Hi all!
This monthly interview highlights some really amazing women who are shaking things up and making a difference through creativity and bold endeavors. They have been chosen because I’m inspired by their powerfully persuasive spirit and their tenacity to make things happen. They are sisters in their creative ingenuity, building a legacy for others through their actions and venturesome spirit. If you haven’t already checked out previous women featured, like Candice R. Curlypaws, click on the Woman of the Month link in the side bar and scroll down through the pages to check them out..
There’s also the fabulous men featured on my Man of the Month blog.
Presenting:
Sandeep Johal
Here’s a little bit about her:
Hailing from the booming metropolis of Kelowna, BC, some of my fondest childhood memories were the half days from school I spent drawing while watching soaps with my mom. I drew all the time. My parents never stopped me from drawing or making things, but they had high hopes that I would follow a more secure, traditional path, like medicine. I was so not interested, but I did a Biology degree anyway, followed by two years abroad. Afterwards, when I moved to Vancouver, I completed an Education degree. After teaching for a year, I felt dissatisfied and just kinda bummed around as I contemplated my next step. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I finally got the nerve to pursue the one constant in my life and enrolled in art college. My parents sighed and shook their heads, but I knew if I didn’t do it then, I would regret not having done the one thing that mattered to me most. And it was AMAZING! Even more amazing – my parents got on board! It’s taken me a little while to get back on track and refocus, but since the beginning of the year, I’ve worked hard on making my website, started my foray into the social media world, and have been steadily working on painting commissions. Life is good!
And here’s how she answered my 6 questions about creativity:
What does it mean to you to be creative?
I don’t know what it means not to be creative. It’s just a part of me that’s always been there. I bring it into everything I do, no matter how big or small. But the moment I’m not doing anything creative, I notice I really start feeling down. So, if I’m not in the mood to physically do art, I just make sure I do something art-related instead. For example, over the past month and a half, I’ve been researching female artists, and posting a work by each artist every day on my facebook page. It gives me a chance to learn about artists and their work and get ideas for new directions in my own work.
What triggers your creativity?
My creativity definitely goes in cycles, and can be triggered by pretty much anything. I’m inspired by the people around me living creatively in their own ways, people who are doing weird, funny, innovative things, people who are taking risks to create the lives/society they want.
Other triggers are the naturally formed patterns on weathered old walls which influence the base layers of my paintings. I first really began (obsessively) paying attention to walls on a trip to India and was fascinated by the hand painted ads and messages covering them as well as their states of decay over time.
In Argentina, a few years later, I was blown away by the vibrant street art scene. Pretty much every corner I turned, I was met with bright, bubbly, cartoon characters, painterly drawings, and stencil art. Seeing walls like these has led me to re-imagine what’s possible on a canvas. Also, geometric shapes and (traditional Indian) patterns inform my mandalas, and of course, deadlines get me sweating- I work best under pressure.
What hinders your creativity?
FEAR. I can not believe how much power I’ve given it. For so long, I let it stop me from pursuing the thing that makes me feel happy and fulfilled. SELF-JUDGEMENT. That critical voice in the back of my head that fills me with doubt. NOT TAKING CARE OF MYSELF. If I’m sick, I can’t create. Since I’ve repeatedly gotten sick this year, I’ve come to realize how important self-care is.
What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?
LOVE! I never expected to find it, I did, and it’s been a trip! I feel gratitude every day that I get to come home to my best friend. My husband has been the greatest support.
What does being bold and provocative mean to you?
Being authentic. Doing the art that matters to you, and not caring if people like it or not. Creating work that gets people thinking, and opens up the space for dialogue, whether positive or negative.
What’s next for you?
I want to get myself out there, especially to seek out and connect with other artists and like minds. In the upcoming months, I’d like to start building (and revisiting) bodies of work exploring different (taboo) themes from my culture, as well as start a personal video project with my parents. I’d also like to get back into printmaking. I feel like anything is possible and I’m open to the experiences and opportunities that come my way.
And here’s something that inspires her creativity:
I’ve been incredibly inspired by the collection of works of female artists that I’ve gathered and put on my Facebook page- sandeep johal ART. Definitely check it out because the artists and their works are beyond awesome!
Be sure to check out Sandy’s website: www.sandeepjohal.com
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