"Lull before the storm" Painting

Born in Mumbai, India, surrounded by artists and musicians, Neelam quickly
discovered her creative spirit and developed a keen interest in various forms of art.
After earning a BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Mumbai, Neelam
emigrated to the United States in 1984. While raising her family, she pursued
further studies in Computer Graphics. She worked for two years as a Computer
Graphics Designer, and then underwent training in Web Designing as well as
Computer Programming.

While employed as a web programmer for a large telecommunications company, she
indulged her artistic inclinations by painting on glass, wood, fabrics, and canvas.
Following a layoff during the economic downturn of 2001, she transitioned into a
full-time floorcloth artist, specializing in hand-painted canvas rugs.

Her floorcloth designs draw inspiration from Colonial American wall and floor
patterns. Noted for their historical accuracy and museum-quality craftsmanship,
her work has earned recognition from Early American Life magazine as a leading
floorcloth artist. With a portfolio boasting over 19,000 square feet of floorcloths,
each piece reflects her creativity and unwavering dedication.

Her floorcloths grace numerous museums across the United States, as well as
period homes and private collections. Renowned for her commitment to historical
accuracy, her designs captivate with their meticulous details and period
authenticity. As her reputation burgeons, so does the demand for her distinctive
creations, with museums actively seeking to feature her work. In addition to her
historically-inspired designs, she also crafts unique abstract floorcloths, further
showcasing her versatility and artistic prowess.

After 14 years as a full-time floorcloth artist, Neelam found the creative process to
be pleasing yet repetitive. However, studying the works of Henri Matisse, Mark
Rothko, Frank Stella, Helen Frankenthaler, V. S. Gaitonde, and S. H. Raza
revealed to her the freedoms of abstraction.

Neelam’s initial paintings were geometric, which did not come spontaneously.
Starting with pencil sketches, she used her computer skills to create multiple
digital representations before painting on canvas. This methodical process came
naturally because of her graphic design training, but she continued to perceive a
void in her creative mind. However, an unplanned immersion into spirituality
released her from the comfort zone and gave her the courage to express feelings
freely.