"As practice makes perfect, I cannot but make progress; each drawing one makes, each study one paints, is a step forward." - Vincent van Gogh
I have loved making art for as long as I can remember. Growing up in India, I took art lessons through middle and high school and enjoyed them a lot. When it was time to choose a college major, however, the head overruled the heart and I studied computer engineering, eventually moving to the United States and entering the corporate world. All that time, I continued to stay connected with art, taking classes at the local community college, running an art meetup group, making cards and gifts for friends and family, and attending online painting workshops. After an 18 year career in technology, the need to devote more time to art was too strong and I took a career break to spend some quality time improving my painting skills.
I am enamored with the interaction of pigment and water - on the palette and on paper, and the spontaneity and transparency of watercolors. Through my paintings I aim to give the viewer a moment of calm and awe while appreciating the amazing beauty of nature. I am drawn to the play of light to create highlights and shadows and enjoy creating a three-dimensional effect on two dimensional paper. I have primarily painted florals and enjoy capturing their intricate details and delicate character. A couple of years ago, friends encouraged me to paint their pets and I enjoyed painting them a lot. Capturing the glint in their eyes and their personality on paper is a challenge I look forward to taking on. I aspire to paint landscapes, and to paint in a looser style. While most of my subjects are found close to where I live, I love to travel and I am constantly looking to capture the sights on my Nikon D3300 with an eye to using the photographs as inspirations for my paintings.
I am a juried member of the Arizona Watercolor Association and a member of Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona. Since I started entering juried art shows in 2022, I have had several paintings selected in local and statewide juried exhibitions. I welcome inquiries about paintings displayed on this site, and about commissions.
Giving from the Art
In 2013, my father-in-law lost his battle with Leukemia and in 2018 a dear friend lost her battle with the same disease. At the time I was painting regularly and in the initial days of her illness, we had talked about using our talents (she was a talented photographer) for charitable purposes. When I visited her in the hospice for the last time, I told her that I would carry forward our plan to help charitable organizations. That year, I set up an online store, Giving from the Art, to sell prints and cards of my paintings. I donated all the profits from those sales to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's annual Light the Night fundraiser. I continue to donate proceeds from sales to the fundraiser, adding more paintings to my collection of prints and cards each year. I have taken down the Giving from the Art online store. If you are interested in supporting LLS by purchasing originals, prints or cards, or commissioning a painting, please contact me.
Recognition
Mar 2024: Rainbow Diet, Arizona Watercolor Association's Spring 2024 Exhibition (Mar 2 - April 28, 2024)
Feb 2024: Somebody Couldn't Wait, Pink Splendor and Nectar of the Giants, Contemporary Watercolorists' of Arizona's Spring 2024 Exhibition (Feb 1 - Mar 3, 2024). Award of Merit for Somebody Couldn't Wait
Feb 2024: Fuel Up and Flash in the Dark, Herberger Theater Center's Birds, Bugs and Blooms exhibit (Feb 2 - 26, 2024)
Nov 2023: Thriving, Arizona Art Alliance's Breaking Ground exhibition
Oct 2023: Two's Company, Contemporary Watercolorists' of Arizona's Fall 2023 Exhibition. Award of Merit for Two's Company
Sep 2023: Eye on the Trail, Arizona Center for Nature Conservation / Phoenix Zoo's 'Inspired: Arizona Artists Celebrate the Natural World' show
Sep 2023: Summer Solace, Arizona Watercolor Association's Fall 2023 Exhibition
Aug 2023: Nectar of the Giants, Herberger Theater Center's 'Saguaro' exhibit
Jul 2023: Summer Solace and Hope for Water, Arizona Art Alliance's, The Heat is On virtual exhibition. Honorable Mention for Hope for Water
Jul 2023: Saguaro Up Close, Arizona Artists Guild's 12th Annual Statewide exhibition
May 2023: Two's Company, Honorable Mention, Semi-Pro Class, in the May 2023 BoldBrush Painting competition
May 2023: Eye on the Trail, FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the May 2023 BoldBrush Painting competition
May 2023: Stay Close and Thriving, West Valley Arts Council's 'This is Family' show
Mar 2023: Bark-a-lounger, Arizona Watercolor Association's Spring 2023 Exhibition - Merchant Award
Jan 2023: Asha, FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the January 2023 BoldBrush Painting competition
Dec 2023: Red Torch, FAV15% (jury's favorite 15% of the entries) in the December 2022 BoldBrush Painting competition
Sep 2022: Saguaro Up Close and Untamed, Arizona Watercolor Association's Fall 2022 Exhibition - Merchant Award for Untamed
Feb 2022: Saguaro Up Close, Shemer Art Center's 'Up Close' exhibition
Memberships
Jan 2022: Arizona Watercolor Association
May 2023: Contemporary Watercolorists of Arizona
Representation
May 2021 - Present: Prints and cards at Shemer Art Center Gift Shop
Festivals / Art Shows
March 2, 2024: Liberty Wildlife's El Rio Vivo Art and Music Festival
Dec 9, 2023: Ocotillo Artists' Group's Holiday Art Show
Nov 4 and 5, 2023: Shemer Arizona Arts Festival
Apr 15, 2023: Flavor of Arizona at Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Apr 1 and 2, 2023: Shemer Art in the Garden
Dec 10 and 11, 2022: Phoenix Festival of the Arts
Nov 5 and 6, 2022: Shemer Arizona Arts Festival
Nov 6 and 7, 2021: Shemer Arizona Arts Festival