Today we’d like to introduce you to Priyanka McKinnes.
Hi Priyanka, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am 26 years old. I was born in Bihar, India and am the third of five sisters. After meeting my now husband, I moved to the US in January 2020 and got married. My business, HEART, is designed to showcase and celebrate my Indian heritage in art form.
I was born in Bihar, India’s third most populated state. My parents married very young, and after a few months of marriage, my mother came to know that my father was an alcoholic. They moved to Delhi, India and my mother faced constant physical and verbal abuse at the hands of my father. My father always wanted a son because boys are seen as more valuable and can earn a much higher living in India. After many years of physical and verbal abuse, my father stopped providing for us all together after my youngest sister was born because he did not want to care for five daughters and no sons. My sisters, mom, and I (and occasionally my dad) lived in a small hut made of sticks and woven wicker with a plastic tarp for a roof. Oftentimes, we were left without food. People who saw us laughed at our situation and did not care about our desperation. One day, a man from a ministry called World Vision saw our need and connected my mom to a children’s home near where we were living. After sharing her story, my mom was allowed to leave me and two of my sisters in the care of the home. We arrived malnourished, scared, and sick.
While there, the family operating the children’s home fed us, loved us, and helped us heal. They shared God’s love with us and I accepted Christ into my life. After lots of prayer and time, all four of my siblings and my biological mother accepted Christ into their own lives as well. In the children’s home, I got everything that I lacked while staying with my mom. I got a good education, siblings, parents, and the love I never got from my biological dad. In 2017, I met my now husband while he was visiting India on a mission trip. We began dating shortly after his trip and married in 2020. I now have a family made up of 24 siblings (both biological and through the children’s home), adoptive parents, my biological parents, my husband, and his family. In addition to my art business, I also work for Good News Centre, the ministry that operated the children’s home where I grew up. Through this ministry, I am blessed to be able to aid in caring for other children facing hardships similar to the ones I faced in my early childhood.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My life while growing up was not easy. In addition to the trauma I encountered as a child in poverty and abuse, I struggled in school and was very shy. My classmates would laugh at me and I struggled with self-confidence and believing in myself. When I started painting, I did not know how to run a business and did not think I would succeed, but it was something I dreamed of doing and thanks to the encouragement of my husband and other loved ones, I have been able to launch HEART and have seen it grow. When I first launched the business, I did not sell many paintings and was disheartened, but I did not give up! It has been hard to balance working for the ministry while also pursuing my art. I have had to learn (and continue to learn) how to manage my time and energy. In the last two years of operation, I have learned so much about how to operate a business. Now I have a successful business and have even expanded to include my younger sister’s paintings alongside my own. I love what I do.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been designing and creating Mandala art for two years now. I started teaching myself the skills needed when I first moved to the US as a way to adjust to my new life. The word Mandala means “circle” and is traditionally made from geometric designs or patterns. While growing up in India, I saw the beauty of color richly celebrated in my culture. Once I moved, I use my art as a way to stay connected to my Indian roots while incorporating elements of my new culture. While I am not formally trained in art, I have been able to develop my skills in a way that reflects my own unique style.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice to people who are just starting out is to never be afraid to reach for your dreams. In addition, never be afraid to ask for help. God has placed people around you to help you and your passions grow. When people tell you you cannot do it, take it as a challenge to prove them wrong. Don’t get demotivated if people are telling you that you can’t do it. Take it as a challenge and prove them wrong. Always be willing to share what you have learned with others, do your best to set an example for others, always keep God as your priority, and remember that you are unique. I want to encourage everyone to support small businesses and artists around you. These creators pour their heart and soul into their products and should be celebrated for their hard work and dedication to pursuing their dreams.
Pricing:
- $35 -$200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://priyankakumar415.wixsite.com/ecom
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priyankaspainting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PriyankaMckinnes/
