Botanical Escapism with Sonal Nathwani
It was July of 2018 when Sonal flew to Italy for a 3 day workshop in the center of Rome. Her talent, enthusiasm and grace lit up the flower-filled studio, making the whole experience so unique and memorable. We curated botanical installations, sketched in historical gardens, worked on new pieces all day and took many photos of it all. Her work, and daily sketchbooks inspire us to this day.
How does living and working in Vienna inspire you?
I love all the things Vienna is famous for— its history, its music, the world class museums, its old and new architecture, its traditional coffee house culture. It's always easy to find something to do but one of my favourite sources of inspiration is simply to walk around the city and discover quiet streets and hidden courtyards. Each district has its own vibe. Some are grand, some quirky, some arty, some a little rundown. Each has it's own charm. I've been living here for more than 20 years, but I still find new places to explore.
It's also easy to get into nature with the Danube a cycle ride away and the Viennese Woods at the edge of the city. It's a small city, but I like that. I feel very lucky to be based here.
What have you learned since our first workshop together in 2018?
Although I'm still painting and drawing florals, I think my work has become more confident and even looser. I suppose this is a natural result of continued practice. My brushstrokes and use of colour have become more expressive and I'm hoping this will continue developing. I'm also working more on larger canvases and paper so there is a greater feeling of spaciousness in my arrangements.
How many sketchbooks do you think you have filled up since you first started painting?
I have sketchbooks from when I was 10 years old but let's talk about the ones I've been working in as an adult painter. I must have completed hundreds of sketchbook spreads over the years. I have at least 22 sketchbooks in lots of different sizes and for different techniques— painting, drawing, collage, mixed media, words. For me, sketchbooks are a place where I can do whatever I want without any commercial pressure. They've been a major force behind my development as an artist. They're my playground.
Which medium do you prefer working in for florals, and why?
At the moment, I'm working mostly in acrylics for a number of reasons. They have a fast drying time so it's easy to build up layers quickly and create a rich surface texture. They are easy to combine with drawing materials like ink, pencils, crayons and pastels and also collage. Acrylics are a very forgiving medium, so it means I can be more free with my strokes and take more risks with my painting. Anything I don't like I simply paint over. They are also versatile because I can use them on paper, canvas and wood.
What is something you want to achieve as a goal in the next few years as an artist?
On a day to day level, I want to continue to explore the possibilities of paint. I feel I have so much more to learn and create. It's a wonderful calling.
Of course growing my collector base is an ongoing goal, so more gallery representation is also on my list. I also hope to participate in a major art fair within the next year or two.
As I love to travel, I think it would be exciting to do an artist residency in another country...maybe Japan, India, Italy, Australia...who knows?
Oh and I'd love to have a big beautiful book published of my sketchbook pages.
