Joyita Neerkaje Art

Hello 2012!!

2012-01-02T11:47:00.000-05:00

With all the partying, all the countdowns, with a a lot of cheer we said our goodbyes to 2011.
The ball has dropped and 2012 is here! So what next?

I for one am very very excited about all the wonderful things coming up. Apart from my traveling plans of-course, can't blame a Sagittarian to constantly want to trot away!

For starters I am chairing a Un-Juried, Un-Censored show for the first time.
As the Vice-President of Connecticut Women Artist (CWA), I have been constantly inspired by the collective talent of this group. I figured it was only fair if all of us got to show-off our work together in one venue, without any selection/rejection process. A true representation of what this group is all about. The show is called "Un-Cut" and it will be at the magnificent Hartford ArtSpace Gallery. And yes it is the first ever Un-Juried show in the history of CWA. I am already thrilled with the amazing responses I have got from members and am looking forward to a show that will have walls full of paintings from the ceiling to the floor!

I am beginning work on a entire new series inspired by growth and adventure and cannot wait to start sharing them with you all one by one. In addition my goal this year is to experiment with other mediums as well. I am looking forward to some classes in 3D mediums and putting it all together.

This year I am also chairing the annual Regional Juried Show for the Artist Cooperative Gallery of Westerly (ACGOW) and am very excited about the awards and Jurors I have been able to get to curate the show. More on it in a later post.

Eileen and Me at the Opening Reception of ACGOW

As an Artist I have always believed that a key to growth and inspiration is being part of a community, a group which brings with it their experience, their learnings and their feedbacks. This belief of mine has been the reason behind me being an active member with ACGOW, CWA and Stonington Printmakers Society. This year I am taking a step forward and joining another such inspiring group, Norwich Art Council. I hope to learn and have fun being part of this group as much as I have with the others.

But most of all I look forward to blog, blog more and stay connected.

Happy New Year!!

Life, Death and the Process in between

2011-12-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

Sometimes wisdom comes when you least expect it, and sometimes its from a spirited 12 year old kid. My two Nephews are home for the holiday season and are not bored playing on their XBox all day, we adults decided to do a little intervention. A little break from Call of Duty to indulge in the creative.

Ishan showing of his dirty hands

What resulted was a fun filled afternoon, when all we did was play with colors and eat holiday cookies. We chit chatted, pulled each others leg, shared snacks and painted of course!
After we were done we spoke about what we painted and Goresh named his paintings Life and Death. Life being full of fun and play and shades of colors and death a more monochromatic experience. Then he looked at my detailed pen and ink and said "And those intricacies is the Process in Between". I must say I was a little surprised and a little impressed by this kids insight.

But if you compartmentalize life into smaller sections, thats what a year is. Every year at the stroke of midnight we celebrate and welcome a new year, what we do is the process in between and finally the anticipation and grand finale of the year end only to start of with yet another celebration.

2011 has been an interesting process for me, I have evolved as a person (a tiny bit)

I Learnt to handle stress and last minute changes to schedules (Yes! I am an absolute control freak and hate it if things don't go as I want them to).
Embraced failure/rejection.
Prioritized whats important for me (If you know me you will know how much I try to please everyone in my life).
Braved to do something out of my comfort zone.
I have grown as an artist (attended art classes, went out for sketching trips with fellow artists, tweaked my creative process, learnt more about art marketing)
Took one more step forward with my inquiry (Learnt to understand the moon cycle and how it effects everything... more importantly Art)
Taught myself to be more graceful when someone is giving me feedback (especially Negative).
Learnt to appreciate others without getting too competitive, there's enough for everyone.
And most importantly... To be Present!

I am very pleased with where my art is taking me, excited about my latest series of work (More about that in next post) and the things I have learnt about life in general.

But like art, life is always going to be a work in progress and my new years resolution is to add a few more strokes to continue the process.

What's yours?

Happy Holidays!!

2011-12-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

Its that time of the year again... everything is rich red and green and gold. Santas in every mall, the ring of the Salvation army bell in front of the Grocery store, the boot drive at our friendly neighborhood fire station, especial holiday drinks at the coffee shop, curling up every night to watch a feel good movie with a cup of hot chocolate (with marshmallows), the shopping, the wrapping and giving.
Its a season where everyone around is feeling grateful and generous. Its the time to give... give love!

A time to celebrate everything that is 'right' in life and leave the 'wrong' in the back burner for a bit.

This is my favorite time of the year. I love the color, the sparkle, the energy of the entire environment. Everybody is walking with a cheery demeanor, everybody ready to embrace the holiday cheer.I for one is all set to begin the party!

So here's wishing all of my blogging/virtual family a very merry holidays!

And a fantastic New Year! Hope the New year brings with it some awesome life experiences, loads of love, Opportunities for success and quality time with friends and family.

A toast to a year which brings with it everything we wish for and more!

What lies beneath??

2011-12-17T19:32:00.034-05:00

Last week I had my first biking injury! Remember a few posts earlier I was talking about observing and documenting... well let me add a foot note to that: Don't do it while you are riding your bicycle.

New England is beautiful this time of the year, the trees have all shed their leaves and are bare and bald. Its like seeing something as is without any fancy accessory, without any make-up, no add-ons, just the person underneath, all revealed.
I personally have always found this thought very intriguing.

Life is something like that. I always try to peel out the show, the drama and try to appreciate and love the underlying truth to things.
And that brings me to asking some central questions...
How many layers are they?
And when I peel off all the surfaces what do I expect to find?
And what if I find something I am not willing face?

So here I am on a trail so engrossed in admiring the beauty around me, taking mental pictures *Click click click* and Kaboom! I crashed! On the bright side, I got some amazing pictures and some thoughts to get me all wired up... new work coming soon!

Zentangle - Simple asanas for the brain.

2011-12-04T00:52:00.000-05:00

The word 'Zen' originates from the Sanskrit word "dhyana" which means being in a meditative state. And to 'Tangle' is to mix together or intertwine in a confused mass. Zentangle® is a mix of both. Its about finding Zen among all the tangles of life.

I am sure there are a lot of people out there who are in the same boat as me, juggling between all our different roles and responsibilities. It almost makes us feel like a tightrope walker, juggling balls and moving one step at a time, yes? What I have learnt is that the key to maintain balance is to keep moving... slowly and purposefully, shifting your weight from one to another and do it being focused and calm.

For physical agility and flexibility I do yoga. I get on to the mat and get into the flow shift from one asana to another, from finding my center with 'Tadasana' (mountain pose) to the perfect balance and grace with 'Natarajasana' (dancers pose). Zentangle® is the exact same exercise for the brain. It helps in shutting down the chatter in the head, pay attention, use hand eye coordination and stay calm.

Its all about achieving a meditative state through pattern drawing. Simple tangles are combined in an unplanned way which slowly builds and grows into a complicated looking drawing.

All the participant of the workshop, the youngest was 13 year old!

I was introduced to this style by my artist friends Sandhya Manne and Corina Alvarezdelugo. Their work intrigued me and I decided to give it a shot. So, as soon as I heard that a friend, Carol Dunn, who is also a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) was doing a workshop I had to go. What resulted was one of the most meditative and relaxed afternoon I have had in a while.

What I realized is that the end product was not too different from my earlier 'Madhubani' inspired work. It almost felt like my creative process came to a full circle. And I intend to stay here just a little bit longer.

Zentangle is so much more than I can talk about in a single post. This post is just about my impressions. If you want to know more about the origin and process of Zentagle, you should visit their website : www.Zentangle.com.

Taking a break from Virtual, To make contact in Real

2011-11-17T14:53:00.001-05:00

Wow! It has been over a month since my last post!
Yes, I missed you too.
But sometimes 'The business of art making" needs us to be out and about and doing things.

Along with Chairing Connecticut Women Artists Members show I was also busy getting ready for Open Studio Hartford. My first time doing something of this nature. Fortunately I had my friend and talented artist Laura Gaffke to give me company and encouragement.
We made a great team! While she focussed on getting the aesthetics all perfect, I worked on the logistics to make it work.

The Poster for the Event

It all started with getting ready for the show with affordable art. So I got down to some planing and some work. A lot of Studio time to create some Monotype, smaller pieces of work, getting prints made of work I have already sold and best of all, holiday cards. Then came the tedious work of inventorying, labeling and pricing everything.

All packed up and ready to go

I think the most challenging job of all was fitting mine and Laura's work, tables, display prop etc in one car. I wish I had taken a picture of the car packed till the roof to share with you all.

I remember the first time Laura and I went to see our spot she was shocked with the lighting, or should I say the lack of it. But there is no lighting problem that a few extension cords, clamp lamps and duct tape cannot solve. We artists are creative that way. Later walking around to see everyones set-up I was very impressed by the various creative ways used to solve the light problem. And all very cost effective, environment friendly and safe.

The two day event was full of interesting conversation, some amazing and talented new friends, encouragement from old friends who drove up to see me, some sales and a lot of good feedback on my work.

Laura Gaffke and me

Highlight of the event: Our little space in the 2nd floor corner got named the "Happy Corner" by other artists and visitors.

With Laura and Diane, in the Happy Corner

Whats Next? Well loads of things! First I am working on setting up my Etsy Shop so that everyone can see and buy my work, second I am working on getting a shopping cart built in my website to make the life of all my collectors easy, third I am gearing up for the Holiday show at the Artist Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, fourth some matting and framing of work for the Printmakers show at LaGrua Center in Stonington and last but not the least... Road Trip!

To sign or not to sign

2011-10-10T23:02:00.000-04:00

"In making art you need to respond authentically, both to your subject matter and to your materials. Art Happens between you and something - a subject, an idea, a technique - and both you and that something need to be free to move" - Art and Fear

For every artist, the key to fulfillment is finding that artistic project that speaks for itself. Part of being successful is being prepared and being organized. The other part is discipline, practice, patience and a great deal of perseverance.

And yes... obsession! That is what keeps us going through the stages of creativity.
So we start with Inspiration or the Inception of an idea, a concept, the subject matter. We plan some of the smaller details, a color palette and organize everything within reach. Then we move to the next step of Conception. We dive in to get the work done, tackle with our fears and bring paint to paper.

The third step is the most interesting of them all, its Contemplation.

As an artist, we are usually our worst critique or may be its a defense mechanism to protect ourselves from harsh comments. Whichever, a painting is never complete until we decide to sign on it. Signing is more a ritualistic act which means that 'we are now ready to share/ show off our baby to the world'.
Believe me, and I don't just talk for myself, all artist go through this step. And we all have a couple pieces at least still on the easel or in sight for us to look and think. Sometimes we even go and add a few more strokes, sometimes we do nothing but look at it and contemplate.

What do we think? A painting is a voice, a story we want to tell the world. The contemplation process is essentially looking at our work and seeing what story it really tells. There has been occasions when I have gessoed right on top of one of these pieces and started all over again. Its normal!

Creativity is a cycle. Its a process we repeat again and again and again, until we master every minute detail of it and learn to deliver with perfection.

And I am not kidding when I say "Being an artist is a lifestyle, not a job!".

Time for action

2011-10-03T10:08:00.000-04:00

"The point is that you learn how to make your work by making your work, and a great many of the pieces you make along the way will never stand out as finished art. The best you can do is make art you care about..... and lots of it!" - Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted orland.

Gathering ideas is a big job. As artists we relentlessly spend our days researching, reading and traveling to gather as much inspiration as we can. But thats not where the creative process ends... there is more. Oh yes! Inspiration is just the first step.

The next step is all about rolling up our sleeves and diving in. Its action time! This is the stage which scares me the most... this step is always threatened by expectations. The fact that once you have stained a canvas with paint, you will never be able to take it back to its clean pristine state again. The fear of not being a 100% certain about the end result.

Every piece is part of a learning curve, there is always scope for accidents (some happy).

So here's what I do. I close my eyes, choose a color and paint in a base coat. A more logically approach of course is to choose a neutral color to do this. But since most of my work have at least 7-8 layers of paint and mediums, it doesn't matter. All it does is help make a mark. (Except for when I work with Water Colors, then I plan every single brush stroke in advance).

The rest is a matter of perseverance. It requires a creative to be hopeful, excited and being their own cheerleader. Because until you get famous only people who care about you, care about your work.

Artists are famously known for being moody and work only when inspiration hits them. A very romantic notion indeed. In real life however, its like any other profession. To be successful, we toil for hours in our studio. We diligently lock ourselves in gathering what I like to call "Paint Miles". Agreed every single piece of work is not a masterpiece, but every deliberate brush stroke is a step closer to it.

Until then what keeps us going is obsession!

Juxtaposed...

2011-09-29T11:10:00.000-04:00

The Invitation for the Show

It doesn't happen often that you walk into a gallery and fall in love with the show on display. It happened to me when I visited the Six Summit Gallery this past week to get a sneak view of their upcoming show named "Juxtaposed".

A small portion of the Juxtaposed Show

Six Summit Gallery is a cute little gallery on 6 Summit Street, in the historic Ivoryton village in CT. Owned, curated and run by Leonardo Feroleto, this gallery represents a variety of artwork with respect to mediums, artists and also price points. To know more visit Website: www.sixsummitgallery.com.

My Favorite piece of the show "Architect's Daughter" by Heather Sincavage

Juxtaposed, as the name suggests is a show about placement of random concepts, contrasting concepts, colors, shapes and values next to each other. It was Juried by Alyssa Monks, a New York based artist. I have worked with Alyssa before when she juried a show for Connecticut Women Artist and have been very impressed by her work, personality and process ever since.
Check my earlier blog post Honored to be Honored to read more about it.

Mark you calendar to be there to see this amazing collection of beautiful, skilled and thought provoking works of artists from CT, NY, MA and all around. You will Love it!

When: Between September 29th - November 20th

Where: Six Summit Gallery, 6 Summit Street, Ivoryton CT.

Opening Reception: October 15th 6-11pm or October 16th 12-5 pm.

If you are not from the area, make a day trip out of it. Ivoryton and Essex CT are beautiful tourist destinations and the place looks pretty spectacular in Fall.

Inspiration of Daily Life

2011-09-26T22:12:00.000-04:00

"Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right now. Don't miss it." - Leo Buscaglia

I hope you all had a fun week observing and making mental notes of the world around you.
Its beautiful, isn't it? Wasn't it fun living with life and walking hand in hand with here and now?

I am high on life, addicted to every single element of it. The plus side, an overdose will not kill me, just enlighten me some more. This love of mine is evident in my work which is inspired by my everyday experiences.

The most important quotient is People. Sometimes its just a mere observation on posture and activity which can be used later in bits and pieces in landscapes and cityscapes. But sometimes observing them make you think. For example every time I see an old couple walking hand in hand, it instantly gets a smile on my face. I think about their life, their struggles, their love that stood the test of times.

Seeing is good, but don't let your other senses to fall back. Smell that fresh air, the aroma of spices coming from the nearby restaurant, the fragrance of somebody's perfume... they all usually trigger old memories and feelings in me.

Listen to music , the sounds of nature. Its a known fact that music inspires. The beats might make you see a rhythm of colors, shapes and patterns or lyrics of a song might strike a chord in your heart. Just allow it to soothe you.

Unwind, exercise and meditate! I have an entire series of work inspired by my Yoga Practice. I find it to be the best way to focus all my attention towards myself. Feel the air going in and out with each breath, the rhythm of my heart, the warm feeling.
Its truly inspiring.

Enjoy Nature! After all is there anything more beautiful and intriguing than Mother Nature?

Last but not the least... Imagine! Travel to unseen places, think about other countries, their culture, their beliefs, all the amazing local folklores, their clothes... just close your eyes and go for a trip.

Possibilities are endless, there is something for everyone, observe, admire and be Inspired!

Good News!

2011-09-24T15:51:00.001-04:00

This past week has been an exciting and eventful week for me... so had to write in a quick post to share all the good things going on in my life.

The week started with an Art sale! Which is always exciting, to me its the best form of encouragement.

The week continued with further streak of good luck when I was elected as the next Vice-President of Connecticut Women Artists, Inc. Yes, its an honor to hold this post and I am stoked! I look forward to working closely with the other artist of the group to take this wonderful, vibrant organization to new heights. We have a very exciting year planned ahead of us with shows and lots of Artful events.

Last but not the least, one of my work has been selected to be displayed at the highly esteemed Ocean House at Watch Hill, RI. I have posted a picture of the painting in this blog for all who cannot make it to the actual event.

I just wanted to thank you all for your support and encouragement and all the good wishes and energy you have been sending my way.

Cheers!

Embracing Creativity

2011-09-19T18:11:00.001-04:00

To create is to simply produce something using imaginative skills.
Often times people say things like "I wish I was creative", "You are either creative or your not" etc..,. The truth is everybody is creative.

The only thing that separates a creative from the others is very simple. The creatives have mastered the art of following through the process of creation and its not a knowledge we are born with but simply a systematic set of steps we have mastered by trial and error. There are popular theories and loads of books written by researchers and psychologists on the topic. However, I have my own version of the process.

Yes, what I am saying is that an idea for painting doesn't get transpired with some divine intervention, it is a lot of focused preparation, observations, conversations and obsession!

You got it... the key word is 'Obsession'.

Every artist at some point in their life have fought the fear of a 'Blank White Canvas' and for some, like me, its an ongoing battle. I definitely have a few sketchbooks jotted with ideas, a subject and a palette I love. But the process is not just about Ideas!

For the lack of time and space for this post lets just talk about my sketchbooks of ideas.
Where do you think these ideas come from?

That is the first step to the creative process: Preparation.
This is the 'Not so fun part' of the cycle. It is what I like to call work, but it is necessary.
Most of my paintings are inspired by my life and my surroundings. Which essentially means that I am forever in an alert mode, observing and making mental notes of the smallest of the things I see. The way the trees branch out, the sun set and the changing color palette of nature, the ripples in the river, texture of a tree bark, the way people interact with each other and the list goes on.

Creative life is a wonderful thing, of the many gifts its bestowed upon me I think the best has been the lesson of being present.

So lets all plan to do a fun exercise for the next week, walk around observe and come back here and share all you have seen. Be present!

Compartmentalizing

2011-09-14T19:16:00.000-04:00

"Compartmentalization began as an architectural theory, Life can also be divided into closed-off sections. Makes everything much simpler." - Dexter.

Not sure how many of you out there like to watch the very popular show on TV: Dexter. I do!
And have to admit absolutely love it! Its smart, witty and sometimes makes sense.

This particular episode got me thinking about the entire concept of Compartmentalization.
And what really happens when people say they are compartmentalizing life.
Probably because right now I find myself juggling between a certification exam, working on Art shows and family commitments.

Technically the word means: separating things into isolated categories.
But is it possible to completely segregate all components of life from one another?
If yes, then how do you know which compartment to visit when?

I like to organize, I am comfortable when the lines are clearly drawn and borders are not threatened and everything is in the place where it should be. It keeps everything separate and clean. To me its a tool to organize co-existence; to be able to be neat and balanced.

But sometimes the lines go blurred and things get smoothed together. I play different roles, I try to separate and find it almost impossible to do. Just like tiny drops of watercolors that merge into each other when dropped on wet paper isolated sections of my life get smooshed together. As an artist I draw inspiration from my daily life, as an HR professional my art helps me be creative and think out of the box. Wondering if that makes me a messy person. Or if this mess is simply the mortar which binds together the various compartments. The tiny color drops building a colorful pattern and the dirty browns clearly defining the segregation of colors.

My this weeks working table has been all about this thought and my theories. In an attempt to find clearer answer, I divided the process of creating art into smaller components.
Pics and details in my next post... see you soon!

In the eyes of the beholder

2011-09-08T00:42:00.004-04:00

Everybody can paint, but the difference between an artist and somebody who paints is quite simple. For an 'artist' its all about the process, for others it's about the product.

As an abstract artist, I have come across a lot of people who come up to me and say "My 5 year old paints like you"
But isn't that the point! Its liberating to be free of white noise in the head, to be able to shed off the chatter of details and to understand the basic shapes, patterns and their relationship with each other. To be fearless of judgement and be able to have a voice without any inhibition.

But well, as much as I am writing all this in this post, there have been times when I got irritated with such comments or disappointed by rejection. After all I am a human. And as my good friend and colleague, Ishita Bandyo rightly said in her blog post 'Criticism is easy, Art is difficult': "It is hard for creative people to be criticized. Most people who are artists have rice-paper thin skins and negativity can erode their confidence to shambles!"

While technically an artist is trying to appease a collectors sense of aesthetics, he/she is actually just appeasing themselves, their view and their soul. Even a photo realistic artist who is painting a photographic image is truly just juxtaposition-ing various objects they observe and voicing an opinion by arranging these observations in a certain pattern.
There is always a story!

So here are a few quick questions you need to ask before you pass a critic, hopefully this will help you understand the process a little better.

1. What do you first Notice when you look at the work? And why?
2. What is the over all visual effect or mood of the work?
3. What are the colors you see? What do they invoke within you?
4. Why do you think the artist made these specific artistic decision?
5. Why did the artist create this art work?

And most important, when you visit an art show, take the time to read the Artist statement.

Believe me, even though abstract art seems to be easy, there is a lot of time, effort, thought, few sketches, couple of drafts that goes in before the piece takes its form as a finished product. But that is a discussion for another post.

Writing my gratitude

2011-08-31T00:23:00.003-04:00

Evergreen Beauty_16X20_Acrylic on Canvas

In private collection

I have been spending a lot of time thinking about the things I am grateful for.

It all triggered after reading a blog post by a friend and a blogger I religiously follow Donna Iona Drozda, in her blog she wrote :

"The Third Quarter phase began Sunday, August 21 in the early evening (EST) and extends through Thursday, August 25 in the early afternoon. At the time of the Third Quarter Phase we can breathe in grace and gratitude. We can invest this time in remembering how miraculous it is to come to this thanksgiving place each month (moon)"

Its actually a tougher question to ask myself than I had anticipated. At first I had a long list of things. But then I thought some more and the thing I am most grateful for is my "Amazing Parents". Countless time I took them for granted and every time they gave me some more love. As I began writing, the post took a poetic turn, it probably does not rhyme, not well edited and is not the best out there... But its sincere and straight from the heart.

I am Grateful...

For the unconditional love my mother has for me,

For every time I said 'I hate you', she always replied 'I love you too.. dearly'.

Every time I let go of her, she let me fly

But always watched over me

Every time I was sick, she was there

Loving me, nursing me

For guiding me, understanding me

Encouraging me to find the true me.

Every time I saw her flaw, she only saw the good in me

I see you now, I know you now

You know I love you dearly.

I probably don't say it very often.

But, Mom your the best!

And I will always thank the universe who gave you to me.

The Blockbuster Dream of a Self Taught Artist

2011-08-25T18:38:00.000-04:00

In the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” Will Smith talks to his son about his dreams.

He says: "Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream? You gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period."

My big dream: to be a successful artist.

In the recent past I have had varied conversation with friends and colleagues about Art, the process of creating art and an art degree. I have been advised by a few to seriously consider going back to school to get a degree in art and have been rejected by galleries for the pure lack of a degree, NOT talent.

I have seen the work of so many self taught artists which are compelling, sincere and full of raw charm that can rival that of a trained artist any day. A self-taught artist also has a voice, has a lifetime of learning to learn and share.

I guess my question here is: Do you need to have a formal degree to call yourself an Artist?
Is our passion for art limited to just paint and canvas and technique or is it about the artist, their stories and the connection we all share?

Does an average art collector buy a piece of art because its made by a famous artist or because it speaks to him/her?

Why does a successful HR professional suddenly find her muse and begin painting?
What gives this self taught artist the courage and motivation to express herself visually, without the sanction of a formal education and without fear of reproach?

And if our ancestors, who painted on cave walls let formal education get in their way of expression, would we really be having this discussion now?

Tree of Life

2011-08-24T12:02:00.000-04:00

Its not unusual for an artist to have ups and downs in their creativity.

Have you ever been was through a "Creative Blank" phase and was scared that you are losing your artistic ability? I have and I did what I do best.. I decided to take advantage of the lovely warm weather and go for a walk.. to get some fresh air and loads of fresh ideas.

In these walks, what I call fondly as 'Inspiration walks', I am always drawn towards the trees.

The formation of each tree bending, branching out gracefully like a poised movement of a ballet dancer, the roots reaching down deep into the center of the earth gathering its essence.

The lifetime full of changes with seasons, learning and constantly adopting and re-inventing.

In perfect harmony with the world around.

Sheltering and providing home, giving without expectations of returns and sturdy.

Trees, to me are the true symbol of life, the circle of life and the symbiotic relationship shared between two lives. Its just one more way that nature truly inspires us to endorse the amazingness it has to offer and the lessons it has to teach.

I think trees are one of the most interesting thing to paint/draw/sketch.

The different kind of textures, the pure play of light and shadow and the negative spaces it forms with its spread.

Its no wonder that a lot of art across continents is inspired by them.

Next time when you are out taking a walk... just take notice of them, really look how the branches spread, how the roots rise above the ground and dive right back in, the lushness of the green and post a comment to this post to let me know how you felt.

Would love to hear all your thoughts.

To Summer

2011-08-12T11:45:00.000-04:00

This year so far has been a busy one with loads of traveling, loads of fun and loads of inspiration. The year kicked off with my awesome trip to India catching up with my family after 3 years! The fun I had is indescribable in just a few words of a blog post.
I came back to the fresh bloom of spring and the long awaited warmth of summer.

I got greedy and decided to take the summer off and pack in as much of fun, ideas and inspiration as possible. So my days have been all about traveling, Base ball games, Sailing, Kayaking, chilling on a hammock with some wine and a book, beach combing, some plein-aire painting, sketching and journaling in nature and loads more. I love my life!

I gave myself some time to read, admire, think, contemplate, express and be grateful.

My working table one summer afternoon

Heres a poem that I have loved since I read it the first time and it so beautifully describes my thoughts on summer.

"Our bards are famed who strike the silver wire:
Our youth are bolder than the southern swains:
Our maidens fairer in the sprightly dance:
We lack not songs, nor instruments of joy,
Nor echoes sweet, nor waters clear as heaven,
Nor laurel wreaths against the sultry heat"

- To Summer by William Blake (From poetical sketches)

Hope you are enjoying your time as much as I am. Have fun!

Be Consonant with

2011-06-23T00:41:00.000-04:00

I have always been intrigued by the human behavior of forming communities, grouping together on commonalities, participating and cooperating, trusting and partnering, collaborating to create something beautiful.

I was first introduced to the concept at the age of 5 as part of a theatre production. While I had a very very tiny role to play I enjoyed watching everyone pitch in and bring all the pieces together. The result was cheers from an auditorium full of audience.

Through my life I have experienced this aspect of our behavior time and again, but mostly in an organizational level. And I have always wondered, is it possible to experience the same harmony when we are working on something smaller, a single book, a single blank canvas?

Do you think its possible to express one self creatively, with no rules, no restriction, just plain going with the flow while collaborating?

Or is Discipline a requirement for the process to be successful?

My Team and our creation from the Tunisian collaborative Painting workshop
Just 4 simple rules and the expanse of a blank canvas.

I am still trying to figure this one out and my questions are taking me to a lot of places.
A little bit of time travel to understand the earliest record of cave paintings, to a short road trip to Philadelphia where the city has nurtured collaborative work in the form of the beautiful Murals all over the city. More about my trip in my next post.

Too busy living and savoring life

2011-06-18T00:41:00.000-04:00

Sunset in Hyderabad

Hi again!

I know, I have been off the grid for half the year and I apologize for the disappearing act.

But sometimes you are so busy enjoying life, savoring every moment that you just don't want to get distracted. Has it ever happened to you?

I was scared that if I look away I might miss out on something.

Have you ever felt that way?

My niece and me, sharing an iPod

The biggest highlight of these few months have been my visit to India and meeting my niece for the first time. She is a typical 3 year old with mischief and a new trick up her sleeves every minute of every day. Suffice to say, she kept me busy!

Auto-Rickshaw: A must ride in India, and its so much fun!!

Most part of my India trip was about living the place. Experience every thing about the city that I miss the most. Auto-Rickshaw rides, eating street food, going on long drives, catching up with friends and family, a little bit of gossiping, absorbing the spiritual and emotional experience that India has to offer and a lot of shopping.

A Street Vendor making fresh 'Chaat'

I now feel rejuvenated, re-charged, inspired and pampered. Yes, getting pampered was on top of my to-do list. So come back here soon, because I have loads to share. New series of work, travel logs from my visit to some rural Indian art villages, collaboration art and more.

Family Shot: The Women of my family

See you soon!

Scarlet: Art for the heart

2010-12-08T10:30:00.001-05:00

The show poster

When I first looked at the Torso sitting on the seat next to me on my drive back home, a lot of varied ideas ran through my mind. And then came an image of my mother, the strength and stability of my life, our life. Isn't that how all mommies are? And I wanted my piece to tell a story of a mother. The fluidity, the sturdiness, the warmth of their undying unconditional love.

Partially Done

I decided to name my piece GAIA, the Mother from whom we are born from and into who we ultimately merge into. An ocean of love, the strength of a mountain, the calm of the moon and the warmth and glow of the sun.

My Working table on 11/30/2010

Here are a few pictures of the process I lived to bring my piece together. Like many facets of a woman's mind/life, I painted this with many layers trying to create interest and intrigue, texture and flow. I used a lot of different materials to bring it to life. Hand made paper, kitchen towel, wire and acrylic.

Detail from the piece

I dropped of my work this past weekend and had a sneak peak into the works and thought put together by the other participating artists, its just beautiful and thoughtful and very very inspiring. Each telling a story of a woman and every story unique and interesting in its own way.

So come join us for our opening this weekend at Hartford and help us make it the blockbuster of this year. Remember we cannot support this cause without your support. So help us with our effort to make a contribution towards the war against Heart Disease.

Where: Art Space Hartford, 555 Asylum Avenue, Hartford CT

When: 11th Dec 6:00pm to 10:30 pm

For more details check the Facebook event @ http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141298912585136

See you there!

High on Life

2010-11-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Diwali Lights

Have you ever been so busy living and relishing each moment, that you forgot about everything else?

Then you know exactly how I feel!

Last few months have been so much fun, that I kept hitting the 'snooze' button on all the reminders about updating blog and Website. Not that I didn't miss you all, its just that like my 2 year old niece I feared that if I looked the other way I might miss out on something fun.

In Halloween Mood

Anton Chekhov had said "If you want to work on your art, work on your life"

I decided to do exactly that. And treated my self to loads and loads of fun and inspiration. And strangely enough everyone around me seemed to be in a similar mood. The last few days has been all about 'celebrating the good things in life'. It started with Dasera and Diwali celebrations, the decorating of house, making traditional sweets and savories and partying with friends. Attended another awesome Soul Painting workshop with the amazing Roberta Mockus, one more round of Tunisian Collaborative Painting, a little traveling and a lot of Yoga and Meditation.

With my Yogi friends from South

One of the biggest treat I gave myself was a 4 day Yoga Workshop "The Art of Assisting" with Master Baptiste Teachers, Gregor Singleton and Paige Elenson. The workshop was both physically and philosophically very challenging. But at the end of the 4 days I walked out feeling free, open, in-flight and grounded... all at the same time. I learnt perhaps the most important lesson of my life: 'I Can't control everything! And most times its more fun to just let go off the control and go with the flow"

Interesting Canvas

All Inspired and Wired up I started working on a very unique Canvas, a woman's torso.

I am doing this as part of the art exhibit and benefit for WomenHeart organization. 40 Artists from connecticut are participating to make this event into a blockbuster! There will be Live Music, Art and the company of the very inspiring artists. So mark your calendar for Dec 11th and come over to share your evening with us.

Where: Art Space Hartford, 555 Asylum Avenue, Hartford CT

When: 11th Dec 6:00pm to 10:30 pm

For more details check the Facebook event @ http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141298912585136

I promise this show will be rocking!!

Sketch Book Project: Get Set Go...

2010-09-09T13:54:00.000-04:00

Want to be the rockstar of the sketch book world? Then this is a project you want to be a part of. Like it says on their website "Its like a concert tour but with sketch books".
I first heard of it while chatting with a young artist and docent from a art museum at Starbucks. She was very excited about this project and her description and enthusiasm got me interested in it too. I immediately registered for it and opted for a random selection of a theme.
Finally got my sketch book in mail and my theme is 'Down your Street'. Now I am looking forward to some sketching fun. My first destination, the farmers market round the corner, down the street from home. I will keep you all posted on my progress.

If you want to know more about this project then just click on the image of 'The Sketch Book Project' on the right side of this page. It will take you to the official website of this creative project.

Artisans

2010-09-02T14:03:00.000-04:00

Some of my work on the wall at the Artisans Gallery, Opening Tonight.

A couple of weeks back a smart and savvy young girl, Dora Szekely, walked up to me and asked me if I would like to show my work in downtown Mystic, all I needed to do was hang my work and Gallery Sit. She had seen my work earlier and thought I was a good fit. The prospect seemed very exciting and I jumped at the offer. I did have a few hiccups in getting my work hung, but there it is on the wall, contrasting and looking beautiful against the green.

Portion of the Gallery space

Its a nice little creative group consisting of jewelers, blacksmiths, painters, mixed media artists and photographers. Some of the people whose work I admire greatly and collect.

The other side of the space with Mary Anne Sherman and Dora Szekely

Today is our grand opening as part of the monthly Art Stroll in mystic. Drop by if you are in the area to meet and see our work. And if you can't make it today, don't worry the show is open through the month. Stop by to see our work and stay tuned for our next opening. See you there!

Our Address: 3 Pearl Street

Mystic CT 06355

We are Open Wed-Sunday 12pm-8pm

Order of Preference

2010-08-27T15:19:00.000-04:00

My Last blog was about the book "Signs of Life" by Angeles Arrien.
And I saw a lot of responses to it both on my blog and my Facebook page of people who tried the test. I strongly recommend getting a copy of the book and going through the other exercises as well as the in depth analysis of this test.

As for this exercise, in my last post I wrote about the symbols and what they signify.
But did you know that the order in which you place each symbol also has its own significance??

Here is a brief overview of the significance of the order.

Position 1 refers to place where you think you are.
Position 2 reflects your strengths
Position 3 is all about where you actually are
Position 4 is your motivation and
Position 5 symbolizes your old, unfinished business.

It is a holistic approach of what the preference and symbols together signify. The combination gives you a true picture of your inner landscape. The most interesting thing about this test is that... every time you take it, the results are different.

The Five Universal Shapes

2010-08-19T15:35:00.000-04:00

© Home Sweet Home_5X7_Pen and Ink

One of my life's passion is Folk Art. They tell a million stories about a cultures experiences through some simple shapes and form. What is even more fascinating is the striking similarity in their way of expression even if they haven't had any cultural overlaps. A lot of my work is inspired by these basic shapes and forms and what they represent.

This interest of mine got me attracted to the book "Signs of Life" by Angeles Arrien. This Book talks about the Five Universal shapes, what they represent and how to use them to understand our inner landscapes. The author, Angeles Arrien, is a Cultural Anthropologist who has dedicated her life researching and understanding these cultural similarities. She is an inspiration!

The five basic shapes are: The circle, the square, the triangle, the cross, and the spiral. These symbols bear similar meaning in different cultures.

The circle symbolizes wholeness, a complete cycle.
The square with its equal sides symbolizes balance and stability.
The Triangle represents goals and dreams
The cross stands for relationship
And the Spiral... you guessed it, represents personal/spiritual growth.

The book then guides the readers to a 'Preferential Shapes Test' to understand the state of ones inner mind. The test is simple. You just have to order the shapes from position 1 to position 5 as per your preference. The Author says: "The sequence in which someone places the shapes when taking the test is most important in showing which of the five universal processes of change and growth is being experienced most intensely by that person at that time."

I took the test and was amazed at the accuracy of the results. Try it out, I am sure you will also be equally amazed. And do stop by again to let me know your thoughts.

"While I stood there I saw more than I could tell, and

I understand more than I saw; for I was seeing in a

sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit,

and the shape of all shapes as they must live

together like one being"

- From the book 'Black Elk Speaks'

Living in the moment: feeling it, Seeing it.

2010-07-29T12:21:00.000-04:00

© Rhythm of my heart_ 2 (16X20)_Acrylic on Canvas

I have signed up for a 40 day commitment to a personal revolution at the Mystic Yoga Shala. The program is based on 12 Laws of transformation which aims at an overall change, not just a dress size. The 'aahaa' moments usually comes to me when I am on the Mat trying very hard to hold a pose.
My Yoga teacher says that endurance gets easy if we focus on one breath at a time and not what will happen next. And this advise works like Magic. Its beautiful when my mind is not running around, I feel the rhythm of each breath and see vibrant colors floating in front of my eyes! The inspiring moment that as artists we are always craving for.

So if you are stuck in a dry spell try this out. Close your eyes and breath deep and loud, focus on each breath, feel it, hear it, see it. It only gets more beautiful each time.

Even if you are not an artist as of now, try it! The possibilities are endless, who knows you might just get inspired to pick up a brush and color a canvas.

And I am back!

2010-07-06T16:32:00.000-04:00

White Water Rafting with Family @ Ohiopyle State Park

Hi Again!! Did you all miss me while I was gone?
The beautiful sunny weather nudged me to give myself a little break and take a vacation to relax and get inspired before I got to work again.So, in the last month I made a couple road trips to New Jersey, Philadelphia and Pittsburg to make the best of these warm days. I saw some beautiful art, had fun with family and friends, got inspired by nature and had some adventure white water rafting in category 3-4 rapids. Next on my to do list for this summer is sky-diving and windsurfing, hoping to do that soon.

I have learnt so many things and have so much to share. So come back to this page again as I plan to blog a lot in the next few days:)

Featured Joy

2010-05-27T00:54:00.000-04:00

One time or another you must have wished that a day had more than 24 hours. I make that wish often and then later look back to see what I could've done to make 24 hours seem enough. The answer is always very simple.

At the Studio, planning the arrangement.

I am the Featured Artist for the month of June at the Artist Cooperative Gallery of Westerly, RI. And I am very very excited about it and have been looking forward to it for the last couple months. This is my first featured show. With the excitement came a lot of anxiety, stress and lots of learning.
I am sure all seasoned artists have this figured out and have a system in place. But if you are new to the Art Business like me, you might find this post useful.

I almost immediately learnt that it needs to be PLANED well in advance. Even if you think you will have some new paintings its important that all the work you hang are in sync. Its always nice to have a common thread of thought or intention flowing through the collection. All the work that I am hanging are my meditative pieces. They are all about my quest to find myself.

FRAMING is a very important part of your work. Although it doesn't seem very important the right frame can enhance your work and a bad frame can bring down the the colors completely. So give framing considerable thought. And remember most arts and crafts stores do not have a wide variety available. You will need to order them online... and it brings me back to lesson number one: PLAN!
I had to drive for an hour to providence, then run to the nearest Home Depot to get all the framing supplies together. To order frames online I personally like using Franken Frames.

It was just not my day.. I needed a frame for a 24X48 painting and the framing stores were out of just that size. I rushed to the nearest Home Depot to get Wood panels and make my own frame, only to realize that I had no clue how to do it. One of my friends was kind enough to take the time out to show me how to. If you haven't already its nice to LEARN HOW TO USE YOUR TOOLS, I finally did. Yes, I used a hand drill for the first time ever and feel very proud about the frame I assembled.

But the most important lesson that I learnt was the importance of GOOD FRIENDSHIPS. I am so lucky to have some fabulous friends who took time out to help me and made up for my lack of plan. Without their help I would probably still be struggling.

I have my show hung, labelled and awaiting its opening on June 2nd. If you are in area drop by to see my work at the Artist Cooperative of Westerly; 7 Canal Street, Westerly RI. Its on display starting from May 27th through June 26th.

See you soon, Until then hoping for some peace and quiet or may be another adventure. Whatever it is you will definitely get to read about it, so stay tuned.

Re:Creation

2010-05-20T22:56:00.001-04:00

What would you do if you randomly found a book? Read it of course, and then? What if there are a few words that jump out at you and inspire you to give it new meaning? You also have a treasure trove of random knick knacks that you want to have in one place. And you absolutely would love to paint but not ready for a canvas.... then an Altered Book is the perfect project for you. If you are an experienced artist then an altered book is an awesome practice book/journal.

What is an altered book?

It is all about recycling, reinventing and recreating. Its taking a old/new book and redoing it by creative means into a work of art. Altered books are considered the "new and happening" art form, but it has an history which goes back centuries. It was then called by names like Palimpsest and Grangerism.

Today altered book has evolved further more. You can use it as a fun playful and colorful journal or a practice book to try some cool new techniques. Whatever the intent... Just open the book and start working, don't worry about the whats and whys. Remember there are no rules, just some printed pages and a box full of fun supplies. So let go and get ready to carve, glue, rip and tear, sew, stamp, paint, collage and whatever it is that you want to try. And guess what, IT'S LEGAL!!

I was first introduced to altered books by the lovely Laura Gaffke in a 6 week workshop that she did in our cozy studio. 7 Artists got together under the same roof and created their own pieces of expression, emotion.. ART; under the guidance of Laura.

I chose a book about "Wrinkle Cure" to challenge myself... and little did I know that I will end up with a book I love and feel proud off. My book is a colorful translation of the new friendships and bonds I formed in those 6 weeks.

Millie Donovan from the Riverside Studio and Gallery is opening the doors of her studio to celebrate and share our creative friendships. Its a show about and of the works of the students of Laura Gaffke.

When: May 21st - June 18th

Where: The Riverside Artists Studio & Gallery

8-12 Broad Street

Westerly, Rhode Island

Opening Reception: May, 21st from 5-8 p.m

To read know about the participating artists check The Riverside Artists Blog.

P.S: Images in this posts are pages from my Altered book.

One Story - 4 story tellers

2010-05-17T00:25:00.000-04:00

Actually it was 4 Stories, 16 story tellers in 2 Continents.
Yes you read it right, two continents. It was art (with help of technology of course) that built a colorful bridge across two cultures.

It was a unique experience facilitated by David Black at the Mystic Art Center, CT. Two Groups of Artist created Tunisian Style collaborative paintings. I initially stopped by to play the role of an observer, but when asked to join, I gladly jumped in with a brush and an open mind to explore, experiment and enjoy! While we painted we had the opportunity to stand back and observe two other groups energetically working on their canvases in Tunis through video conferencing and they could observe us.

The Tunisian collaborative painting was pioneered by Hechmi Ghachem in the late 1980's. Its a concept with 4 simple rules

One person is given the honor to begin the painting.
Anyone can paint anytime and anyone can erase anyone else's work
Another member settles any disputes concerning the painting.
One member of the group decides when the painting is finished.

It's best to have at least three artist working on the same canvas.. more is merrier (depending on the size of the canvas). Once begun no additional members can join the group and the group has to work together until its finished. Acrylics becomes the choice of medium because of its quick drying time.

Mr David Black was initiated to this process in one of his trips to Bouabana Art Space in Tunis. He experienced how art bridged all boundaries of culture and language as he and his collaborators worked on a single canvas to narrate one colorful story. He instantly knew that this was something he wanted to share with the world.

Mr Black asked me how did I feel, my answer was a single word "Liberated". I am used to having total creative control over my paintings, letting go of that control to work within a group was a challenge by itself. Though a little difficult at first I slipped into the role of a collaborator very soon.

In this post are pictures of the canvas that my group worked on in various stages. The one above being the completed image and the picture below is the completed image of the other group.

If you saw one of these paintings hanging in a wall, would you ever guess that multiple artists worked on it simultaneously?

Thats the MIRACLE, the harmony that we had achieved as a group.

What did I learn? I learnt to let go and be open to ideas. To see the big picture and readily accept my role as part of the big picture. And more importantly I learnt to make more daring choices and not be hesitant in erasing something I feel doesn't work.

Painting our souls

2010-05-13T00:23:00.004-04:00

"My Guide" 24X30 Acrylic on Panel

Have you ever tried to meditate, visualize and paint your soul? A soul painting is a portrait of our inner-self.. a fluid landscape of our mind. It benefits you by illustrating your spiritual gift. Its like getting a Tarot card reading, each painting symbolizes and radiates icons of your empowerment.

I tried to paint my soul for the first time at a recent workshop I attended facilitated by the energitic Roberta Mockus. Something told me that this was a workshop I should not miss, and I didn't.

We started the workshop with some simple ice breakers to ease the group to each other. After which Roberta lead us through a meditation. We all searched inside ourselves to find ourselves. To visualize our intentions, our strengths, our paths ahead . My intend was to find my spiritual guide.

At the end of the session we all gathered around and asked ourselves some very basic questions.

Did the painting symbolize my intend?
How did the painting make me feel?
If the images could speak, then what would they say?
What did I learn about myself?

As Roberta said "The answer lies in the Soul, letting go of the product and gaining wisdom from the process. Let the paint brush guide you, it has all the answers."

For me this workshop facilitated unveiling doorways to realms of possibility. It gave me an opportunity to glimpse into my own spiritual field of consciousness.

Honored to be Honored!

2010-04-27T23:58:00.004-04:00

Have you ever experienced the feeling of total bliss? So excited that you didn't mind even if you got hit by a bus? If you have, then you know exactly how I feel right now!

Mother of Creation_18X24_Acrylic on canvas
(One of my entries which will be on display for the show)

I am co-chairing the 81st Annual Open Juried show for the Connecticut Women Artist, Inc (CWA). My responsibility was to coordinate all the fantastic entries that we got and collate all of it in one place. Next my friend, the president of CWA, Sherrie Parenteau and I took a road trip to the Big Apple to meet the Juror the very talented Alyssa Monks.

I usually do not read about the juror of shows I plan to enter as I get very intimidated by their skill and give up even before trying. This time though I did google her and was simply wowed by her concept and composition. Meeting her in person was a even more wow experience. I am not sure what to praise more... Alyssa Monks the artist or Alyssa the lovely person I had the pleasure to hang out with.

Her work is a playful balance between realism and the abstract. Her use of different filters to visually change the way a woman's body looks has a direct correlation with the fleeting emotions and the changes it brings to a human mind and how perfection gets distorted through the filters of perception.
Her brush strokes, perfect! Resulting in an image which is captivating and narrative. And tells so many different stories about her Protagonist. A woman in her true elements, flirting, thinking, laughing, screaming, seeing, smirking.... living.

Painter and sculptor,Eric Fischl words "Enwrapped, submerged, engulfed, immersed and emergent are the metaphors for the inner thought/feeling states of her protagonist - a women fully formed, suspended in a constellation of a milky whey, embryo-like, on the verge of birthing herself", says it all.

She is a person who is a king among kings and still has not lost her common touch. My admiration only grew seeing her dedicated, hard working and sincere approach towards her work. How she diligently spends 60 hours a week in her studio to create these pieces of pure delight.

New Hope_6X8_Linoleum Print

But the best part of the day was when she liked 3 of my entries and thought that one of my work deserved a honorable mention. I am giddy with excitement right now! My dear blog friends I won my very first Honorary mention for my work "New Hope". And was honored by one of my favorite contemporary artist. Life cannot get any better!
Nevertheless I stayed clear of all buses.. thinking what if?

Alyssa is currently having a show "Oil and Water" at the DFN Gallery, NY.

The entries selected by the juror will be on display at the John Slade Ely house, New Haven CT. from May 9th through June 8th.

And Truth its only home

2010-04-21T11:04:00.003-04:00

I was talking to a friend this morning when the question sprung up.

"When are you planning to go home Joy?"

"I am home" I replied.

"I know you are home, I called your landline. I meant when are you going to your real home, India?"

That got me thinking. Because all this while I have been considering where I live my home. Isn't that how it is for everyone? So where is my real home?

And Truth Its only Home_16X20_Mixed Media with found objects

Its been 5 years since I moved from India to the US. I must confess that initially I lived through a period feeling completely displaced and distressed. And missed being in India terribly. But in the last few years I found myself building a new life, new friendships, new bonds, new meaning to life... a new home.

Often times nature conspires in weird ways and the very elements that hold the foundation of life together, destroy it completely. But is destruction so bad? Doesn't it give us a chance to re-build, re-hope, re-vision and re-live? The only thing constant is the Truth of the past and present.

Tackling the Green Monster

2010-04-20T19:13:00.003-04:00

Have you ever felt envy reading somebody's blog? I admit, I have 'blog envy'. There is one blog that I read which has a huge following. It is also a great blog. And I often find myself referring to the blog as an example of a perfect blog and envy it.

http://LauraTwoTina.com is a blog which is a collaboration between two friends, thinkers and inspiring artists, the lovely Laura Gaffke and the talented Tina Hirsig. Laura says "Like two little birds singing in Harmony, they see the beauty and power of community". They decided to blog to share their creative process with this community.

I love the simple, elegant and yet fun appearance of the blog. I love the way they approach their work and find inspiration in the most mundane things of everyday life. They have a knack in keeping their readers involved and come back to read more and above all they are consistent about it.

But the one thing which makes their blog so enviable is the amazing job they do in efficiently articulating their process with everyone.

I am lucky to be sharing studio space with one of them, Laura Gaffke, who is a continuos source of inspiration. I recommend taking time out and reading their blog... and quiet sure that you will feel inspired too.

P.S- Come back to share your comments :)

Get Creative

2010-04-16T00:33:00.020-04:00

What is creativity? Are artists the only creative people in the world? Not really. Creativity is all about coming up with new ideas, thinking and exploring. You might think that you are not someone who is regularly struck with brilliant ideas. Sometimes putting yourself in a new environment can help, but is that enough? It’s like sitting under an apple tree expecting to be struck with an apple and have a Isaac Newton “aha!” moment. If you are really lucky then it might just work but if you are like me then here are a few things I did to get out of the cubicle and think outside the box

Be a Rebel

As much as I believe in techniques and rules, I also believe in free uninhibited expression.While an Artist needs to know his/her craft its sometimes important to break rules.So if you are one of the meticulous, plan everything in advance, gets scared with the slightest of change person. Then its time you shed your old habits and try to get more spontaneous.

Love arranged_a page from my journal

Take Risks

If you want to learn to swim, you need to just dive in the water and trust it. Thats what creativity is all about.Take the risk of opening your heart and let the feelings flow out. Let go of control and let the brush and colors guide you. Its tough... but who said it would be easy, but I promise it will be worth it.

Address the white

If you find the starkness of white paper or canvas intimidating. Get Rid of it!! If you use Acrylic or oil you can always bring the white in later. I always paint my canvas in one single color as soon as I get them home.

Its complicated _ a page from my journal

Don't be too quick to judge

The problem is we are our worst critic. If you are unhappy with what you just created, leave it aside for sometime and get back to it on a later date. And if it still doesn't do it for you. You can always cover the whole thing with white and start over or not.

Follow your Intuition

Learn to trust what your heart says, it never lies.

And remember there is no right or wrong way to creativity... you can get there using a lot of different roads.

Doodle, Doodle and Doodle

Allow things to happen by accident, I often come up with interesting shapes and patterns when I doodle.

You can start a creative journal, think of what you are trying to accomplish abstractly. Look around you for inspiration. Doesn’t matter if your answer is ridiculous… the goal is to get yourself into a new frame of mind.

That said a one time effort will not bring home the prize. The key is CONSISTENCY!.

P.S- The images in this Blog post are pages from my Altered Book Journal. Both these pages inspired bigger pieces that I am working on now. Stay tuned to see the transition and to read more about altered books in future posts.

Let the ideas Rock n Roll

2010-04-14T16:30:00.014-04:00

And then God said "Let there be Ideas, so that bloggers always have something to write about".

Have you ever wondered where ideas come from? There has been times when I felt a writers block and wondered if I had lost my creative ability completely... and boom! I got a new idea!

Our assignment this week in the Blog Triage class is to list down 20 ideas that we would like to write about in our blogs.

The outcome being... No writers block! The logic is simple, there is always something that you want to write about.

So here's a list of things that I would like to write about (and also read about). And if you like any of these ideas feel free to use them as your inspirations. As a fellow Blogger Hannah Klaus Hunter rightly quoted: "if you think about it, no two people are going to write about the same subject the same way."

My life's Experiences
Common thread of thought among my paintings
How Art has changed my Life and my view of life
What I see, hear and feel everyday
Art shows I am a part of or I visited.
Artists who inspire me
What I am drawn to
My book shelf (May not be art related at all)
My working table
Blogs I love reading
Cooking and the inspiration I get from good food.
Free Open Source tools available which I find useful as an Artist
Challenges that I face as an Artist
Dialogues that I have with myself :)
The local Art Scene
My experiments with new mediums
How my Reiki practice effects my creative process
Courses and workshops that I attend.
NPO's supporting local arts.
And yes I will be promoting my friends a LOT

P.S- if you have been wondering about my ongoing mention about the Blog Triage Class, Visit: www.artbizcoach.com to get more info.

And let the I's become You

2010-04-11T20:59:00.006-04:00

5 days into my Blog Triage class and I am loving it.

Alyson Stanfield (One of our instructor) gave us a very interesting challenge this week, to use "you" 3 times as much of a personal pronoun in our post. Going back to my earlier posts I realized how much I talk about me and so little about you, so this post is all about you:)

You are a person who believes that life is beautiful! You have a busy life, but often find yourself standing back and observing and admiring the world moving around you. You enjoy the finer things of life and often stop by to admire the beauty of a dew drop, the freshness of green grass, the fragrance of spring blooms, the buzzing of a busy bee. You believe in Love and the amazing feeling love brings into your life. You believe in exploring the road less travelled and in the Magic of the present. You understand that everything is not what it seems and are intrigued and impressed by the layers of life, layers of relationships and the many layers of the universe. You are intuitive and do not hesitate in breaking rules to follow your heart.

And most importantly you believe in yourself and the free expression of your feelings!

If you are all or any one of the above... You are my Ideal Reader and I look forward to knowing you more.

Prescription by the blog Doctors

2010-04-08T21:43:00.004-04:00

I have been blogging on and off for a few years now and I love it. I love sharing what I am doing and getting connected with like minded people. But off late I realized that my blog needs some help... a lot of work and more consistent postings, so I decided to seek help of the Blog Doctors: Cynthia Morris and Alyson Stanfield. They are teaching an online class called Blog Triage... and I am looking forward to incorporating all the cool stuff I learn to make my Blog more interesting. I will be doing this class for the next month so expect to see a lot of posts and changes. It will be interesting to see where I am in a month! So heres part of my first doze of the Blog prescription:)

My very first assignment is to talk about my intent. Try to answer a couple simple questions why I blog and who I want my readers to be. Well at first it seemed like a simple assignment and I assumed it to be done in a jiffy. But when I actually got about answering the questions... I was speechless or should I say in loss of words.

So heres my first shot... and I am sure that in the next month my answer will change a few times.

Thinking about my first question, Why do I blog? My main goal when I started to blog was to document my creative work. But over the last few months things changed and now my intention is to share the process and not just the product. So I am hoping that in the coming weeks you will see me writing about my inspirations, my working table and my creative process.

And to who I want my readers to be... that was a simple question, really! EVERYBODY! One thing that I have been thriving to achieve as an artist is to appeal to the masses. As an abstract artist I have always found that the end product rarely does justice to the process that it has been through. And often times I have my friends and family look at a piece of work that I am completely proud of and say "Ahh" or a "Huh", which I must confess is very very disappointing. So my blog is for everyone who wants to understand and appreciate the process of creating and for those who are in the same boat as me trying to find the right answer.

So are you my Reader? Looking forward to hearing from you all.

P.S- its very encouraging to see the long list of followers on the side bar... so if you love reading my posts then feel free to comment and click on the "Follow" on the top right corner of the page.

Pysanky - Ukrainian Easter Eggs

2010-03-25T22:28:00.004-04:00

One of my friends, Diana conducted this amazing workshop of painting Ukrainian Eggs at the Mystic Arts Center, CT.

Pysanka (plural: pysanky) is a Ukrainian Easter egg decorated using a wax-resist method. The word comes from the Ukranian verb pysaty, "to write", as the designs are not painted on, but written with beeswax on raw eggs!

Pysanky were traditionally made during the last week of Lent by the women of the household. Traditionally The dyes were prepared from dried plants, roots, bark or berries. The dyes were prepared in secret, using methods handed down from mother to daughter to attain the necessary brilliance, clarity and lasting color. These da

ys however chemical dyes are used. A stylus, known as a “kistka” is used to write with the beeswax. A Kistka is a piece of thin brass wrapped around a needle, forming a hollow cone. This is attached to a small stick with wire.

The process is similar to Batik. Molten wax is applied to the white egg, any bit of shell covered with wax would be sealed, and remain white. Then the egg is dyed yellow, and more wax applied, and then orange, red, and finally black. (The dye sequence is always light to dark). Bits of shell covered with wax remains that color. After the final color, the wax is removed by heating the egg and gently wiping off the melted wax and this is the toughest part of it all.

If interested in learning more about it I found the two links below very useful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pysanka

http://www.learnpysanky.com/getting_started.html

"How can one articulate the process of creating and not just the product of creating? - A Conversation between two artist.

2010-01-26T21:15:00.001-05:00

"How can one articulate the process of creating and not just the product of creating? - A Conversation between two artist.

Its been quiet sometime since my last post. In the last few months I have made some big changes in life. I chose to leave the safety of a regular corporate job to follow a dream. So I have been following a creative process to understand me and find answers to some of the centric question of my life. I would love for my friends to be a part of this amazing process which I am going through, but as my friend has rightly stated the product rarely explains the process and thought that goes in a piece of art. The question is "How can an Artist articulate the process of creating?" so that everyone feels the emotions that goes behind the beautiful imagery.

Below is an extract from a conversation that a fellow artist and friend and I had a couple days back.. dwelling and trying to find an answer.

Millie: Would love to put an show together with words and images

Joy: Its a good idea... sometimes I think a few words help others understand the view point/process/thought of an artist that goes into the work.

Millie: Agreed. Although some might argue that to experience art is to do so without words but with emotion. I'm not sure how I stand on this one. Depends on the day I suppose.

Joy: same here:) But I guess years of corporate conditioning has made me be very consumer focused. If we want to make the masses understand and appreciate art we need to put our emotions into words and help them see and feel it. Its a process for them too... once they understand the thought behind a piece of art is when they will truly appreciate it... otherwise its just a beautiful image to them.

Millie: Good explanation. I think that a lot of times people are too busy to stop and feel or experience something. We are conditioned to wait until someone tells us how we should feel and how we should act. This is the very reason it is hard to have people (even your closest friends) understand abstract work. The process is lost and the product rarely exemplifies the process. So we have to educate.

Joy: Yes the onus is on us to educate them and make them a part of the process. Sometimes though its difficult to put in the exact magnitude of thought and emotion into a few words and there lies our biggest challenge.

And it is not easy to explain how we see the world in its very basic, stripped down abstract form.

I was just reading Laura's latest blog and this question stood up: "How can one articulate the process of creating and not just the product of creating?" very interesting and I guess as artists all of us are trying to find a answer to this in our own ways.

Millie: I definitely think that this is the biggest difference between an "artist" and a "craftsman". It is being able to approach your work as a process to experience and not just a product to fabricate. I find that the disconnect is when you try to sell the "products" of both. It is much easier to buy or collect something that you understand and can use and much harder to take a chance on something that has yet to reveal its usefulness and value.

Joy: And almost always the functional utility of a product wins...

And the question still remains…

Owl

2009-10-27T16:51:00.003-04:00

Jalpari - Water Princess

2009-09-16T14:50:00.002-04:00

Graceful Move

2009-09-16T14:46:00.001-04:00

Basic

2009-09-10T14:43:00.001-04:00

Flowers

2009-09-09T14:30:00.001-04:00

Dancing Ganesha

2009-08-30T14:18:00.001-04:00

Durga

2009-08-28T14:05:00.001-04:00

Celebration

2009-08-20T13:24:00.000-04:00

Celebration
20x20 Acrylic on Fabric
Madhubani has always been one of my favourite kind of fork art. Its got Vibrance, energy, intricacy yet its so simplistic in appearence.

© All rights reserved with Joyita Neerkaje. No form of this may be reproduced without prior permission of the author

Abandoned

2009-08-20T13:20:00.001-04:00

Abandoned
16x20 Acrylic on Canvas
A painting never feels complete, sometime you just have to abandon them and move to the next one. This painting is one such work of mine. I have got a couple suggestions but I am still looking for the perfect way to complete this. As of now its 'Abandoned'.

© All rights reserved with Joyita Neerkaje. No form of this may be reproduced without prior permission of the author

Anticipation

2009-06-15T13:17:00.000-04:00

Anticipation
16x20 Inches - Mixed Medium on Canvas

I started of this painting to paint a Bride Anticipating her life ahead. But when I was done I realised that I had subconsciously made a potrait of my mom. With everything that reminds me of her standing out. The Vermilon in the hair partition, a Big Red Bindi, Big Eyes, Nose ring and the distinctive chin. Anticipation to me reminds me of my mother because she always had an uncanny way of foretelling what can happen.

Son of Nataraj

2009-06-05T13:08:00.000-04:00

Son of Nataraj
16x20 Inches - Oil on Canvas

Ganesha is worshipped as the remover of obstacles, as the God of wisdom and success. His plump belly symbolizes prosperity, and his large forehead represents intelligence and foresight. His usual form is of Calm and Composure. But this image is of Ganesha, Son of Nataraj. Though this is not a common pose of Ganesha, according to Rigveda, Ganesha is also been depicted as the God of Performing Art.
In this Painting he is balanced lightly on one leg with the other raised and bent at the knee. He is in his elements and enjoying it. My way of depicting that for perfect symmetry calm composure needs to be balanced with impulsiveness.

© All rights reserved with Joyita Neerkaje. No form of this may be reproduced without prior permission of the author.

Spirals of Life

2009-05-30T12:58:00.000-04:00

Spirals of Life
16x20 Inches - Mixed Medium on Canvas

This is one of those paintings where I have tried to experiment with various mediums and kept the overlay limited to basic lines and patterns. I have tried to bring out Integration of people, planets, the entire Universe. The Red and Black Spiral depicts the unison of the Male and Female.

© All rights reserved with Joyita Neerkaje. No form of this may be reproduced without prior permission of the author.

Web

2009-05-22T13:43:00.000-04:00

Web
8X10 Ink on paper

City

2009-05-20T12:54:00.000-04:00

City
8x10 Inches - Ink on Paper
My attempt at keeping things basic and simple. I stuck to the basic Lines and color and tried to create an intrigue, a busy web, Like a City from a Skys percpective.

© All rights reserved with Joyita Neerkaje. No form of this may be reproduced without prior permission of the author.

Reflection of Emotions - an Abstract series

2009-04-25T12:52:00.001-04:00

They are all 8X10 - Mixed Medium (Acrylic, Soft Pastels ad Water Color) on Paper.
The entire series is an attempt to bring out the energy and happiness I was feeling at that moment. I have named them (from left to right) Waves, Rainbow, Jazz and Energy.

© All rights reserved with Joyita Neerkaje. No form of this may be reproduced without prior permission of the author

Ganesha - The Philosopher

2009-03-30T12:21:00.000-04:00

The Philosopher
16X20 Inches: Oil on Canvas
Ganesha is my favourite Hindu Diety.Ganesha represents OM, the sound from which the World emanated. This is my image of Ganesha staring into the Open sky and looking over what came from him... This Universe.

© All rights reserved with Joyita Neerkaje. No form of this may be reproduced without prior permission of the author.

aum sūryāya namah

2009-03-25T12:15:00.001-04:00

"aum sūryāya namah"
16x20 Inches - Oil on Canvas

The Sun God, the life-giver on earth, is one of the more powerful Gods in Hindu mythology.
He is the visible form of God that a person can see everyday.
Surya has been mentioned andplays a role in the two big Mythogical works: Ramayana (as the father of Sugriva (the Monkey king), the Surya Vanshi kings and Mahabharata as the Father of Karna (The generous one).

"Throughout the dusky firmament advancing, laying to rest the immortal and the mortal, Borne in his golden chariot he cometh, Savitar, God who looks on every creature" - Rigveda

This is a simple representation of the magnificent God in Madhubani Style.

© All rights reserved with Joyita Neerkaje. No form of this may be reproduced without prior permission of the author.