We were lucky to catch up with Tarita Jaganathan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tarita thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is the creation of Artistic Junction. The idea stemmed from my own experiences as a student artist, where I noticed a lack of opportunities for artists my age in supportive environments. So, I designed the space to give students a platform to explore and pursue their passion for the fine arts. With some assistance from a friend, I got the chance to open Artistic Junction as a digital art gallery for students. We even recently got to host our first art show, which we used as a platform to raise awareness to the educational disparities present in even our community. The project taught me valuable lessons in leadership, collaboration, and the power of art to bring people together. It’s meaningful to me because it allowed me to combine my love for art with my desire to make a positive impact, and continues to inspire others to do the same.

Tarita, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Tarita Jaganathan, and I am the founder and gallery owner of Artistic Junction, a digital art gallery. I got into art from a young age, I sort of just naturally gravitated to it. I was, however, very lucky that I had a revolving door of mentors who taught me more and nurtured my passions for the craft, something which I hope can do for others. At Artistic Junction, we host gallery showings, and have begun selling paintings on our website. Our brand is a service-oriented one – we aim to raise awareness of issues in our community, and encourage people to work with us to stop these issues from growing, and help those that may be affected. Each of our art shows will support a specific cause that we feel is important to us and aligns with our mission. I am most proud of the connections our artists have been able to make, especially at the last art show. While some of the art pieces were different, they also got to see different styles and connect with people that may look at art in a different way, which I think is great, and also one of the key cornerstones of our mission at Artistic Junction.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects, in my opinion, is the feeling I get when a painting or a drawing is completed, and I get to showcase it to others. Each piece takes hours of dedication, creativity, and emotional investment, and each time I present a finished piece to my family and friends, it’s not just a painting – it’s a piece of myself. It’s a physical manifestation of my blood, sweat and tears. Their reactions, whether it’s admiration, curiosity, or even constructive feedback, are incredibly fulfilling because they validate the effort I’ve put into bringing my vision to life. It’s a way of connecting with others through my art, sparking conversations, and sometimes even inspiring them in their own creative pursuits. This process of creation, followed by the joy of sharing, is what makes painting such a meaningful and rewarding experience for me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One aspect I think gets overlooked, especially by those who may not specifically be a creative, is the constant battle with perfectionism. For a lot of people, there’s this persistent drive to get every piece of work as close to perfect as humanely possible. On one hand, the strive for perfection is what pushes me to continually improve, learn and grow as an artist. It’s what drives me to put in extra hours, rework a piece, or maybe even just start over completely if I’m not satisfied. On the flip side, it leads to a cycle of self-doubt, constant revisions, and a fear of judgment from the (often) impossibly high standards I set for myself, despite the fact that I know I can’t meet them. So, while others might see a completed work and think it’s amazing, I often see the flaws, the things I could have done better, or the ideas that didn’t quite translate the way I envisioned.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artisticjunctiontx.wixsite.com/my-site-11
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artisticjunction.tx?igsh=NjVzOXl4NXVmcGRn&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/fDT1VhCpmavCzEJY/?mibextid=JRoKGi
• Other: the website may go down in a few days for redesigning and general revisions.