Vineeta Nair

"After years of wanting to quit advertising, how it finally happened was serendipity. Very very breifly: I handpainted a tray that got me an invitation to take part in an exhibition. I got 1.5 months to fill the stall with what I wanted. My biggest challenge was to create things fast. The exhibition happened, I sold a lot. But what really set the ball rolling was when I posted the pictures of my work on my blog. The orders started and have not stopped since.  That's when I knew I wouldn't starve if I quit. So I did. I haven't stopped thanking the powers that be. Its crazy scary fun to live the dream life you've wanted to. I'm learning learning learning", says the Mumbai based decoupage artist & graphic designer. 

Vineeta Nair's home accessories will be available soon @ the MASALA CHAI store. 

Manjula Padmanabhan

I guess I take pleasure in the simple things. I kind of love these. The last time I featured this fabulous lady , she was making Elephands. How can one not love her? Go say hi.  Images from here (great link) 

Gaurvi Sharma

I've featured Gaurvi before. Back then she lived in Japan. Now, as she's made the move down under, she bids Sayonara to Tokyo.

Vinod Dave

Born in a small town Chital, Gujarat ; Vinod Dave did his graduate studies in painting from the M.S University,Baroda. Later , he moved to New York City & made it his new home. Dave's paintings reference Bollywood kitsch, comic books and the gods and goddesses whose images are found on common objects such as matchbooks, firecracker boxes, beedi cigarette packs and gaudy religious posters but with deeper spiritual undertones. He also writes extensively on art and is a prolific curator. More of his works on his blogs here & here.

Basant Soni

I was really drawn to Collagist Basant Soni's works. They are not typically the sort of thing I am attracted to but I find the technique so honest and direct and the detailing , quite incredible. Soni recycles found objects , mainly natural bits and pieces such as barks or leaves or feathers and composes beautiful images from them.More here & here.

Gaurvi Sharma

Gaurvi had emailed me her collages and this is what she had to say about them,"My works are about day today experiences and are more like a story. I use paper cuttings from different magazines along with my own drawings. This passion for collages developed after I shifted to Tokyo. Japanese people have a habit of recycling almost everything and that very thing inspired me. Also, I cherish the pleasure of selecting, cutting and pasting images for my work. To me this whole process is like a therapy its so satisfying to achieve a wok of art from bits and pieces." Adorable !

Sangeeta Sandrasegar

Sangeeta Sandrasegar was born in Brisbane of Malaysian and Australian parents and has lived for most of her life in Melbourne.In exquisite wall-based cut-outs, which are often adorned with glitter and throw fantastical shadows, Sandrasegar revels in combining florid and erotic tales. Her sources are as diverse as traditional Indian miniatures, Japanese anime and contemporary political narratives. More here & here.

Hitesh Natalwala

Hitesh Natalwala, born in Nairobi , Kenya; received an Honours BA in Painting from St. Martins School of Art, London, England.Working in collage,Natalwala draws on myth to contend with the trauma of a multi-generational history of migration. He currently lives and works in Australia. Images from here.

Swati Khurana

These are images from New York based Mixed Media artist Swati Khurana's 'carousel' book titled Five Day Wedding. The book illustrates experiences from the artists own Malabar wedding .Her work explores personal narratives and immigrant issues with a focus on gender, popular culture, and the seductive promises made by rituals.