Storytellers: they talk art, meeting online

An open community for art lovers, Storytellers brings a motley group of professionals together to discuss their works

On a quiet Saturday afternoon, a small group of artists chat on a Discord Server, their faces appearing in small windows on the screen. While some are ready with their sketches, others are just beginning to trace theirs. This group is in session for another round of drawing, conversation and learning.

The sounds of the outside world fade into the background as their stories flow naturally, bouncing off the digital space like old friends reconnecting. The drawings serve as a backdrop to their conversations, and the conversations are their own form of creation. There is no rush, no pressure, only the quiet rhythm of pencils and brushes on paper and the occasional burst of laughter cutting through the calm.

Storytellers is a Chennai-based art community founded in 2023 by Farhan K., an architect by profession and an artist by passion. With over 15 members, this diverse group includes artists, writers, jewellery designers, and bakers, all based in Chennai who meet online to sketch.

What makes many connect with Storytellers is finding a platform amidst professional commitment where there are no limits to the kind of art shared, and freedom is encouraged. Healthy competition exists, but it’s always accompanied by support and encouragement.

Farhan recalls, “It was during my college years that I discovered artistic communities in cities like Bangalore. I wanted to create a space where artists could share their work and ideas. When I first set up my own stall, I had to spend a significant amount of money to make it happen, and it was tough to recover those costs. That experience pushed me to start this community.”

Storytellers regularly showcase their work at events in the city, the most recent one being Kalai Alai, which took place on December 22, 2024.

“If you visit our stall, you’ll see that every piece of art has its own story. That’s the theme we follow every time. We’ve been displaying our work at events, and we’re planning to hold workshops in the future to engage more directly with the public. Setting up stalls has taught us valuable management skills, and it’s always a joy when people buy our work and offer feedback. At the end of the day, profit isn’t our main goal. It’s the satisfaction we get from sharing our work and covering our expenses,” Farhan explains.

Storytellers are an open community—anyone can join or leave as they wish.

Monika, a 22-year-old freelance 2D animator and illustrator, joined Storytellers last year. Reflecting on her experience, she says, “I first heard about Storytellers through a mutual friend who gave me the confidence to believe in my art. I joined initially to collaborate on art stalls, but soon I realised that it’s a wonderful community where I’ve made lifelong friends. Since joining, I’ve learned so much—finding my audience, selling my prints, and getting inspired by others. My first stall at the ‘House of Sunshine’ event was a huge milestone for me. Meeting people who appreciated my work enough to buy it was a dream come true.”

She continues, “After quitting my job in February, I struggled to get back into my art. My social media was quiet, and I felt disconnected from the creative world. But gradually, I started drawing again. Then, in July, I found Storytellers. It was a turning point for me. I realized that doing what I love would bring opportunities, but I had to put myself out there.”

Sai Keerthi, a 26-year-old senior illustrator at Lollypop Design Studio, discusses how the community collaborates and their future goals. “When it comes to organising events, everyone contributes in their own way. No one is assigned specific roles; we all step up for tasks we’re familiar with. For Animatsuri, I helped coordinate with a vendor for badges because I’d worked on similar projects before. Monika handled the keychains. Our goal is to reach a wider audience in Chennai and expand to other cities. For now, we focus on telling a story with every piece of art we create so that people can connect with it. And we want others to know they can be part of this community, no matter their skill level.”

Farhan adds, “Joining the community doesn’t require being a professional artist—just a passion for creating stories through art.” Their advice to any artist is simple: ‘Just go for it. Put your work out there, and don’t worry about likes or shares. Let people see your work, and things will fall into place.’

For updates on upcoming online and offline art sessions, follow @storytellers03 on Instagram.

Published - January 11, 2025 06:33 pm IST