Stories Behind the Canvas: Entrepreneurship & Art

by Aadya Bommineni, Aradhna Praveen, and Shriya Shaji

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This month, we spoke to Vrishaan Suravaram, a youth artist who participated in the Santa Clara Children’s Business Fair, by creating and selling a wide variety of handcrafted products inspired by the traditional Madhubani art form. He created beautifully detailed coasters, key chains, bookmarks and decoupage trays, each carefully designed and hand-painted.

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Q&A Section with Vrishaan

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What inspired you to choose the Madhubani art style for your booth’s products?

“I was inspired by how abstract and imaginative Madhubani art can be. I enjoy the freedom it gives me to create whatever I imagine, and I love the intricate designs and patterns that make each piece so unique.”

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What was the process for deciding which products you sold? In other words, how did you decide on coasters, keychains and trays?

“I thought about the things I use most around my house or see being used often, like coasters, keychains and trays. Then I decided to create those same items decorated with Madhubani art, so they could be both useful and beautiful.”

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How did you prepare for your art booth?

“To prepare for my art booth, I started by thinking about what kinds of items people might like, how many of each I should make, and how I would create them. Once I had a plan, I started making the products and added final touches to each one. Before the event, I handed out flyers to friends and family to invite them to the fair. I also spent time figuring out the best way to arrange and display my items at the booth. My dad helped me create a Google Sheet to keep track of pricing and inventory, which made things easier on the event day.

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What were your favorite customer interactions?

“I have two favorite customer interactions. The first was with a group of kids who bought my DIY Madhubani kits. They were really excited to try a new art style, and I loved seeing their enthusiasm—it made me really happy to share the Madhubani art style with them. My second favorite moment was a bit funny! A lady wanted to buy multiple of my products, but her husband reminded her to stick to their budget. It was fun to see how much she liked my work!”

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Were there customers who didn’t know about Madhubani art? How did you explain it to them?

“Yes, there were a few customers who didn’t know about Madhubani art. I explained to them that it's a traditional Indian art style known for its vibrant colors and intricate patterns. Some people were curious and asked where I had learned it, and a few even said they would look into enrolling their kids in Madhubani classes after seeing my work!”

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Would you encourage other kids to participate in similar events?

“Yes, I would definitely encourage other kids to participate in events like this. It’s a great way to start small and learn things that can help later in life. Plus, it’s a lot of fun—you get to be creative and meet so many new people!”