Joy Painting

I am professionally a Designer, an Artist at heart and Writer for the soul. I draw and paint intuitively and spontaneously, moving from chaos and void to order, balance and rhythm. I go with the flow, painting only something that I connect with, relate to, or something that comes from deep within. For me, art is like meditation and music. It blocks out all negativities and pressures, putting me in a state of “flow” (as stated by Mihaly). I love to create using lines and bright, bold colours, often combining them. When I won a state level award in 1997 for “After Study”, a collage which was made using kite paper, a keen interest in collage and mixed media was ignited within me. I like to work with mixed media and work with the “collage feel” even while painting. While working as a Designer for many years, I frequently worked with lines and dots. I enjoy drawing freehand, where every freehand action, every mark created, leads to the next one, and next, creating a poetry with lines, a story in rhythm. The bright, vibrant colours and free-flowing lines and figures of Mithila/Madhubani painting also inspire me. I see art as an expression of the self, communicating with the viewer through the underlying meaning; the meaning depends on the viewer, the audience and the interpreter. Knowingly or unknowingly, art has an impact on human minds and societies, influencing not only the creator of the work of art, but also the viewer. Originally an artist-designer from India, I now reside in the Greater Atlanta Area, Georgia, USA. I began my career as a designer in the fashion and apparel industry in India. Following my industry experience, I joined fashion and apparel design institutes, where I taught drawing, illustration, knitwear, fashion, and art- and design-related courses at the graduate and postgraduate levels. I served as an Assistant Professor and later as an Associate Professor, all while pursuing my passion for art. A state-level, award-winning art student, visual art remains my first and foremost passion.