Monisa Parekh Interview | Respect the Artist
I may not yet be a household name on the local art scene. I paint from my heart. I am all about translating emotion onto the canvas in front of me.
A New Jersey-based artist, Monisa Parekh, has been honing her skills in painting for the past several years. Having a background in Fashion Industry, Monisa blended her fashion illustration skills with her 19 years of painting experience, bringing about a perfect marriage of her two passions. Monisa's evolution into an artist allowed her to introduce another element to this union and extend the range of her talent even further.
Through illustration, surface pattern, and colors, Monisa focuses on creating bold, colorful work showcasing her strong Indian heritage.
How did you get your name?
My artist name is my name/ but my Instagram handle for my work is @renatabymonisaparekh (when I returned from my hiatus, I named this era of my work “Renata'', which means re-birth).
How did you get into creating?
I got into creating at a very young age, I loved how liberated I felt while creating, the liberation to express myself and my emotions is the reason why I still create.
Where are you from?
I am from India.
How did growing up in your neighborhood/city affect you?
I would say it definitely has had an impact on me, the way I see things and the way to respond to my subjects is a very integral part of my upbringing and my childhood memories.
What did you do to advance your skills/knowledge?
To advance my skills and knowledge I have not stopped learning(something that has stayed with me is" Once you stop learning, you start dying"), I am a very inquisitive person. I love to learn about places, things, stories, heritage, culture, etc. I never think about whether a certain skill will help me or not, but trust me knowing different techniques has elevated my approach towards arts, and I never find myself stuck when I want to experience as I am never scared of failure/end result. Life is a constant learning process, so just enjoy the path and explore as you create your path.
What does your current setup look like?
I have a small home studio with all the walls covered from top to bottom with my art. It has a small window overlooking my drawing desk, a bookcase with specialty books of art and illustrations, an easel with an unfinished painting in a corner of the room, and a closet with closed doors that reveal an arsenal of drawing and painting equipment.
Who inspires you?
My inspiration as a person is my mentor Ms. Asha Mandapa- whatever I know about art is because of her. She is the person who made me see art in a different light. She brought me a step closer to realizing my dream and made me push myself to grow as an artist and always learn more, and as an artist the rich history of India, how it has evolved over time, and what the impact is on diaspora culture today. Through illustration and surface pattern, I focus on creating bold, colorful works that showcase my heritage."
What is your goal when you create?
As a professional artist, I can say that when I am in my Zen(creating something) I don't have a goal. I don't think artists have a real goal, Other than the pleasure of creating something, enjoying the process, and getting completely immersed in the process of creation.
Why do you create?
In a quest to return to my roots after shifting to NYC, I created my first collection named: Shakti(strength) representing different Indian goddesses in a stylized fashion illustration style showing how fierce and strong they are. With the passing of time, I have evolved from a detail-oriented artist to an abstract artist (my recent injury changed my perception about being in control of my pen/brush).
How has choosing your creative path affected your life?
The Creative Path is the entrepreneurial path is where I follow my curiosity down the rabbit hole and use my creative problem-solving skills to create value for others and sell it to the right people.
Did you have to overcome any obstacles along the way?
The conventional path is the foundation myth of every consumer society. It’s perceived as safe and secure. Parents love it. Being a fashion Design student I have already followed the conventional path and realized that it isn’t the best path for me to fulfillment and meaningful work. I left my job within 1 year of joining the conventional market, to pursue art as my career (it was a big leap of faith, and after 19 years I see why I chose this as my career)
What is your dream as an artist and what steps are you taking to reach your dream?: Personally, I want to pursue a Master's Degree in Art Therapy. I want to help kids and adults express themselves through different mediums of art. I think that this is the reason why I love to paint subjects that create emotions. I am just a step closer to achieving this, I just completed my Yoga Teacher Training and my focus is on Trauma healing, it is all interlacing to achieve the bigger goal to help a community deal with emotions.
What would you tell someone else with a dream?
The only thing between you and your dreams is the vague story you keep telling yourself about why you can't achieve it. Let your dreams speak louder than your fears, and your actions will be bolder than your words.
Tell us about your most recent release: My most recent art show was at the end of January with Sophocles Start Show at One Art Space gallery in Tribeca. By God's grace, my recent collection is completely sold! and has some exciting opportunities to look forward to. I focus on creating bold, colorful work showcasing how colors produce hormones called ENDORPHINS (the same chemical released during exercise) that make us feel energized and happy.
I named her collection "EMOTIONS". I want you to experience how every color creates different emotions and feelings.
Connect
www.instagram.com/renatabymonisaparekh
Photography credit: @quiubo_photos (Steven Ramirez) and my husband @niketparekh1
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