Meet Priya Saraf | Artist -Painter inspired by color and texture

We had the good fortune of connecting with Priya Saraf and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Priya, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?

An artistic career is more than a day job; it’s a way of life.

I am born and raised in Mumbai.

I only started painting after I married and moved to the USA in 2012 and more professionally since 2016. Art is my way of expressing myself and making connections with people and places to make myself feel at home away from home.

It also gives me a moment to slow down and helps to make peace with the uncertainty and embrace the chaotic and messy and joyful, and beautiful parts of life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My ultimate goal is for you to experience joy and rekindle your happy memory when you look at my work. I create a textured painting by pipping the frosting like acrylic paint of different textures from the pastry bag onto the wood panel. The way piped paint falls over the panel’s surface, the textures and patterns it creates, and the contrast of color all come together to create visually exciting art.

Balancing is a constant struggle. I also work full-time to support my artistic career. My creative time is precious, and I am always protective and thoughtful about the mindset with which I enter my studio. The thought that I am able to create something amidst the demands of modern life and my role as a mother and wife is beautiful.
Anytime that I reflect on what my life is, not how I am feeling in the moment but what I actually have, I feel so overwhelmed with gratitude and amazement! I am a painter; I get to create, and I have my own studio space and paint supplies. I get to express my ideas and inspiration and paint what I want. I love to paint, and I love my work! I get to make my own mistakes and learn and make my decisions on what would be the next step for me and my business towards growth! I am married to my college sweetheart, and we have a happy, beautiful home and friends and family we love. We have a precious little boy who is happy with big, bold eyes and wide smiles. Who makes sketches of me cooking and him playing by my side and our family, and we love him so much. If my child self could see what my life has become, she would burst into tears of joy and just be not able to believe that what she wanted could happen!

I am excited about what’s to come for my growth as an artist! Cheers!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Torrey Pines State reserve for hiking and beach

La Jolla cove for snorkeling, kayaking and sea lions

Hidden swing in La Jolla

Sidecar donuts in Delmar

Delmar beach and walk with sea lavender blooms.

Carlsbad flower fields.

Puesto for lunch

Little Italy for farmers market, restaurants

Day’s trip to Zoo and safari park & Sea world

Torrey pines gliderport, Sunset cliffs for sunset and paragliding.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Seeking growth requires love, support, expression, and freedom. It all comes from my husband, Rhushi, and I feel so lucky! My upbringing was very conservative, and I was only allowed to study. However, art was always part of my life.

My mother-in-law and my mom who helps me with my little one so that I could paint.

My little one who loves to paint with me and can recognize my work and my first critic 🙂

I strongly believe in community. I will forever thank full to the art community and artist friends in Frederick, Maryland, where I found my creative voice.

Also, to my collectors, friends, mentors, encouragers here and the studio source artist community!

If you are reading this without meeting me before, I be happy to connect with you. I also would like to share my go-to quote here by Hanya Yanagihara, A little life.

The only trick of friendship, I think, is to find people who are better than you are- not smarter, not cooler, but kinder and more generous and more forgiving and then to appreciate them for what they can teach you!

Website: https://www.priyasarafstudio.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/priyasarafstudio