From her home studio in Guirim, Suchitra Dandpat leads SushiMushi Studios, creating a variety of art merchandise and hosting hands-on workshops
VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN
Having grown up between Odisha and Surat, Suchitra Dandpat now finds herself in the quiet village of Guirim, as she spends her days drawing, designing and building a creative practice that feels as personal as it is expansive. “There are few things in life that feel magically downloaded into you,” she says. Painting, for her, was one of them.
At 25, she runs SushiMushi Studios from her home, working across illustration, mixed media, brand design and workshops, and shaping a body of work that sits at the intersection of visual storytelling and strategic thinking. “I also produce original prints and wearable merchandise, and host workshops that help people slow down, create, and reconnect with themselves in what feels like an increasingly digital world,” she says.
She began during the COVID-19 years, not with a business plan, but with a gesture. Personalised collages made as birthday gifts quickly became something more. Each piece was built from intimate details based on the person’s interests, then using all of those details in a whimsical, pop style, she would create personalised gift items. “It was incredible to put a smile on someone’s face during such a difficult time,” she recalls. At the time, she was still completing her engineering degree, balancing coursework with a growing number of commissioned projects.
It was a mural at a friend’s café that became a turning point, opening doors to collaborations with homeowners, café owners and small businesses, gradually expanding her understanding of what her art could do in shared spaces. “I took inspiration from people around me and kept building from there,” she says. Over three years, she developed a steady practice, balancing academic commitments with an expanding creative portfolio.
In August 2023, she moved to Goa and formally founded SushiMushi Studios. The transition also brought her practice into the digital space, where she now creates illustrations and brand identities while continuing to explore physical formats and live experiences such as zine making and linocut workshops.
She is, however, intentional about reaching younger audiences. “I would especially love to reach pre-teens and teenagers, to help them discover creative careers and show them how many more options exist now,” she says. As her studio grows, she also works with assistants on a project basis, building a collaborative environment around her practice.
Today, her work takes shape as original prints, wearable pieces, and small, tactile objects like stickers and postcards, alongside commissioned paintings and illustrations.
Goa has played a significant role in shaping her journey. “The people here, and all the support I have received at its art markets, have shaped my confidence completely,” she says. “If I can make someone stop in their tracks when they are already swept away by the beauty of Goa’s landscapes, it is because this state opens your heart to almost anything the moment you arrive. That does half the work for you. The other half just needs authenticity and good storytelling.”
Yet the realities of working as an independent creative has not been without friction. “Freelancers in creative industries domestically still struggle to get priority or fair representation,” she says. “I do not demand to be taken seriously, but basic decency, rightful credits and acknowledgement, goes a long way.” Delayed payments too continue to be a challenge. “Creative invoices being pushed to the bottom of the pile shows that it is still a long fight before art and creative careers are treated as first choice professions.”
One of her most significant milestones came through a collaborative initiative with fellow zine artist Hansika Jethwani. Together, they organised a travelling showcase featuring more than 25 artists from across India. “We presented a tour of over 50 zines, travelling from Mandrem to Panaji,” she says. “We introduced this very old medium of self published work to over 100 people, some of whom had never even heard of a zine.”
For Dandpat, success is measured in small, tangible moments like “being able to execute 100 per cent of my clients’ vision” or “getting eight or more people at my workshops”. “I also enjoy seeing someone wear SushiMushi at an event, knowing I will be there, and surprising me with it and planning an Artist Dates circle with my friends every Sunday,” she says.
