Esha Shetty started taking art lessons when she was about 4 years old. Her teacher, an Indian artist, would teach other South Asian children in Shetty’s neighborhood as well.

“It was very South Asian-based,” Shetty said. “I took private lessons with her until I was about 15.”

Shetty, now a senior at Clark University, had taken a hiatus from art due to high school and other extracurricular activities. She had taken AP art but still stopped until her junior year at Clark.

Shetty recently decided to major in studio art as well as psychology, and she said that the two are able to shine through in her designs together.

“I usually paint with my emotions,” Shetty said, adding that Picasso might be an inspiration for her with his use of colors and what she called “weird faces.”

Shetty’s art is full of different faces, many of which she calls androgenous, similar to Frida Carlo’s work. Shetty’s Instagram account, eshaillustration, shows a variety of portraits. Some faces are made from a split of red and blue, each converging into the other so that it forms a dichotomy of sense of hot and cold or maybe sad and angry. One painting is made from squares, with the writing “you think I’m cold? I sold my soul for copper and gold rims.” Others are more abstract with the faces melting, exploding into colors, or even more just floating mouths, ears, and eyes.

“In India, there’s a lot of colors and various patterns,” Shetty said. “Even going to Indian parties and holidays, you can see that.”

Shetty said that her favorite part of the face to paint, mostly with acrylic, are eyes.

“Eyes tell a lot about a person. Eyes tell a person’s feelings,” Shetty said. “You see the world through your eyes.”

Shetty wasn’t always confident in her art, however.

“I used to never show my art,” Shetty said. “I did art for myself…But I recognized my style and expanded into it.”

But now Shetty is doing commissioned work, like for an album cover for singer “a bitch named amanda.” The album, which is dropping soon, has a Salvador-Dali-inspired feel with toxic symbols, pill bottles, and trees growing amongst blood droplets.

Shetty’s mom has always pushed her. She said that she grew up in a culture that pushes children to become engineers or doctors. People often do not become artists.

“She’s a big supporter of my art,” Shetty said. “I never had that issue growing up. My mom said you don’t have to be one of those.”

Looking beyond graduation, Shetty intends to go into marketing with small businesses. She said that graphic design has always interested her.

“I really like the aspect of sharing my art,” Shetty said.

For commissions, DM Shetty on her instagram, eshaillustration. Shetty’s work has also been displayed by the Worcester Arts Council, as well as Clark University.