Calligraphy and Freestyle Artist Rina Shah
My name is Rina Shah, and I am a calligraphy and freestyle artist.
My art is not by-the-book; it usually comes from what I picture inside of my mind. What I envision before starting a piece usually includes elements like line, texture, and color., and I do not stick to a particular theme or style because I typically work from many different inspirations. A few items onto which I apply my art are wedding signs, stickers, and cards.
I attribute my artistic side to my childhood—being artistic is like my natural habitat. When I was growing up, I either sat inside and colored or I went outside to play. Though I loved playing outside, there were many days where I wanted to be inside just so that I could get creative. When I went to my parents’ store as a kid, I would not bring toys—instead I would bring paper, colored pencils, and markers. My home consisted of my parents, my grandparents, and my uncles, and my older sister; everyone encouraged me and my sister to be open to creativity of all forms. They always encouraged us to use our imaginations. Even as an adult, during my workday, I can be found doodling in the slower moments, as it is calming and stress-relieving for me.
To me, art is happy, welcoming, and grateful. I love incorporating cheerful colors, happy thoughts, and positive vibes into every piece of work that I create. These feelings and experiences are what I want to translate into my work for my audience. I want people to realize the beauty and positivity of art when they see my work—truthfully, for me it is about creating happiness in a sometimes gloomy world.
The main obstacle to my art career was getting started. For the past few years, I was doing my freestyle and calligraphy art mainly for myself. I did not have plans to turn my art into a business. It was not until other people around me started nudging me and telling me that I should try to market my art. Then, I started dedicating more time to it; although I was working hard before, I am putting much more passionate effort into my work now. Still, I internally struggle with trying to build myself up in a world where everyone else is trying to do the same thing. There are a lot of amazing artists out there so getting started was intimidating, but completely worth it.
Since officially starting my business in 2020, I have encountered the general pushback and commentary that many creatives face. When I tell people my art is what I love to do, or my art is what I want my future to be, I am sometimes faced with skepticism or negativity. Some people have questioned why I chose a field with little stability but I do not think this is the right attitude to have. Everyone has different abilities and artistic ability is no different. Abilities and talents are what makes people unique. In the end, I take any criticism in stride. I focus more on expressing creativity and following passions. I work in education and every day, I tell my students to follow their passions and let their passion be their driving force.
My work is inspired by many things; oftentimes, I am inspired spontaneously. I might be in the car, driving home, and think of an idea. Or, I might see a color palette and imagine what I could make with those colors. Then depending on the occasion, whether it is a holiday, a wedding, or something else, I shape the project from there. Some of my work contains quotes which is my way of encouraging people to have an open mindset and consider what is being said.
When it comes time to work on my art, I head to my workspace. It is a little unconventional—I took over my parents’ dining room because that was the only available room in the house. For the most part, I keep a neat workspace, but right now, things are cluttered. It is currently wedding season, so I have wedding signs laid out all over the dining room. I have stickers and cards scattered everywhere. Despite some of the clutter, I think of it as a good sign that I have many orders to fulfill.
I work on my art whenever I am available; some days I wake up early at four o’clock in the morning and get work done and other days, I do not work until the evening and stay up until two o’clock in the morning doing work. I am a full-time student and I work a full time job, but finding time to do my art is still a pleasure, not a task. When working, I aim for efficiency but only if I am happy with the end product. My art is something I am picky about and if it means losing sleep to get it right, I will do it. Generally, I work with music or a tried-and-true television show in the background. I like to be able to laugh, relax, and have a good time when I am working on my art.
The goal I have for my art is for it to be out there and seen. I want people to see my art and know that it is a joy to be creative and follow something you like. Even if they observe this in something simple, like my stickers or my cards, it means so much for that message to be shared. My ultimate goal is to make people happy. My life is busy and crazy, but I still find time to make art because it is important to me. That is what I want to highlight in my work.
- Rina.