Today we’d like to introduce you to Monika Gupta.
Hi Monika, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in India, and have been dabbling in art ever since I remember. My early works were primarily in pencil, and gifting portraits to my friends and family was a favorite hobby.
My horizons expanded widely after I came across photorealistic drawings and paintings from the likes of J D Hillberry and renowned Indian Artist Vijendra Sharma. These two remain the biggest influence and inspiration for me ’till date.
I started my career as an IT professional and moved to USA in 2006 for work. I continued to improve my skills by attending workshops and watching tutorials in my spare time. In 2011, I joined Chris DiDomizio’s Art Studio in Atlanta, GA. Chris is a classically trained artist and an excellent teacher. I’m forever grateful to him for equipping me with the tools necessary to bring my artistic visions to life.
I am drawn to the beauty of nature and love to depict the magnificence of life. I strive to carry a message of hope and joy through my work. Even if I need to portray say, stormy clouds – for aesthetic reasons or because the subject calls for it, you will always find a glimmer of silver lining, a parting of clouds for sun to peek through – a reminder that no matter how fierce a storm may be, there is always a clearing. Winter always turns to spring.
For me, Art is journey of personal improvement. I hope my journey is able to inspire others, bridge cultural gaps, and bring people closer towards creating a more joyful world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With a full-time day job, time management has been one of the biggest challenges for me. Self-doubt is a close second.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work primarily in Oils and Pastels and love painting in the tradition of classical realism. Portraits are my favorite subjects – I am fascinated by uniqueness of each person and strive to bring to life the inherent strength, dignity and beauty of my subjects. I apply the same methodical and thoughtful approach to any subject – be it still life or landscape, as I would do in a portrait, and always strive to share a message of hope and joy through my creations.
I start with drawing multiple sketches to identify and tune into the core essence of my subject. For complex subjects and portraits, these sketches are followed by a full-size drawing, usually in charcoal, to work out value problems. In most cases, I also paint small color studies before starting to work on final artwork. I like to create small to medium size artworks, that can be displayed in the cozy nooks of a home, or in combination on a large wall. Last, but not the least, I’m continuously striving to improve my techniques, enhance my skills, but most of all – becoming a better person each day, every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.monikaguptafineart.com
- Instagram: instagam.com/monikaguptafineart
- Facebook: facebook.com/monikaguptafineart
- Youtube: youtube.com/monikaguptafineart
