I am the creative mind behind Dazzling Designs which showcases hand painted ceramics & jewelry, handmade apparel & accessories. I was born in the city of Indore in India. Both my parents were Botany professors at the university, but I distinctly remember growing up surrounded by artists, singers, photographers, writers and poets. My brother and I were active participants in everything creative and
were encouraged to have an expression and an opinion. We would both get on our bicycles for our ‘drawing class” 3 times a week in the evenings. Mr Akhilesh Verma, who is a renowned, contemporary artist, has been my mentor and guru since I was 12 years old. I completed high school with a major in Fine Arts and enrolled in the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, India, for a degree in Applied Arts. In those days women in India did not go to far away universities, especially not to pursue higher education in “Fine Arts”. However, both my parents supported me and my mother in particular, was ahead of her times and made sure I had the best foundation to build my life on. After graduating university, I started working as a visualizer in Venart Advertising in Mumbai, India. A couple of years later, I got married to my college sweetheart Manoj. He is an engineer and has a very small eye for art , yet he has been a pillar of strength in all my creative pursuits. We have lived in different parts of the world for last 25 years. This gave us the opportunity to travel the world extensively. Getting to know different people, cultures, traditions and learning the local art and architecture has enriched my life. I have tried to absorb the essence of these exposures but my core inspiration stems from my Indian roots. My work reflects what I have learned from the rich art and architecture of India. I have evolved as an artist over the years and started free hand painting on ceramics, glassware, and jewelry using non-toxic permanent colors. These hand painted ceramics and glassware can be used everyday as they are food safe, microwave safe and dishwasher top shelf safe. Similarly the jewelry remains forever bright and beautiful. As my love for painting flourished so did my desire to channel my creativity in other ways. I took singing, dancing and violin lessons. My biggest passion, however, became sowing. When I was 15 years old, the tailor ruined my dress and I was furious. This got me thinking, if I stitch my own clothes I do not have to pay someone else, and I can design the latest fashions. Thus, I was reborn as a tailor. I learned the basics from my mother and my neighbor. A few attempts later, I was the best dressed 15 year old! I took inspiration from the diverse and traditional weaves from different parts of India. Every region, state and even village, has distinct weaves, motifs, patterns and fabrics. Over the years I have perfected my art, sowing for my two daughters, Sooravi and Tanishka, friends and family. My hobby as a designer evolved into a full time vocation. My daughters are a constant source of inspiration for me even today. They “call dibs” on the first garment in every new style that I come up with. They advise me, guide me and model for my work to make the creations extra glamorous. think art, architecture, the performing arts and fashion are all intertwined and are inspired by each other. Being successful today by painting a beautiful platter or designing a fashionable outfit is not extraordinary. It is just an attempt at tapping my creativity in different art forms. My education, experiences, my friends, and my family have laid out a solid foundation to build these beautiful, and unique Dazzling Designs. "Dazzling Designs" personifies me as an artist. I hope my creations bring as much joy and color into your life as they have in mine.
