For our second interview of the 2021 Delaware Fun-A-Day, we talk to India born and now Delaware-based artisan Laxmi Verma about polymer clay, social media, cultural influences, color, and recycling. Thanks, Laxmi!
Be sure to check out our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates on the progress of our interviewees! And make sure you check your email (and this site) for important information on drop off, the event, and art pick up!
In December of 2015 you moved from India to the USA with your husband. You’ve also participated in Delaware Fun-A-Day every year since 2017 making this your FIFTH year participating with us! Is Delaware Fun-A-Day one of the first art projects / exhibits that you put your work into since coming to the USA? Tell us about your initial reaction to the show.
Yes, one of the initial ones. I participated in a couple of exhibitions before that like Art league, Houston and San Francisco School of Needlework & Design.
2017 is the year when I first participated in DFAD. It was the year when we moved back to the east coast from Texas. I used to religiously follow all the local art institutions and events, that's how I got to know about DFAD.
So it was to my delight, that I can participate in a physical art event wherein I can see other amazing local artists and be a part of the local art scene. The best part was that it was free (still is :)) and easy to enter for any age or skill group. I procrastinate, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to work on a project, based on the deadline and will have a collection at the end of the month.
You share a lot about your culture on your Instagram @hornpleasestudio and how it influences your work and your brand. Can you tell us more about this and elaborate for the readers of this interview?
I was born and brought up in India. India as a country is culturally very rich and colorful. My culture has moulded me into the artist, I am today. My brand name HORN PLEASE is derived from a regional artform called the Truck art. My design sensibilities and the wide palette of bright colours is very synonymous to Indian culture as well.
I belong to a community of jewelers who are involved in the making of traditional jewelry. Since childhood I have seen my father and my uncles flourishing in the jewelry business. I still remember those seldom visits to my father’s workplace. Such busy ambiance, congested lanes, metallic sound and chaos all over the place, such activities shaped my identity.
I have lived, studied and worked in various parts of India hence imbibed different subcultures that has definitely added to my understanding of cultural connotations and elements of folk art.
It’s obvious that you’ve put quality time not only into your artistry but into your social media presence as well. Your social media is eye-catching, engaging, organized, and updated regularly. So many artists are creating great work but they’re struggling to take the time to market themselves and their creations. Do you have any tips you’d like to share with other participants when it comes to representing yourself as an artist online?
In this day and age where everything is visually available. It is important for people from a creative background to adapt to thrive. Since our medium is so visual it is important that we pay equal importance to market or share our ideas or our work.
The key is Consistency, do not fall in the game of numbers but the quality of followers which will turn into your raving fans over time and a huge source of encouragement.
I like to document processes and try to share behind the scene in bits and pieces with my audience to keep them engaged. I also taught myself to be better at many other things like managing social media, content creation, aspects of photography, editing pictures and to be consistent in my work and in my online presence.
You’ve described the various artistic mediums that you’ve tried your hand at including watercolor, gouache, embroidery, pattern making, and illustrations - but you’ve finally found your calling working with polymer clay as a textile designer. What can you tell us about the medium and how do you know you’ve finally found your calling as an artist?
I am a very distracted soul as an artist, I like to try my hands on any new skill or medium that interests me. And I am sure Polymer clay will not be the last, lol. But I stayed interested in the medium, consistently for a good span of time without getting bored or lacking ideas. I love how diverse this medium is, how sturdy the final product is.
As a textile designer I have this innate need to create surfaces. And Polymer Clay has proved a great medium to help me transport my ideas into a tangible surface. And the best part is I can do it all myself, from the conceptualisation phase to the final product stage.
As an artist I don't like to limit myself, so for this year's DFAD, I have challenged myself to create earrings using textile bits. So my product will be the same but my medium will be different.
How important do you think reusing and recycling materials is for artists? What creative ways have you found to use old materials in new projects?
It's a great question, I believe that it's important for artists to be environmentally conscious. One of the biggest reasons why I want to find a more sustainable medium than polymer clay since Polymer clay is a form of vinyl.
I started venturing into leftover textile bits which I source from various means like from the scrap pieces from past projects or from my local seamstress/ tailor. From discarded clothes or home decor textiles, rubber gloves etc.
I don’t use the ideology of recycling just in my work but also in my day today life. Like repurposing old furniture that I usually spot Online or in flea markets. Making rag dolls from old clothes etc.
I would say being environmentally responsible is not just a practise but a way of life.
Your work is so vibrant and colorful and you seem to use the whole rainbow as your palette, but, in your opinion - what is the most powerful and impactful color that you use? Does it have any other significance in your life or culture?
In the words of Keith Smith, internationally recognized color expert- “The symbolism of color stands out and controls every aspect of life in India, be it religion, politics, festivals, or celebrations”.
I feel so blessed when people recognise me for my colors because colors definitely have a very strong effect on me, not just workwise but psychologically too.
Even my living space, the way I dress, my workspace, my brand image has a burst of color and Indian traditional touch in some or the other way.
In my culture, spices are of great importance and one of those spices is TURMERIC. It is not just a spice but is of medicinal importance as well.
Yellow symbolizes sanctity and is an essential herbal ingredient applied on the body and face by women in the subcontinent. It is also a traditional colouring agent as well.
I strongly relate to the color YELLOW, I believe it rejuvenates me and nurtures my soul just like a strong beam of sunlight. It is refreshing and stands out boldly to register its presence.
Congratulations on your honorable mention in the Delaware State Employee Art Exhibition this year for your work ‘Saga of Krishna’ in the Adult Intermediate category. Your work is stunning and the time you took to create this intricate work was inspiring. Please tell us about Krishna and the meaning behind this work.
Thank you so much for taking the time out to reflect on different aspects of my life. I am over the moon for being recognised for my work and I feel so grateful to be able to create something as divine.
It definitely took me a great deal of patience and time to complete the painting. But it is all worth it, in the end. Its divine presence brings so much positivity around my house.
Presently, the painting is on display at the winners exhibition at The Delaware State University until 17th of March 21’.
My Painting depicts Lord Krishna with Gopis and holy cows. Krishna is one of the most widely revered Indian divinities, worshipped as the eighth incarnation (avatar, or avatara) of the Hindu god Vishnu.
The cowherd Krishna became renowned as a lover, the sound of his flute prompting the gopis (wives and daughters of the cowherds) to leave their homes to dance ecstatically with him in the moonlight.
The style of painting I have used is called Pichwai, it originated over 400 years ago, in Rajasthan, India. Traditionally pichwai paintings were made on cloth to depict tales from Lord Krishna's life.
The word Pichwai comes from 'pichh' meaning back, and 'wai', meaning textile hanging.
Originally, pichwai paintings were used to decorate the temple and hung behind the deity to celebrate different seasons, festivals and events in Lord Krishna's life. And also to educate the illiterate.
We greatly admire your dedication to your craft. As a working full-time artist, wife, and mother to a young daughter how do you find ways to make the time commitment for projects like Delaware Fun-A-Day? Do you have any practical advice for other full-time creators who may have other full-time responsibilities like parenting?
Thank you! Believe me I don’t have my act together like other busy mummas and artists with day jobs. I am passionate about my work and I love to create so I make sure to find time for myself to maintain my sanity.
Raising a kid is a full time job in itself so I have great respect for mummas who try to juggle between work, their passion and their families.
My craft is my holy grail so I try to cover everything else before dinner and after my husband takes my kid to bed. I get a couple of hours in a stretch and it may spill over to the wee hours of the night. But if i am in that zone i will go ahead with it. So we have to put ourselves in our own priority list.
But the cooperation from the spouse or family members are equally important.
Are you part of any arts organizations in the state of Delaware?
So I started my journey in the USA with The Delaware contemporary as an Education intern in 2016. And then moved to Texas for a couple of years until I moved back to the east coast in 2017. And then I had my daughter in 2018 so I have been her full time caregiver since then. Early last year, I started venturing into having my own side hustle HORN PLEASE STUDIO.
I have had my holiday market in 2020 with the center for the creative Arts.
I have few options and offers with some local art centers and museums and I am looking into pursuing that as soon as the summer/ Fall of 2021.
As a veteran Fun-A-Day participant who has participated in four of our physical art shows - how do you feel about the virtual format for this year? What do you think will be the positives and negatives for this year?
Well, I am very excited this year since I have travel plans and the best part is that I don’t have to be physically available to participate in the final show. So I can create irrespective of location and time zones and can still continue my journey with DFAD.
So people can now participate from any part of the world and we will have the opportunity to witness a more diverse plethora of artists.
One thing I would miss is to interact with people and indulge in interesting conversation with other artists. It feels so overwhelming to be the part of the opening reception, entertain the audience queries, their feedback and their appreciation.
Lastly, where can people see more of your work?
I can be found on instagram at:
https://www.instagram.com/hornpleasestudio/
People can also see my early work at:
https://www.behance.net/lcki
Anything else you’d like to share?
Lastly, I like to share my future endeavour, wherein I envision being a teaching artist and in the process share about my culture and its craft. And I would continue to explore my jewelry making techniques and materials and grow my hustle into a full time business.