The Magnetising Artist Made International

I remember seeing videos of Shanika constantly popping up on my timeline on Instagram, and at the time I had no clue who she was; but there was something about her videos that drew me in. Without fail, every time one of her videos graced my timeline, I just had to watch and I found myself constantly scrolling through her art page and admiring the work that she had done. Her behind the scenes videos of creating her work were magnetising. In every video, she was unapologetically herself, as she spoke freely and humourously while explaining her pieces. When the time arose to find people to interview for “Vibes Exclusive”, I knew she had to be one of the first people I reached out to. Shanika happily agreed and I was excited to finally meet the face behind the art and learn more about her and Artist Made International! 

Shanika explained that she was always keen on art, as she obsessively coloured and drew on all of her books. However, it was around the age of 14, that she really knew that this was her passion. Her interest in art was always there, but it further peaked when she discovered painting! From here, Shanika furthered her studies in art and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts. As our interview furthered, Shanika explained how Artists Made International came into being. 10 years ago, when her son was born, Shanika realised that she needed to find a formal and organised way of doing her art, while still being financially stable and it was from there that her Artist Made Barbados Journey began. She later switched the name to Artist Made International. From portraits to large scale paintings, realistic paintings, abstract work and even murals, Shanika is verse in many styles of artistic work. 

So, what is it like being an artist in Barbados? I wanted to find out how Shanika was able to pursue her passion, while turning it into a successful business. Is there a “trick” to doing it all? As Shanika stated, in the most straightforward way, “No matter how good you are, you need good marketing”. Often times she said, it feels like the business is 50 per cent painting and 50 per cent marketing, but she knows the importance that good marketing can have on a business. In terms of making your business a successful one, Shanika explained that in anything we do, we are entrepreneurs. One must be able to set their target market, put goals in place and use the rules of business to continue to drive yourself forward. “You can’t just be isolated in your box, hoping that somebody will like what you do”, she said while sharing her words of wisdom. For Artist Made International, Shanika wanted to create a market for the people “right next door”, in terms of her price points and accessibility; and by running her business through the tips she has shared, she has made a positive name for herself, with success that follows!

Throughout this journey, Shanika describes the memories she helps people to make, and people’s reactions to the work that she does as her favourite part of her business. With a smile on her face, she explained how people’s vibes feed her vibes and when she sees how genuinely excited they are about her work, it fuels her passion and makes creating even more joyous for her. I asked Shanika what keeps her going during moments when business may seem down or a bit slower than usual. She explained that business is not usually slow, but at the beginning of COVID-19, she cried thinking that her business would now be a disaster, she was afraid and had no clue where she stood or what would happen. “Art is a luxury and would be the first thing to go”, she thought.  “But the Bajans tell me art is an essential service”, she said with a hearty laugh and thankfully her business has still been able to prosper and stay afloat. Going forward, Shanika wants to expand her work on a more international level, by offering her art kits, portraits and even her virtual “sip and paint” parties. I look forward to what the future has in store for Shanika and her business Artist Made International!