making my passion into a profession.
“Because I love what I do, I worked incredibly hard to figure out things like how to digitise paintings, taking good pictures, building a website, client communication etc. and spent hours learning these skills online, which in turn helped to enhance my work,” she said.
Today, under the banner of Komal & Color, she continues to host workshops and take up commissioned projects to help others bring their artistic vision to life.
Can you tell us about the thought process that goes into each of your art pieces?
Understanding the client’s vision is very important. I do commissions for both – personal and corporate. So, it depends a lot on the customer’s requirements, and every process differs from project to project. I usually start with sketching out the idea, keeping in mind the end user and how it’s going to impact them; and gradually work towards the ultimate design.
What in your opinion is the key behind the success of Komal & Color?
“Practice makes progress” is something I truly believe in. Especially with art, you have to spend an enormous amount of time just creating, until you come up with a phenomenal idea. But this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the people in Oman. I’m extremely grateful for their constant trust in my work. Last but not the least, the support of my family, who’ve been my biggest strength and sometimes an even bigger critic.
What advice do you have for someone who wishes to start a business in the art industry?
Don’t be afraid to fail. Mistakes and failures help you realise what you don’t like about the business and is a stepping-stone towards shaping your career. You never forget your failures and hence you will never repeat them. Another major advice would be not to calculate your success based on your Instagram likes. With the growing social media world today, we often tend to get carried away with each notification and tend to lose sight of the real reason why you started.
What career accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
The journey of Komal & Color itself has been something I’m immensely proud of. But if I had to pick one, I’d say teaching. I teach calligraphy and watercolours. And it’s the most rewarding feeling to see the joy on their faces while learning a new craft.
What is your current most important goal for Komal & Color? What steps are you taking to attain it?
The goal is to always keep learning and getting better with each project. This means working more hours and adding more creative hands to build a team.
If you mentored younger artists who are beginning their art careers what single most important piece of advice would you offer?
It takes sheer dedication and persistence to build a brand. So, my only advice would be to put in all your effort and more. Passion will only show you the way, hard work will help you build the path. Stay focused and have fun while at it.
The home I grew up in…
is Oman.
When I was a child, I wanted to…
be a teacher because I loved writing on blackboards. 20 years down the line, I actually became one, spreading my knowledge on calligraphy and watercolours
My greatest inspiration…
are people who work hard and never give up. The kinds who are confident and passionate about the work they do.
My hero…
is my dad.
If I could change one thing about myself…
would be the time I spend on Instagram, I’m sure like many others.
I dream of…
building a dog shelter someday
It’s not fashionable, but…
sustainability is the new way
You may not know it but I’m no good at…
sketching portraits
You may not know it but I’m very good at…
healthy cooking
If I have time to myself…
I Netflix and read
My house is…
my workplace right now!
My favourite holiday destination…
is Bali
My favourite weekend spot in Oman…
not a single spot but I love exploring the outdoors, especially the beaches.
I will not leave my house without…
my phone and a bottle of water.
Things I like about Oman…
the humble local people and the unexplored beauty around.
A book that changed me…
When Breath becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
My success mantra is…
practice makes progress.
In ten years’, time, I hope to…
have an established sustainable design studio and inspire young minds.
I loved komals water colour and attending her classes sparked my interest in it and its also from her i got to know about this world of calligraphy!!!Thank you for bringing about these classes in Muscat.All the best wishes for ur dreams to come true