"Art is my obsession and the ultimate love of my life" --- this is my true self.
I am a sensitive, hardworking, sincere person, known as a go - getter.
Art for me is a medium that can successfully educate, inform, tell stories and bring about change in any mood. Bright paintings bring positive thinking and happiness.
After my Grade 12, I wanted to pursue my career only as an artist but due to my parents' desire that one has to be a graduate or postgraduate. They felt I would not get a good husband if I did not graduate. I formally completed, B.A (Sociology) from Miranda House, Masters in Sociology from Delhi School of Economics. Later after marriage, I completed a Bachelor of Education from Calcutta University.
During my course of formal education, I took training from a very famous artist Rameshwar Broota from Triveni Kala Sangam Institute in Delhi. I used to attend evening classes and was fortunate to meet M.F.Hussain many times. He used to come in a very colorful self painted fiat car to Triveni Kala Sangam. Rameshwar Broota is still working in Triveni.
I am professionally a teacher and have taught kids from Grade 1 to 12. My first job as a teacher was at La Martiniere school in Calcutta, teaching Sociology to Grade 11 and 12.
Later I taught at Calcutta Girls High School to grade 9, 10 (History) and 11 and 12 (Sociology). When we moved to Orissa and later to Delhi, I taught junior classes.
Teaching Junior, Middle and High school students in India and later taught in the International School of Estonia, Estonia; I always enjoyed teaching Art whenever I had to substitute for another teacher. I helped students to create backdrops of stage, magazine covers, Murals, signboards etc. You can say I took every opportunity to enhance and explore my creative self.
Since 1997, I have left India and have been travelling and residing over Europe and Asia. We stayed in Estonia for 6 years, Bulgaria for 4 years, Malaysia for 2 years, Bosnia for 4 years. And now we keep moving from Singapore and the USA. My experience in these various countries and immersion in their cultures shaped out my style and is reflected in my works.
I had my first individual exhibition in June 2011 at Zenica, Bosnia. Since then I have participated in many exhibitions and art colonies in Europe.
1. I sell many paintings every year for charity to Akshaya Patra' Org, who feed mid-day meals to 1.7 million children every day in India.
2. I painted 6 Murals for a school in Malaysia. This school is for physically handicapped students.
3. I do lots of volunteer work and I'm a board member for two organizations.
a) I am Publicity Manager for the ‘Fine Arts League of Cupertino’, USA.
b) I am in charge of Artists of the Month in ‘Sunnyvale Art Club’, USA.
4) I have been teaching virtually for the last two years to all the grandkids of my cousins, brother and sisters (9 all together). I have grandkids living in Singapore, Boston and Delhi, so I get up at 5 a.m to teach them due to different time zones.
I have won many awards for my paintings through various juried shows.
1.
I won the "Distinguished Artist of the year 2020" Award from The City of Cupertino, USA.
2. I was featured artist of the month for July 2020 from Silicone Open Studios.
3. My painting "We are in it together" was featured in most of the local newspapers in the Bay Area, USA.
"We are in it together" is dedicated to my daughter who is a doctor in Singapore and is praying for the welfare of her Covid patients. Two hands, gold and silver, identify that Covid has affected rich, poor, any class or creed. Mother earth is in the form of a lady who is welcoming nature and wishing to have a brighter future ahead.
Creating Art gives me immense joy and I try and hope to bring that joy to the viewer as well. I paint a variety of subjects whatever suits my fancy at the moment. I use bright colors in most of my artworks for vivacity and expressiveness.
My advice to the beginners;
Being an artist is a privilege that few people allow themselves in life. Others in your life will seldom understand or accept the level of dedication and strength it takes to be creative so the path is often traveled alone.
Trust yourself. If you create art to impress or please someone else, it becomes a chore instead of a joy.
Keep experimenting! Don't get caught up with rules or the way other people make paintings. What really matters is how you feel about what you are creating. Be your biggest critic!
Geeta Taneja