Artist Spotlight

Nimita Kaul

Image by Verdant Butterfly

Hello!

So the team told me that I could go interview a bunch of artists >:D

But okay okay before I get carried away, let me just quickly explain what this is about, since this is the first Spotlight post that we are putting up.

This fund exists to help creators stay in the room. To keep writing, drawing, making, speaking. To not disappear just because life got heavy all at once. It’s not about rescue or charity. It’s about continuity. About community stepping in where systems don’t. ( BentButTrue )

Our main goals when we formed the Indie Ink Fund was to strengthen the community on here through practical means. Holding events to spark inspiration, putting themed anthologies together so that indie creators can get more eyes on their work, and finally give back to creators in need from the earnings that we get from these anthologies.

Lookout for this Spotlight post every Friday, where we will likely be alternating between authors and artists (so expect a featured author next week). In doing so we are hoping to help you get to know the person behind the work that is being produced. Who knows? You may encounter your new favourite from here, or find some much-needed advice, make a new friend, or receive the inspiration that you’ve been searching for.

---

Now.

Let’s delve in.

Let’s talk about Nimita Kaul, the very first person that came to mind when the team decided to start this weekly Author/Artist Spotlight.

Many of us likely would have encountered Nimita’s enchanting pieces over notes. On top of that she is a skilled poet (may I recommend that you check out her publication: Darakhth - she has explained that this means “tree” in Urdu). My personal favourites from her are her paintings of flowers. And birch trees OMG. She also helped us to illustrate in “The First Indulgence” anthology, and is one of my go-to people when I need some art advice hurhur..

Couldn’t find the Birch trees. Here are the flowers.

(Nimita later sent me the birch trees. They’re at the bottom of this post <3 Enjoy!)

I believe the first few pieces from her that caught my eye were the birds and the flowers, mainly because I can’t draw these well for nuts. I liked the things that she restacked. I liked her taste. Followed and subscribed

After a bit more stalking, I slowly learnt that she was very regular with her art practice, and that she was a SELF-TAUGHT watercolour artist.

NOW. I don’t know about you. But if you had tried watercolour before, you might have realised that it is a pretty challenging medium. I don’t know, but I do feel that way. I couldn’t even do it well with my Dad teaching me. But here was Nimita watching countless youtube videos and learning from books, trying over and over again, picking up the brush over and over till she was satisfied with the result.

And if the outcome was ever not quite the way that she wanted it to be? She had the wisdom and the patience to say, it’s okay, we can try again.

Nimita is the reason why I picked up watercolours again. Because I was so inspired by her persistence to learn, as well as the progress that I had witnessed.

One of the more recent paintings done this Feb.

---

The Interview

This was done via Google Forms and Substack chat. It was been reformatted so hopefully it is a little easier to read heh..

Mello joined the interview. Always the gentleman (gentle-dragon?), he let me go first. So you will see some of his questions at the second half of the interview.

Me: Hello Nimita! Again, thank you for agreeing to do this with us!

Nimita: It’s an honour!

Me: Okay, first question. The easy one. What mediums do you usually use?

Nimita: Watercolour, with different pens for detailing.

Me: YESS, and I think you’re amazing at it, by the way. There’s a whole section before this of my fan-girl ramblings above this hurhurhur…

Me: Can I trouble you to share 3 pieces of artwork that you would like to show the others here today? And tell us why they are so special to you?

Nimita: Oh wow, that’s tough. Cool let me think... And shortlist it…

Nimita:

Nimita: First Image is inspired from Jean Haines’ book ‘World of Watercolour’. It amazed me that I could recreate this from instructions from a book, felt very proud that I could get that effect on paper with whatever watercolour skills I had then.

Me: And how far in were you in your art journey when you drew it?

Nimita: Tough to put a timeline... I started in 2020 with watercolours, acrylics and other media.

Nimita: But concentrated practice I would say started in Jan 2025 so maybe 7 months. I created these in August 2025.

Nimita:

Nimita: Second image is inspired by a photograph I took in a restaurant. It took me very long to create it, and I spent several hours on different layers waiting to create my vision for it. I was elated by the effects I achieved from processes I didn’t even know existed.

Me: It’s beautiful! I love your attention to detail, and the colours really pop out at you :D

Nimita:

Nimita: Third image is inspired by beautiful photographs of Mark Cornick on Substack of grasses and sand dunes. I struggled with this the most, especially with the sky. There were 6 photos, but this one is my favourite. I ended up changing a lot while creating it with watercolours, and went with my instinct and loved the final result.

Me: I remember this one. This is one of my favourites. I can smell the rain and the beach from here…

Mello: Are you asking this because you just want to see more of her art pieces—

Me: SHHH!

Me: Ahem. Right. Can I just ask—and let me just say, I will never cease to be amazed at how you managed to teach yourself watercolours, by the way—who is your biggest source of inspiration, and why?

Nimita: Here they are.

1. Ohn Mar Win - inspired by her black and white creations on toned paper sketchbooks that started my almost daily practice. Love her art.

2. Becca Courtice, who hosts the Workshop Week, where it all started for me, calligraphy and mixed media art led to my belief that I can learn and hone skills. She is also inspiring for the way she shares her skills and knowledge genuinely and brings together the art community for the Workshop Week, which is epic, highly recommend to everyone/ all artists, these are synonyms in my dictionary now!

3. Harriet de Winton - for her taste and delicate care with which she creates with watercolours.

4. Nia - love her aesthetics, creations and their elegance with seeming simplicity.

Me: I’ve just had a quick scroll through. These people are amazing :o

Mello: My turn now, perhaps?

Me: Okay okay, your turn. Go ahead.

Mello: Wonderful. Greetings, Nimita!

Nimita: Greetings Lord Mello!

Mello: Oh! There is no need for titles among friends. Though if you insist, Nimita, Lady of the Court.

Mello: As I understand from the Hatchling here, you had learnt on your own how to paint. What drew you to water colours? (From my understanding it is a challenging medium.) What kept you pursuing it?

Nimita: Thank you for your thoughtful questions!

Nimita: I have been scared of watercolours since school, once I started my art journey in 2020 I started exploring different media and loved the effect of watercolours.

Nimita: When I started attempting to create while following video tutorials I got inspired. And then there was no looking back since I started experimenting and loving working with the medium.

Nimita: It is still frustrating at times but I think I’ve fallen in love with it. Difficult for now to part ways with it

Mello: To jump into something you were once afraid of. To learn as you have from strangers. Skilled ones, yes, but strangers still... You have my admiration.

Mello: …And I always want to know… what are the dreams of your heart? That is the most important thing that we must know about our friends.

Nimita: That’s a tough question, my dreams mostly revolve around aiming for a life which has creativity as a big part and involves honing my skills both in art and words.

Nimita: I would love to be remembered as a kind person/ artist. If I can inspire others to let go of perfectionism including me, I’ll be thrilled and content.

Mello: You already are remembered as one who is kind. As both a person, and an artist.

Mello: Thank you for answering my questions 💚 I apologise for taking up your precious time of rest, Lady Nimita.

Me: Thank you again! I’m so glad I got to interview you. As Mello has expressed, you’ve been a big inspiration to us. When IIF said we’re interviewing artists, I was like okay I know who I want to interview first xD

Nimita: It’s an honour that I will cherish. Thank you 😊🤗💙
I loved the questions, makes one ponder and really think.

---

Reflections from the artist

(I decided to split this section up from the rest, as they are more reflective. I included this, and not just the artist’s work and sources of inspiration, because I wanted to know—and want everyone reading this to know—how the heart behind the art beats.)

Who is the artist behind the artwork?

The artist behind the artwork is human, trying to overcome perfectionism, attempting to figure out life, herself and her art along the journey of time. I am not professionally trained, but I have chosen art to be a significant and hopefully constant part of my life. I sincerely believe everyone is an artist, skills can be learnt, honed and experimented with.

My art reflects my sincerity, struggle, growth, experiments, curiosity, taste and effort. It speaks to me while I am in the midst of creating, challenges my mind, pushes my limits, relieves me of the pressure to perform “well”, frustrates me at times. Once it has been created, it provides me with a sense of accomplishment and joy that is hard to describe. Once it has been shared, it astonishes me the way it is interpreted by others and leaves me in awe of the power of perception, the power of art and its power to affect someone, evoke memories, wishes, reactions.

Was there ever a time when you struggled to keep creating? What advice would you give to a fellow artist who is facing the same situation as you?

I have struggled several times. Sometimes it is because of other commitments, or not having a fixed space or materials ready, or just out of ideas/inspiration… Or like the past few days: dejection due to world and personal events, losses or a negative comment from someone that matters.

I would call these suggestions rather than advice - things like movement, walking in nature or around trees, taking a bath, scribbling or instinctive drawing/colouring or just picking up a pen and drawing anything around you, making something with your hands, keeping simple/limited supplies around you with the least hindrances, to get over that hill. I deeply feel that you will get back to it when you really decide to and want to. It is a choice to dedicate that attention to art, creativity, and it is a decision to maintain, immerse, and accept it in your life and existence.

The suggestions above and many others you will hear or read about are only options to choose from or try. They sound good, and they are, I have tried them, but sometimes morose feelings and dejection really take over, and 4 days go by, with you as a couch potato or reader or doomscroller or deep cleaning or devouring romantic novels (whichever is your poison at that moment or calls to you) to escape your feelings or just not wanting to deal with it.

Most important for me as an artist/human is to step back when needed, don’t push yourself, always remember to be KIND to yourself, that would be my advice. One needs to remember that YOU need to be there for your art to exist.

---

Once again, thank you for indulging me, Nimita <3

If anyone wants to check out Nimita’s page and publication, here are the links, for your convenience. Highly recommend taking a look :D

As promised, here are the Birch Trees: