Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Neena Buxani. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Neena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Being a self-taught artist, it’s really up to me to challenge myself to learn new skills. In the past, I took some informal classes, but now I let the paintings guide me in the direction of what I want to learn. If there’s a particular thing I want to illustrate in my painting and I’m not sure how to do this technique or medium-wise, I get on google and YouTube and attempt to figure it out. If that doesn’t work, I teach myself through trial and error. It’s exciting to push the limits and learn new ways to create what you want to see.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Neena Buxani, and I am an Indian American Visual Artist who lives with her husband and two boys in Austin, Texas. I enjoy creating vivid, large-scale, nature-inspired work that evoke a feeling of positivity. I tend to paint what I want to see more of in the world and since I’m inspired by color and fashion, my pieces tend to illustrate movement, patterns and texture.

Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a professional artist. I didn’t really know anyone in a creative field, but I did know that I loved to draw and paint and could do so for hours on end. However, being from a traditional Indian American Family, I was guided toward more conventional ways of earning a living. It wasn’t until much later in life, after I had my first child, that my husband encouraged me to take some classes and to start seeking opportunities to show my work. It didn’t take much persuasion, and soon I applied to my first call for art and was accepted. That was all the encouragement I needed to continue applying to opportunities and painting ever free minute I had.

Throughout the years that I have been creating and selling my work, I’ve learned so much through pursuing opportunities that cover many aspects of the creative field. I’ve participated in pop up art shows; hung my work in coffee shops and doctors offices; participated in group and solo exhibits; displayed my work at art fairs and trade shows; been represented by galleries and art dealers; licensed my work to companies; been featured in magazines and television spots; sold my work to furniture stores; and most recently won a wine label competition. By saying yes to new things, I have come to learn what I’m drawn to as an artist and what I’d rather steer clear from doing. Sometimes I regret not having a more set plan in place before jumping into the unknown, but then I remember all the people and experiences I’ve come across along the way and that feeling dissolves quickly. I have a long way to go as a creative, but I think I’m slowly shaping my goals and dreams into something beautiful that works for me, my vision and my family.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being an artist does not only mean you get to be creative in the work you make, but also in the paths you choose to take to reach your goals. There are so many different opportunities in the creative field, that artists need to choose what they want their world to encompass. For example, do you want to work with galleries, create public art, license your work, teach classes, coach other artists, host a podcast, make a magazine, etc. The possibilities really go on and on. Not to mention, every day is a different day. One day you could spend painting nonstop in the studio and the next could be spent meeting clients and updating your website. For someone who likes variety in her life, being an artist allows me to create my day along with the opportunities that go into it.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My surroundings tend to have a huge influence on my mood, so I like to surround myself with positivity and an uplifting ambience. Since I spend a lot of time with my paintings, I like those to have a similar affect on me as well as on the people who choose to bring my work into their environment. So far, my creative journey has involved me making work that helps to develop my artistic skills while also bringing me joy. Highlighting flora and fauna in a vibrant and cheerful way and pushing the boundaries of how I depict this subject matter is currently helping me to meet my goals as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://neenabuxani.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neenasart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neenabuxani/

Image Credits
Mel Christina, Aida Bell, & Arjun Gohil