We were lucky to catch up with Swati Hathi recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Swati, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Will there ever be a way for an artist to entirely avoid imposter syndrome? I think not! Art is so subjective and once you start pursuing art commercially, you are bound to be vulnerable to feeling inadequate. Especially in the current scenario where production is at an all-time high and artists are competing with AI and being at threat to be exploited and used as a mere “art prompt”. It’s definitely a challenge to maintain consistent level of confidence when you know you’re only as good as your last painting. I am prone to this imposter syndrome every time I start a new project, but to conquer these nagging feelings of fraudulence, I consistently remind myself as to why I became an artist in the first place. I have always been in love with the process of creating an artwork, the end result or the audience reception is not in my control. Thus, all I can do is get a blank canvas and start sketching. Plus, when you start designing something that you love, self- doubt and negative energy quickly fades away as your passion for that subject takes over and fills you up with that childlike excitement. Also, self-doubt doesn’t always have to be a negative trait, self-doubt stems from the understanding that there are infinite number of things that we don’t know yet, which also means that there are infinite number of things for you to learn and grow from. Thus, you and your art will always become better than when you first started out!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a Concept Artist working for games and I love my job. It took me a while to figure out the field best suited for the work I wanted to create. My love for art came through stories, I used to have a massive collection of Indian comics which had stories based on different mythological lore and thus I developed a strong liking for fantastical worlds, and I used to create my own spin of characters and monsters that I heard in those stories.
I wanted to be an artist but my options to apply for a 9 to 5 job were limited. I started in Advertising; I worked in an animation studio for creating a TV series. I later worked for a live action movie and by working on varied range of projects, I learned more about what I really wanted to do. I finally got into working for games and that’s where I felt I was utilizing my skills to the fullest, the daily assignments were more aligned to my art style, and I could apply my knowledge and my passion for developing fantastical characters and worlds. The most exciting thing as a concept artist is to consistently be able to explore varied subject matter, one assignment would require me to do a deep dive into falcons and how they function and the next I would be researching the mysterious world of gnomes! With every character, creature, environment I design, I get to learn so much about a new world and a new topic that I had never explored before.
Alongside concept art, I also dabble into designing, I love creating block prints and have started custom painting totes, shirt, jackets and more. If there is a blank fabric surface, I will paint on it!!!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
First and foremost, PATIENCE. It is so easy to get frustrated when you don’t see your skill level improving! As an artist you develop your creative eye a lot faster than your creative skill, what that means is that your taste in art or your sense of aesthetic develops at an exponential rate when you start learning about art and art principles, but the time it takes to refine your own skills to match that level is slower and longer. Thus, find joy in the process of developing and working towards that skill and eventually you will surpass that standard you are holding your art to be at.
Secondly, try everything! Especially when you are starting out, don’t shackle yourself to a specific art medium. As an artist we can be prone to get hyper focused on creating an art style and that does not leave room for experimenting. Try every medium possible at least once, even if you are not good at it. Every art medium has a potential to teach you something new. Also, a lot of time an art style can be result of the limitation an art medium provides. Most of my favorite work has been a result of a happy paint accident!
Lastly, always be open to feedback and criticism. It can be harsh to incorporate every feedback you receive for your work. but it is also very important to get a different perspective of your work. A lot of times we are in our head about our idea and thus a new perspective can help you get a better grasp of your own idea and help you improve.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I think I can write a whole book mentioning everyone that has inspired me and helped me get to where I am today!
To start with, my family, choosing a career in art is not always supported with a lot of enthusiasm. But my parents supported my dreams in every possible way. My elder brother Nishit Hathi, who pushed me in taking the risk to leave my country and pursue my goals, I would have never had the confidence to do it without their support.
All the instructors and mentors that I had the privilege to learn from, beginning with my illustration professor during my bachelors, Riddhesh Adarkar to my Master’s professors Marius Miller, Gordon Tian, William Maughan. The classes I took under them not only helped me strengthen my foundation in art but also taught me to look at the world around me with a different lense. I also have to credit Brainstorm school and James Paick, whose classes gave me a better understanding of working as a Concept Artist and innumerable mentorship classes from various artist like Jama Jurabaev, Zac Retz, Even Ahmudsen gave me the knowledge and also kept me excited to learn more about the field.
Lastly a massive shoutout to Carolina Zeleski who gave me the opportunity and my first break into the industry and also who is a role model I look up to! I am also blessed to be surrounded by an extremely talented team of concept artists, Jason Felix, Isaac Davis, Yoli Shen, Miles Dulay, Eli Maffei, who inspire me with their work and knowledge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hathiswati.artstation.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swatz_h/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hathiswati/
Image Credits
All images belong to me.
