Coffee Art is unusual and unique. Monika picks brain of a Coffee artist, Hima Bindu, in this interview. An exclusive for Different Truths.
It won’t just be a notion if we say, ‘life is art and art is life’. A way of living. Creativity plays a pivotal role to bring about a connection of life and art. It helps an artist in expressing a unique nature and onlookers to see beyond their eyes as to unearth the essence of everything that is encountered and experienced. The creative mind is always agile to perceive meaning in the ordinary.
Hima Bindu’s fortuitous introduction to ordinary yet gracious Coffee Art is exemplary in itself. An SAP professional has gracefully worked on this atypical form of art to bring about beautiful depictions in brown and sepia as the humble nature of coffee is increasingly engrossing art lovers and artists.
The caffeine saturated art is worth envisaging. A sneak peek through Hima’s art is something, no art lover should miss. Hima Bindu speaks about her art, life, and times with Monika.
Monika: What inspires you to paint, or rather/ what subjects inspire you?
Hima: Art and crafts have always been a part of my school / college curriculums. My mother used to paint using black ink.
I draw a lot of inspiration from her, on various aspects of my life. Formal or seriousness into paintings started a little over 20+ years ago. It started as a means to de-stress and calm me from the cacophony of life. Along with very stressful situations at work. It started with exploring various mediums.
Inspiration – For me comes from many places and has many names. (Mother, Nature and basically all things around me).
Subjects that inspire me to paint are, mostly the Indian art forms. Initially, it was to go with the flow of the learning process.
To date, I paint in 13 different styles and my thirst for learning is yet to be quenched.
While painting using Coffee (natural dye /pigment), I like to render Indian art forms / styles to paint.
I’m enamoured by the richness of the Indian art and culture. I try draw my inspiration from the various Indian art forms, temple architecture, folklore, tribal art, Indian ethnic patterns to name a few.
Monika: How do you know when a painting is done and what inspires you to initiate an artwork?
Hima: An art piece (artwork) is like a baby. Like a typical artist, I would like to keep going on & on. Making it as perfect as possible and keep changing until, I’m distracted with something; or the timelines to gift / order have to be met.
A typical Gem (Gemini – zodiac sign), so I tend to get bored soon. My trick to stop fiddling with my so-called, finished piece, is that I varnish it, so that once varnish is done – making changes would be a challenge and tends to mess the piece. That’s when my piece is complete and ready to be framed.
I start a coffee artwork either, as an order or for a forthcoming exhibition, or when I learnt a new art form and I want to render the same using coffee (as a medium).
Other styles I create, as and when I like to vent out or express myself.
Coffee Painting by Hima Bindu 
Coffee Painting by Hima Bindu 
Coffee Painting by Hima Bindu 
Coffee Painting by Hima Bindu 
Coffee Painting by Hima Bindu
Monika: Did you always want to be an artist?
Hima: Yes, and maybe. I grew up learning art and crafts (music). Childhood activities did leave a mark on me. Later, it came back to me as a natural option to pick as a means to calm myself and to think out of box (creative endeavours). Picked it up as hobby, later it became a means to calm and express myself. And now it’s my means of livelihood.
Monika: What’s the best thing about being an artist? What is the hardest part of creating an artwork?
Hima: The best thing about being an artist: It’s a flow of expression. For me it’s very therapeutic and has a calming effect. It helps me to vent and explore too. Keeps me active, happy, and creative.
The hardest part of creating an artwork:
- People should be able to perceive it, the same way I had in mind. The same emotion when I created this piece.
- Others should be able to relate / connect to it. For me others should feel it to be very captivating apart from/ along with the aesthetic appeal.
- For me, especially with the Coffee art – I should be able to capture, without any compromises. Near perfect, the grandeur / intricacies / vibrancies of the Indian art forms.
- Coffee has a mind of its own, so painting with coffee is twice more challenging than painting with colours, it doesn’t flow as easily as other mediums/paints (acrylic, poster…).
- It takes a long time to paint, more hues of browns mean more time to get the effects.
My lessons learnt with coffee painting is the virtue of patience, persistence, and hard work. Of course, after experimenting with 100 odd pieces. My experimentations are still on (I call it my coffee art is still brewing…)
Other aspect is pricing and marketing. While colourful prints/ posters – which are considered to have long life come with a lesser cost. My artworks in browns tend to be expensive and people always question the life span of these pieces.
My endeavour and appeal to all people is draw their attention to hand painted / crafted pieces and something which is unique and different.
Monika: Do you title your paintings? If yes, how important do you think the titles are? If not, do you leave it to onlookers’ imagination?
Hima: Yes, big thanks to the mentor’s and coaches who I have. They told me the significance of giving “titles” to my artworks (branding). Especially, Coffee Art works. While I give a title to all my art works. I make it a point to name my Coffee Art.
A title conveys the artist’s expression (emotion/ inner meaning). It gives a perspective to the onlookers. Along with making it unique. A name is a name. I read somewhere, a kid’s names or in general names do have an impact on one’s way of life. Extrapolating the same, giving a title to a painting / artwork gives its own significance. I remember some exhibitions; people liked the names/ title and picked the artworks.
I tend to give names in line with coffee + my artworks (expression). I am sharing some names:
· Mocha Cuddle – piece of two teddy bears (bears hugging each other)
· MorLatte – Peacock – “Mor” – Peacock in Hindi language, Lattee is a coffee with milk (browns plus white).
· Latte Art – is art with white liquid on coffee (brown).
Monika: What is your favourite genre to work at and which artists have influenced you in your journey?
Hima: As I said I grew up learning / being exposed to various arts & crafts.
I went to attend formal classes to learn art styles like – Tanjore, canvas oil, Kerala mural and clay art (3D models) to name a few.
Thanks! to my travel and visiting various museums around the world. I’m also mesmerised by Van Gogh’s, Picaso, Monet.
I would like to thank all my teachers – right from my grandmother, mother, school and college art teachers and my other painting teachers:
- Santhal Tribal Art
- Jamini Roy
- All the Indian art forms
Irish-Delight by Hima Bindu 
Flower 
Kafi Koasters
Monika: What advice would you give to your younger self and what would you suggest to your older self as an artist?
Hima: The best form of showing an admiration is to ape the person. Copying, yes, do give the due credits to the people (gratitude).
Younger artists: Learn, unlearn, and explore – above all practice, practice, and more practice. Try to develop your uniqueness. Incredible India! – explore and learn some of its art styles. Along with the other parts of the world art forms. Do your bit for the society and give back!
Older artists: Anyone can paint. At any point of time. Age is just a number. New form of expression can be learnt at all stages & walks of life. As we grow older, we need to have a means of venting / expressing. A hobby is a must. Be open to learn from younger generations. (Learn, unlearn, relearn, co-learn, mutual learning). What more can you ask for? If your hobby helps generate vitamin M (money) too, why not?
Visuals sourced from the artist and video compiled by Anumita Roy
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