We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Krina Shah. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Krina below.

Alright, Krina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Hello, my name is Krina Shah. My journey began in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. With so much time at home, I often felt empty and bored, spending hours online searching for a meaningful way to use my time. I became inspired by many women I saw online who were starting their own businesses, which sparked something in me. I wanted to try something creative and meaningful, something I was passionate about. That’s when an idea clicked—I decided to start creating Lippan art, also known as “Mud Mirror Art.”

This decision pushed me to be more creative and embark on my own business journey. I taught myself everything, from marketing strategies to identifying and prioritizing the audiences who would be interested in my art. I also worked hard to improve my communication skills. Over time, speaking with many different people made me a more confident and effective communicator.

Krina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have always been passionate about art, but until recently, I hadn’t pursued this interest seriously. I moved from India to the U.S. in 2016, where I had been a teacher. After moving, I struggled to find fulfilling work and ended up leaving several jobs because they didn’t align with my interests or passions. In 2019, I began teaching at an elementary school, but it didn’t feel the same as teaching in India. I would come home every day feeling exhausted and burnt out, something I hadn’t experienced before.

The only thing that helped relieve my stress was painting and experimenting with new art styles. Then, in 2020, when schools went virtual, I decided to start my own business while continuing to teach. I wanted to create something unique and reflective of Indian culture, so I started making Lippan art, which is created with clay and mirrors, capturing the viewer’s attention with its vibrant appeal.

To ensure customer satisfaction, I send photos of each step of the process to my clients, making sure they are involved and pleased with the final product. Customer satisfaction has always been my priority in running this business.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

When I first started my business, I was pretty clueless about what I was doing. I taught myself nearly everything, but there are a few resources I wish I had known about earlier. The most important one is market research. Marketing is essential in the business world because, without it, I likely wouldn’t have a customer base.

In the beginning, I would post on social media at random times, without understanding marketing strategies. About two years in, I started to realize the impact that hashtags, timing, and consistency can have. Posting at the right time, depending on the platform, can greatly increase engagement. Consistency is also key. Learning these aspects has made a big difference in how I approach promoting my business.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My biggest goal is to make the traditional art I create more widely known. I want to establish a name for myself in the art world, becoming recognized for something I am truly passionate about and love doing. Building this reputation not only helps me gain recognition but also allows me to connect with potential customers, galleries, and others in the art community. I hope to continue this work as I grow older, holding onto my passion, as art is something I can always return to when I need to feel grounded. Thank you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreeveeation?igsh=MW0zZnhpY2R2ZG1qag==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551089540561&mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Twitter: https://x.com/kree_vee?t=BndnZmRTlZPVcdO1fjcrNA&s=09
• Other: https://kreeveeation.etsy.com