Vineeta Nair requires no introduction in the blog world nor does her blog. Vineeta has been creatively inclined since she was a child, and continued to hone that by studying Applied Art at University and rising to become an Art Director at an advertising agency in the tough competitive world that is Mumbai. This bio could read like several others- creative persona working in a creative field, but very few actually turn into recognizable artists themselves. Vineeta has achieved this challenging task by choosing decoupage as her medium to fame.
How about a little tete-a-tete to get a glimpse of the artist and her journey that is Vineeta Nair? I am sure after years of reading her blog, there are a lot of artnlight followers intrigued and eager to know more about Miss Artnlight!
Were you always very artistically inclined? Are there a few hidden away VN paintings?
Yes, I was always artistically inclined, but no VN paintings really :) I’m hardly a 'painter'. In spring cleaning sessions across the years they - most of them, got thrown away. Initially you are attached to them, later it becomes easier to just give it to someone who will value it much more than you do. But a few water colours are still somewhere in the attic.
What got you started with decoupage? Why this medium?
I showed my friends a handpainted tray. And they promptly informed me that they were organising an exhibition and if I wanted to have a stall? I said YES! So I had 1 and half months to fill my stall with my work. I knew that I had to try decoupage because there was no way I could hand paint 20 trays in that much time.
Earlier, I had tried my hand at decoupage for furniture in my house. I got it wrong the first time, but I was willing to try again. Thinking back, it was just a blind leap of faith. And decoupage worked for me in many ways, because I love graphic design and all my years in advertising as an art director just helped me hone that.
What do you think sets apart your trays from others?
I transfer my own designs as is on boxes or trays. I believe what sells is the design on the box or tray and not the technique. Decoupaging is the simplest thing. You take a printed piece of paper and stick it on wood. There is really no rocket science there.
The struggles of holding a day job and being entrepreneurial AND blogging?
Technically, I quit my 'day job', where I was art director in an advertising agency, last year. But, still the business of earning a living continues as I am (like most people) independent and pay my EMIs. So yes, it is juggling my interior design and advertising assignments, apart from expanding my decor accessories line.
The trick that I'm learning is to be flexible and really throw all notions of 'how things should be' out of the window. Things will be the way they are, will happen when they have to, if you can do what comes your way happily and honestly, then you are sorted. I won't say it’s easy all the time. But I'm learning to be open, say ‘Yes’ and have fun.
And blogging, Ah! - blogging is the place from where I draw my encouragement. It is from where I give and take back my fire to do things the way they ought to be done. At the end of the day, you do what your heart tells you to. More often than not, I do wish there were more than 24 hrs to a day :) But the one feeling that I have felt largely after quitting is- Gratitude. I'm just grateful that I get the opportunity to do all the things I get to do. I'm just so glad I quit my day job. It frees me to do all the things I really want to. And this last year has shown me that I can sustain it. Earn + do what I want to. There's really not more I can ask for, except for more discipline on my part.
As this has been a literature heavy post, I am going to let her work do the rest of the talking. Please feast your eyes on Vineeta's decoupage work- Sorry, her graphic art ;)
