Today we’d like to introduce you to Jayshree Elliott.
Hi Jayshree, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Colors fascinated me as a child. I remember coloring on things other than paper, such as the beautiful walls in our home, fans, clothes, furniture, and even our nice shell-white ambassador car! Of course, I was reprimanded for these generous acts of creativity! Thank God for my parents; I grew up and grew out of painting on objects that were not meant to be painted on! That summer, my parents enrolled me in an art class, and it opened a whole new world to me. I realized that painting was not only meditative but also a powerful medium of expressing one’s thoughts via colors. Creating felt like poetry to me. The more I immersed myself in the beauty of this medium, the more I discovered the candor it gave me.
Exposed to a variety of art forms as a little girl, I took a liking to painting, classical music and dance, poetry, and photography. My work captures life in various moods and forms. I believe there is a color for each existence in the microcosm within oneself and the macrocosm beyond.
My style is predominantly abstract. I use mixed media, oil, and acrylic on canvas. I believe in not limiting my creativity to painting but in using diverse, non-traditional elements and techniques to create.
I feel fortunate to have had my work appreciated and commended at various national and international shows and exhibitions. Several of my very prized pieces now adorn loving homes and businesses in India, Europe, and the United States.
My artistic journey has been paved with motivation and unending love and support from my family. Art is my path to self-realization and happiness. It is also my way of giving back to the world. I would like to share that each piece in my gallery has been reared to maturity with love as the main medium.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The biggest hurdle in my artistic journey was to get my work known. The next was the entrepreneurial side of it. Art is a luxury good and is extremely tough to sell. Most individuals like to buy mass-produced artworks from large retail stores. There is a complete lack of interest in supporting local artists.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I ended up pursuing a career in research with my Ph.Ds. in sociology, with a specialization in domestic violence, and later in public policy and public administration, with a specialization in climate change. I am proud that I persevered in art in spite of a very busy professional life. I practice mindfulness which helps me in balancing all expanses of my life.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a naughty child. My parents can tell you all about it! I liked playing outdoors a lot. I started training in classical music and dance at a very early age. I was more of a stage person. There were only two sports that I was interested in: badminton and javelin throw. To sum up, I had a happy childhood.
Image Credits
Jayshree Elliott
