Debbie Millman has an ongoing project at PRINT titled “What Matters.” This is an effort to understand the interior life of artists, designers, and creative thinkers. This facet of the project is a request of each invited respondent to answer ten identical questions and submit a nonprofessional photograph.
Astha Avinash is a creative strategist, illustrator and textile artist based out of Brooklyn, NY. She relocated to the United States in 2022 to pursue her career in strategy. She is an arts and crafts enthusiast, a home chef, and loves to people-watch on the MTA.
What is the thing you like doing most in the world?
I love going to places that remind me how small we are in the grand scheme of things. Whether it’s Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan or the Grand Canyon in Arizona, these trips make me stop and think. It’s
that feeling when you see something and can’t believe how old, or how magnificent, or how humbling it is that I really enjoy.
What is the first memory you have of being creative?
I was less than six years old when I remember my mother didn’t repaint the house until I had scribbled on every single wall. Those scribbles gradually turned into small stories, taking on some strange forms that seemed like they could be alive.
What is your biggest regret?
I often think about alternate outcomes of my decisions, like staying in India instead of moving to the States or whether I should have chosen a creative field or economics on the other hand. I envision both the best and worst scenarios for each choice, but ultimately, I don’t think I have any major regrets.
How have you gotten over heartbreak?
I center my attention on the positive aspects of my life, I try to be grateful for them everyday. I also find myself speaking to my closest friends a lot more and that helps immensely.
What makes you cry?
Many things make me cry without fail. The Lion King inevitably brings tears to my eyes. Some songs
that share a core memory make me cry too. More recently, I’ve found that cinematic moments between a mother and daughter, a father and child, and the simple joys of being with my family make me teary-eyed.
How long does the pride and joy of accomplishing something last for you?
Much of my life is recorded on social media now. So when you share your accomplishments out there, the high from the 24-hour story highlight, or the surge in likes and comments makes me joyous for a day or two. However, when I look back at the event and feel inspired by my younger self, I feel pride almost always.
Do you believe in an afterlife, and if so, what does that look like to you?
Not really, but I do believe strongly that animals and pets in our life have a strong reason to be just like in the movie A Dog’s Purpose.
What do you hate most about yourself?
I’m really impatient when it comes to seeing results. It’s something I’m working on but waiting for things to happen is really tough for me.
What do you love most about yourself?
That I don’t linger on failures for long, usually just a day or so. I’m always pragmatically focused on what’s next.
What is your absolute favorite meal?
This meal is my mom’s specialty: khichdi (lentils and rice) with ghee on top, flat bean sabzi, and buttermilk. It is a family tradition to have it on exhausting days, especially travel days. This meal is the equivalent of home.