Meet Disha Sharma | Illustrator & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Disha Sharma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Disha, why did you pursue a creative career?
“I believe that destiny definitely finds you if you are willing to put your heart and soul in your craft”. I have always been drawn to art and creativity since my childhood. Although being born in a family of engineers and doctors, I never saw art as a career choice. Hence it remained a hobby until my college days and then there came a long pause until I became a mom. During my son’s nap times, I used to find a creative outlet and started painting again after a long gap of about 12 years of making art. I gradually started sharing my work on Instagram and started getting small commissions from local magazines and local brands for their product label design and branding projects. In 2018, I also started conducting in-person workshops as well as online on SkillShare. This made me realize the possibility of pursuing art as a profession and then I started taking my art more seriously.
At this stage of my life, I cannot imagine my life working any job where art is not involved. Art is meditation for me and is the food for my soul. I enjoy working with clients from all around the world. Art solves many problems for companies – be it marketing, education, advertising or packaging and I feel blessed to be able to solve problems for my clients with my skills. What can be a better way to live a life where you get to do what you love for a living? I feel I am one of the luckiest people who found their path and are living their dreams.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I am a watercolor artist who loves to paint food and botanicals in realistic style. I have always enjoyed work of many known artists and used to wonder how they can bring such realism in their work. So I kept my practice going until I could paint something which depicts some realism. Although I do not consider myself a hyper- realistic artist but I always like to have a sense of realism in my work. Apart from watercolors, I also love working with gouache paints which give a more of graphic look to my work. After becoming a mom in 2014, I used to paint a little during my son’s naps and share it on Instagram. When I discovered the possibilities of social media, I started to take my art seriously and reach out to clients and small local companies and magazines. I started getting commissions after a year of posting online. It was not very easy to attract clients initially. But with more consistent posting and contacting clients, I started getting more work.
One big lesson I have learned along the way is that there is no easy path and persistence is the key to success. There is no such thing called “Overnight Success”. My journey from an engineer to a commercial illustrator has been full of so many highs and lows just like a roller coster. It has been so much fun riding this ride and I would love to improve my skills and level up my craft as the time goes by. My goal is to have a studio in the future where I can work on commissions and also conduct in person workshops.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Although I love being in my studio all the time but I do love visiting Dallas Arboretum with my family. Another lovely spots which I know in Dallas area are Legacy West, Dallas Farmers Market, Flower Mound and Grapevine Historical Downtown. I also enjoy going to trails and spend time in nature. Dallas is full of so many lakes and trails. So if the weather is nice, you can spend your day at a lake with your friends and family. For food lovers, there are so many options in the city including Mexican, Italian and Indian cuisines.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be here where I am today without the unconditional support I have got from my partner. I do not talk much about this but yes he has been a constant support no matter what. Even if I felt low about my journey or even wanted to quit, he always is there to lift me up and remind me why I got started. Not only that, I am also grateful for my 9 year old son who actually is the reason I started painting again after a long gap since my school days. Another shoutout I would like to give is to one of my very close friends and a mentor- Kendyll. She has been a great support and guide throughout my career and my creative journey. I really feel blessed to have so many supportive people in my life.

Website: https://www.markdishadesigns.com/

Instagram: @markdisha

Twitter: https://twitter.com/markdisha

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markdishadesigns

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@MarkdishaDesigns