Happiness, for Rakhee Krishna, is in the art of giving. Having discovered that, the 32-year-old mother and self-taught artist launched Art for Happy People project in September 2012. Soon, she found that there were many around the world who wanted to share their happiness with others, be a part of her project or find that happy space in their lives.
“Art for Happy People aims at bringing joy into the lives of other people through art works. I began to paint when I was happy. Although I have no training in art, I found that I could convey many sentiments and thoughts when I put brush to paper,” says the Netherlands-based Rakhee.
A friend encouraged her to put her works online and suddenly Rakhee found her works being displayed in galleries and online exhibitions from the United Kingdom to the United States. Done in acrylics, each painting has a story to tell. So when people buy her paintings, she writes a few lines about the tale behind the work. There is no trademark colour palette she favours. From bright flowers in happy colours to grey landscapes in shades of black, each work has a mood that she is able to convey. “And that is what is miraculous about my works. I paint on sheets of paper in my dining room when my two-year-old, Leonardo Anjaneya, is asleep. The images come from my imagination and suddenly I find the paintings can relate to people,” says a happy Rakhee.
Gradually, she began making bags, knick knacks for the home, greeting cards, i phone covers and custom-made wooden dolls. “These dolls are like little portraits and are ideal as unique gifts to mark special occasions,” she adds.
A self-confessed introvert, she feels that her paintings work because she is able to talk to the world through her paintings.
What maker her happier is the fact that 25 per cent of money from sale of paintings online is earmarked to support charities around the world. “Last year, I gave the money to a charity in Nepal. Next is one in Tibet. What is more, I travel to that place and spent time with the beneficiaries,” she explains.
For Rakhee each decision of hers is an act of conviction and courage. Battling health problems since childhood, Rakhee never let that stop her from living life on her own terms. Fortunately, her parents stood with her all the way though there were times they did not agree with all her decisions. “But they never stopped me,” she says.
So when she left for Bangalore to earn a living, the many raised eyebrows did not deter her parents. Her marriage to an American and the subsequent divorce again saw her battling the social and emotional storms that followed. “I knew that I could make it and so I went to Mumbai without a job, a contact or a shelter. All I had was my lifetime savings from my job in Bangalore. Since I have always enjoyed working with children, I began working with Voices, an NGO. They liked my work and so I could stay with them. That was where I met my husband, Jorge Leonardo van Meerkerk, and my life took a new turn,” says Rakhee, the wonder still evident in her face.
On a vacation in the city, she recollects that tumultuous journey that helped her face the storms before the calm. “I still have health problems and pain is a constant companion but I know that I can overcome all that,” she says.
A former student of Holy Angels and All Saints College, Rakhee says many youngsters feel hemmed in by their own apprehension.
“It is not our drawbacks that stop us from following our dreams. But it is our fears of failure. Just go follow that rainbow and keep smiling,” she says.
Touring the world
- Artist of the month during the month of June 2013 for popular UK magazine for Arts and Crafts
- Featured by The Heritage Gallery in the United States
- Featured at several online galleries including The Modern and Contemporary art gallery in Paris, by Mia Feigelson's gallery in Argentina.
- >Featured by Online Galerij , a well known Dutch online gallery.
- Solo exhibition at City hall, Waalwijk, The Netherlands.
- Group exhibition in London, United Kingdom.
- Upcoming solo exhibition at City hall, Waalwijk ,The Netherlands.
- Invited for a solo exhibition in Manhattan, New York which will mostly be in 2016 or 2017.
Contact: >Art for Happy People
