Signed Surrealist Painting of Chili Plants from India 'Chili Garden' Item ID: 2676665260

"My constant attraction to the world of art has to do a lot with my family. We have a strong bond with Indian art and culture. One of my sisters is a classical dancer, my brother is a sports person and another sister an artist. She has been my greatest inspiration, along with my children and husband; they are my biggest supporters too. My first experience in painting was at the age of nine when I attended an art class with my elder sister, and my painting was displayed on the school board.

"Since childhood, I have always been very active and always desired to do something in life. I wanted to keep myself occupied with a creative activity - be it sports, art or social work. At the age of ten, I started playing table tennis and played until I was 22. During these years, I represented my school and state for 11 years. I held second position in the National Table Tennis Championship and was ranked number two in India. In the meantime, I received my bachelor's degree in economics with honors. I also did post graduate work in advertising and marketing.

"Then I got married and moved to Delhi where I took Montessori teacher's training, acquired a B.Ed. and worked as a lecturer, teaching child psychology and art.

"Years passed, I did lots of things I wanted to do, but my heart was still yearning for something else. I knew my calling and in 1994 I started exploring my passion for art once again. I started painting on pottery and later worked on canvas. More often than not I was seen immersed in the world of painting. I derive great joy from this. Perfection is my motto, and I wanted to attain perfection in my work, so in 1996, I joined a highly acclaimed art school cum gallery to learn more.

"During a recent trip to the USA, I visited the Chicago Art Institute, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Shorn Fleshor Collection and the National Gallery of Art, among others. It was a great treat.

"Any form of art is beautiful, but some people whose work fascinates me are Vermeer, Degas, Gustav Callibotte, Camille Pissaro and Claude Monet. Among the Indian contemporary artists, I enjoy the works of Satish Gujral, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Vijendra Sharma and Ramachandran, among others.

"Most of my paintings relate to me, they are inspired b my day-to-day life, my experience as a mother, my children, the environment surrounding me, or something which I have encountered in the past. I have been married for 29 years now and my husband has been always there for me. He is a lawyer by profession and loves art. He does not miss an opportunity to be amid artwork. He always encourages me – he is my guide, my friend. Both my children are extremely supportive of my work too; though they live abroad, I feel they are close to me and they inspire me to continue. If it wasn't for my husband and children, I wouldn't be where I am today."