Swati Palekar

What media of art do you work in?
I work with various mediums like acrylics, gouache, ink, and watercolors.

How would you describe your genre of painting?
My work is heavily inspired by folk, tribal, and mythological stories of India. I create traditional as well as contemporary Indian Folk art.

Can you describe your creative process?  When you begin a painting, do you have an idea of what the end result is? Do you prepare sketches first?  Do you know the colors you are going to use?
Personally, I’ve often found that the research and visualization process is more arduous than the process of painting itself! That being said, no two artworks are the same, and inspiration tends to strike at odd hours. If I had to summarize my creative process, I’d say that I spend a lot of time in the exploratory phase—researching historical/cultural narratives that have shaped the art style I’m interested in, alongside taking notes of patterns and peculiarities that pique my interest.

While dependent on the complexity of the work, I’ve noticed that sketching helps me channel and organize my creative instincts, which is useful as it helps me gain a clearer picture of the subject I’m trying to explore (usually)! I do have certain colors that I’m keen on using, although this depends on the subject matter and mood I want to showcase. The rest of the colors and patterns tend to fall into place as I make progress and develop my intuition for the subject of the art piece.

What is the message you want people to take away from your artwork?
The authenticity of traditional folk and tribal art is rapidly being diluted by a severe lack of cultural awareness and a shift toward the commercialization of art. Heritage art forms must be preserved and carried forward to future generations, especially in today’s fast-paced world of digital design. With the advent of online marketplaces, rural craftsmen and artists face the challenge of receiving a fair price for their painstakingly crafted handwork. I hope that through my artworks and workshops, I can help promote curiosity and awareness about these art forms and accord respect to such artists and their works within the community.

100 years from now, how do you want people to remember you as an artist?
Initially, I think I was solely preoccupied with the pursuit of artistic excellence. While I still aim to achieve that much-coveted prowess, I realize that may not be the sole objective for me. Legacy is a tricky thing; it can mean so many different things to an artist at different points in their life! Currently, however, I believe that if my body of work can inspire future generations of artists to engage with old, traditional folk art forms, that would be an immensely satisfying outcome from both an artistic and philosophical standpoint.

What is your favourite praise you have received from a client or about your work?
I have been practicing and teaching folk art for a decade now, and I receive heartwarming messages from students around the world about how connected they feel with themselves after starting their art journey with me. I feel immensely grateful that I was able to assist them on their journey. I remember an instance where a student shared her experience of regaining her cognitive function after a stroke and how completing the workshop helped her recover both physically and psychologically. That’s a moment I’ll treasure forever!

What are your hobbies outside of Art?
I love to try my hand at cooking new recipes, baking, and photography!

What is an interesting piece of trivia about you that people don’t know?
I worked for almost a decade in the finance and digital marketing sectors respectively, before pursuing art professionally.

Give me one or two sentences about your family?
We are a small family of three. With my son away for his undergrad studies overseas we are currently empty nesters. My husband and I are now free to spend more time on our passions!

What has been your strongest influence in your art career thus far?
The magnificent works of various master artisans, and of course, a vibrant Indian heritage, have been a huge source of inspiration. I’m sure they will continue to influence and inspire my future artistic pursuits!

What is your vision for yourself as an artist 5 years from now?
Indian heritage is so rich with fascinating mythological lore passed down for generations. There are a couple of my personal favorites that I want to put on canvas. As an artist, I hope that in the next 5 years, I will have traveled, painted, and learned more!

Which one is your favorite artwork you have ever done and tell us why?
My personal favorite is the 4 x 4 feet ‘Kalpa Vriksha’ painting that I painted for a client. I heavily incorporated elements of the Kalamkari style, including some beautiful birds, flowers, and animal motifs. I thoroughly enjoy using vibrant colors in my art, which made this project very exciting. It was definitely not an easy feat—the details were handpainted using a liner brush and took me 6 months to complete. Ultimately, it was very satisfying to have visualized and successfully completed a project of such scale.

Which is one of your most recent works?
‘Kalpa Vriksha’ is one of my recent works.