Interview
Chanda Raj
Chanda Raj is an artist whose art is characterized by layers of depth and resonance, colorful lyricism, and a plethora of tactile surfaces. She was born in India, New Delhi. She has been in the US for 20 years and is currently residing in Dallas She has an intuitive approach to creativity and, with a fusion of realism with abstraction, comes to fruition through an innate and harnessed use of color and composition and deft use of acrylic paint Her painting depicts a romantic voyage to a place and time that will bring life to the commonplace. The art she creates is propelled by passion and is new-fangled. Picturesque landscapes, Mountains, birds and flowers, women with musical instruments, and dancers are bought to life with contrasting and harmonious colours and bold compositions.
The creative process is how ideas, art, or creative thinking come about. Contrary to popular belief, her creative process does have structure. It always begins by gathering inspiration and ultimately culminates with the finished product. Her artwork is a unique combination of vision, creativity, intuition, and collaboration balanced with craft, technique, accountability, discipline, and use of time and resources. The artistic process is a complex assortment of processes. Her paintings include colours that reflect the vitality of life, textures that communicate the physicality of nature, and strong lines with open spaces that evoke a sense of freedom.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I am an artist whose art is characterized by layers of depth and resonance, colorful lyricism, and a plethora of tactile surfaces. I was was born in India, New Delhi. I have been in the US for 20 years and I currently reside in Dallas.”
What inspires you?
“Nature. The beauty, colors, patterns, and textures found in the natural world can often serve as a rich source of inspiration. Emotions and personal experiences. Sometimes, I get inspired by my own emotions, memories, or life events to create art that expresses their inner thoughts and feelings. Sometimes, I find inspiration in the works of other artists, whether they are peers or historical figures. Seeing different styles, techniques, and concepts can spark new ideas and approaches. Cultural traditions, social issues, political events, or historical moments can inspire artists to create art that reflects or comments on these aspects of human life. I find inspiration in music lyrics or melodies as well as literary works such as poems or novels. The themes explored in these forms of expression can trigger creative ideas. Visual stimuli. Everyday objects, architecture, fashion trends, photography, films, or even random encounters with interesting visuals can ignite an artist's imagination. I often tap into dreams or use their imagination to create imaginative worlds and characters that go beyond reality.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The themes can be diverse and encompass a wide range of subjects such as love, identity, social issues, nature, spirituality, human emotions, or even abstract concepts. The underlying message in the work will depend on my individual intentions and artistic vision. It may be explicitly stated or left open to interpretation by the viewer.”
“For me, art is a feeling, an expression that can easily transport you on mesmerizing visual journeys and deliver feelings of universal harmony that are felt and remembered for long.”
How would you describe your work?
“I have an intuitive approach to creativity and, with a fusion of realism with abstraction, comes to fruition through an innate and harnessed use of color and composition and deft use of acrylic paint. My artwork is a unique combination of vision, creativity, intuition, and collaboration balanced with craft, technique, accountability, discipline, and use of time and resources. The artistic process is a complex assortment of processes. I draw and paint using pencils, charcoal, ink, pastels, acrylic, a palette knife and brushes. I make use of mixed media and thus my work is a various combination of different materials like parer collage combined with paint or other elements. I use traditional drawing techniques like hatching/cross hatching for shading brush work techniques such as dry brushing or wet on wet application.”
Which artists influence you most?
“There are countless influential artists throughout history, and the list could be quite extensive. However, here are a few notable artists who have had significant impact on the art world and me : Leonardo da Vinci; Pablo Picasso; Vincent van Gogh; Frida Kahlo; Salvador Dalí; Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock.”
What is your creative process like?
“The creative process of an artist can vary greatly from person to person, as it is a highly individualized and personal experience. However, here are some common stages that I have: I seek inspiration from various sources, such as nature, emotions, personal experiences, or other artworks. I brainstorm and generate ideas based on inspiration. I sometimes sketch, write notes, create mood boards, or engage in other activities to develop concepts for my artwork. I refine my ideas by conducting research if needed and planning the execution of my work. This may involve studying techniques or materials relevant to my vision. I begin bringing my ideas to life by physically creating the artwork using the chosen medium and techniques I have decided upon. Throughout the creation process, I experiment with different approaches, make adjustments, and explore alternative paths to refine and improve my work. As I progress with the artwork, I periodically reflect on its development—assessing its composition, form, color palette, symbolism or any other elements—to ensure it aligns with my original vision. I decide when the artwork is complete based on my own judgment and satisfaction with the final outcome.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“The role of an artist in society is multifaceted and can vary depending on the individual artist's intentions, style, and context. In terms of evolution, the role of artists will likely continue to evolve alongside societal changes in technology advancements and shifting cultural landscapes. With emerging technologies like virtual reality or artificial intelligence influencing artistic practices; artists may explore new mediums or techniques while continuing to engage with pressing social issues relevant to contemporary society. Additionally,the increasing interconnectedness facilitated by the internet allows artists greater accessibility for global exposure & collaboration opportunities with diverse audiences.The evolving digital landscape also raises questions about copyright protection,intellectual property rights,and ethical considerations within artistic creation. Overall,the artist's role in society will remain rooted in creativity,self-expression,and reflection but will adapt to embrace new possibilities offered by technological advancements as well as respond to the ever-changing needs & challenges faced by humanity.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have taken part in an exhibition in Chicago held by Amdur productions. I have received the honourable mention award, a finalist award from the art show international gallery. My work is also displayed online on the art show international gallery.”
Website: www.moonshinepaintings.com
Instagram: @moonshinepaintings
