Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Hello, I am B. Jaya Lakshmi, an artist from Delhi, born in 1960. My journey to becoming an artist was a long and winding road, beginning with a 23-year career as a maths and science teacher. Though I loved teaching, my passion for painting eventually led me to leave academia and fully embrace my creative instincts.I earned a Senior Diploma in Painting from an institute in Delhi, affiliated with Rabindra Bharathi University. My artistic path took a significant turn in 2010 when I discovered the enchanting medium of encaustic painting in Denver, Colorado. Captivated by its potential, I trained under distinguished artists Caryl St. Ama, Linda Robertson, and Lanette Duncan in the USA.
My Journey
My creativity was always a part of me, even during my teaching years. I had the chance to explore it fully in school, creating large backdrops and props for plays, designing costumes, and directing annual day performances. Eventually, I left all this excitement for the love of painting.
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My artistic expression is deeply influenced by the rich experiences I shared with my students, the people around me, and the insights gained from my extensive travels. I often depict nature and its bounty, which I dearly miss while living in the concrete jungle of Delhi.
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Featured in
"108 Portraits of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art" by Dr. Alka Pande
I paint and sculpt using the encaustic medium, an ancient technique practiced by Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. This involves using heat to manipulate a mixture of beeswax, plant resin, and pigments. The medium's complexity and unpredictability captivate my imagination, and over the past two decades, I have developed various innovative methods and techniques to work with it.
![BLOOM [8_8] BOARD.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1cfe_95a8599657d74dabb16445a06ea0ae21~mv2.jpeg/v1/crop/x_0,y_18,w_1279,h_1244/fill/w_443,h_431,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/BLOOM%20%5B8_8%5D%20BOARD.jpeg)
My art reflects the vibrant and diverse experiences that have shaped my life.
In India, encaustic painting is a rare art form, with only a handful of artists like Shanti Dave and Sohan Qadari dabbling in it briefly. My works, both abstract and representational, are rich in texture and layers, created with meticulous additions and subtractions of the medium on a hot palette.
I've had the honor of hosting 11 solo exhibitions and participating in several group shows in India and abroad. I was part of an art residency in Miami during Art Basel in 2019. My paintings are featured in the permanent collections of the Museum of Encaustic Art in the USA and the Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA) in Belgium. I've also been included in
"108 Portraits of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art" by Dr. Alka Pande and have my work in various private collections worldwide.
My art is a reflection of the vibrant and diverse experiences that have shaped my life. Through the ancient and versatile medium of encaustic painting, I continue to explore and express the beauty and complexity of the world around me.