Artful – providing a space where creatives can strive in confidence

When do you feel most creative? Is it when you are alone or in the presence of others? Perhaps, when you are at home, at work, or while driving somewhere? 

Are there spaces or environments that make you feel creative? Maybe your kitchen or backyard, a coffee shop, or a craft store? Well, Artful, a small business owned by Maharanie Samai Jhillu, hopes to provide a space where artists can strive and become confident in their work. 

Maharanie was born to parents Rajnarain Samai Jhillu and Parbati Jhillu on the 5th June 1995 at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. She grew up in Canal Number 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara (WBD), with her two siblings, Veidwattie Samai and Vickram Jhillu.

Reflecting on her early childhood, Maharanie said that her ambiversion was evident from a very tenure age as she was both reserved and outgoing at varying times. 

My introverted side loved burying my head in books, eager to learn more, and my hands were always ready to create something, whether it was cards, clothes for dolls, drawings, clay items (e.g., diyas), styrofoam models, dried leaf crafts, etc. Time alone wasn’t a bore.

Although mainly being reserved, the 25-year-old recalled having a colourful upbringing in the countryside. Not forgetting the “one and two licks” she got at times for misbehaving. One of the most prominent parts of her childhood was being raised in a single-parent household, having lost her father in 2003, when she was just 7 years old. 

Following her father’s death, Maharanie’s family plummeted into financial hardship since her mother became the sole breadwinner. 

“While it was financially and emotionally challenging for my family and me, I was also inspired by the endurance, resilience, and follow through my mom had in raising her kids; ensuring that there was food on the table, clothes on our backs, a place to lay our heads and an education to provide for us in future. I saw a forward-thinking woman who turned to gold everything she touched and sacrificed a lot for her family,” Maharanie recalls. 

Maharanie attended the New Anglet Nursery School, then the Commons Primary School, and was awarded a spot at Saint Stanislaus College. After excelling at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination in 2012, the former St. Stanislaus College student ventured off to Saint Rose’s High School to pursue Six Form. 

In 2014, she graduated from St. Rose’s High with a CAPE Diploma and Associate in Business Studies after completing ten units/courses. She also completed a Project Management Specialization with Coursera. Presently, she is reading for her Bachelor’s Degree in Management at the University of Guyana, holding a 3.7 GPA.

Launch of her business 

When the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) took the world by a storm last year, Maharanie was given a seat to be with her thoughts and feelings in a bid to figure out her future aspirations. 

Owning her own business came to thought, but self-doubt and a lack of mindset were some of the challenges the aspiring businesswoman had to overcome. 

“I was sent to face myself and reflect on my passion, drive, and what I actively did to cultivate that which fulfilled me. After not creating for just over a year, I found my way back to my art, recalling what it means to me. Art is sacred to me. It is my self-expression, my coping mechanism, my therapy, and my meditation. Art is my safe haven. So, I indulged once more to ease my worries of Covid-19, among other challenges. I faced, and as I did so, I shared my work on social media and with my friends and family.”

She continued, “I was encouraged to do more with my art and to use it as a stream of income. I sat with that thought for a few months and reflected on some of the most impactful words of encouragement given to me about my art. At this point, connections formed in my mind that my artwork was more than its visual appeal. They explored current societal topics, like mental health, self-love, and acceptance, culture, spirituality, etc., and this was where the concept of Artful was born.”

Instead of running from the hurdles she faced at the time, the 25-year-old businesswoman confronted them and held onto the words of the Bajan “skillastrator” Shawn Alleyne – the first artist to inspire Maharanie about her craft. 

 Enthusiasm and amazement washed over his body, face, and voice. His words to me were, ‘you are far too modest about your art when it’s so amazing.’ So, I began creating more and more, experimenting with different art types and techniques to have pieces available for the launch. I created my logo, cover photo, a teaser video, business card, planned the way I’d post, and researched my packaging style.

Coming closer to the launching date of her business, Maharanie explained that she wanted to do more. She said that she wanted to engage in collaborative creativity with other creatives. 

In summary, Artful is and will be a place for art with impact while having fun, collaborating, and connecting with others through events and creative projects. I wanted to ensure that everyone who interacted with Artful felt valued.

Maharanie launched her business “Artful” on the 21st December 2020, providing acrylic paintings, pencil drawings, portraits included, paper art frames, and handmade cards. 

Artworks available can be found on our pages, and we also provide custom artwork for any occasion. We are working towards providing graphic art and design services as well. Artful is presently three months into operations and has been able to form connections with other creatives, co-host a successful art exhibition with The RightBrain Gallery, and donated a piece to the WeLead Caribbean for International Women’s Day.

Artful will also be unveiling a new piece at the United and Free Virtual Concert hosted by Policy Forum Guyana on 11th April. The entrepreneur said that she is gratified by the opportunities she has attracted since her business launch and is humbled by every challenge that sought to test how passionate she is about what she loves.

The difference between my business and competitors is in the vision. Artful doesn’t stop at making the art and an income. It tells a story and gives others the chance to vibe with, connect and relate to it. Artful provides a space for connections to create community and space for other creatives to bloom within the confidence of their own work. I also hope to host events and continue to engage in forums and other events where my artwork and narration are relevant.

Apart from being the owner of Artful, Maharanie is a State Auditor, treasurer at Rampertop Children Foundation, and Director at Conversa Global. 

Artful plans to host events and engage in creative projects that can bring creatives together to work in collaboration. Some of these events include sip and paint, art exhibitions, or cultural preservation through visual and other arts. The final year BSc Management student said that the aim is to remedy our fragmented Guyanese art community, especially when it comes to our budding artists.  

Contact Information for Artful 

• Facebook Page: Artful
• Instagram: Artful.592
• Telephone #: +592- 613 – 0016
• Email: [email protected]
• TikTok: Artful.592