What is your excuse for putting off learning a new skill? Asha Shetty, a Mumbai-based artist, decided to start well into her 40s. There was no plan for a gallery wall or a solo exhibition then. The empty nest syndrome after her children moved out of the house for education, while husband’s work kept him busy, left her searching for something to fill the hours. “Art was something I enjoyed since childhood, and what started as curiosity slowly turned into a daily practice — one shaped by quick YouTube tutorials, trial-and-error, and to recreate art,” mentions Shetty.

Initially when Shetty started her artistic journey, the paintings were simple, it was usually on paper with the help of acrylic colours, only after she graduated in 2024 is when she decided to deep dive into her art and focus on other materials and textures as well. “I’ve always loved painting ever since I was young, I remember disliking other subjects and focusing only on art. As mentioned above, after my children went away, it was the loneliness that brought out the artist in me,” says Shetty.