My Art Journey ...

I started learning art and painting when I was 5 years old. Over the years I have learnt and worked with different media from oil pastels, water colors to acrylic and learned different techniques from coffee painting, one stroke, palette knife, charcoal, sketching, gold and silver leaf gilding etc.

 

In 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic, our staying in the house and maintaining social distancing was crucial since my brother, Raj, has Down Syndrome and Autism and was high risk. I watched him transition from getting excited about all of us staying home to then struggle with social distancing. It was hard to watch him and that is when I decided to engage him by teaching Raj how to paint. My art/paintings make me happy and help me de-stress. I want to use my Art to help the community and raise awareness about causes that are important to me. The inception of “Art for a Cause” came during the pandemic (March, 2020) when I saw my brother, who has diagnosis for Down Syndrome and Autism, struggle with social distancing.

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While working with Raj, I also created my own website (summer of 2020), Shreya’s Atelier. Through my website, I took Art classes and Workshops for kids and adults. I successfully conducted 3 workshops in Summer of 2020. I started donating the profits to Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas (DSACT).

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School year (2020-21, 7th grade), I started volunteering to teach Art. I taught Art every week at Treehouse Learning Community to kids of all different abilities from age group 7 thru 10 years (Neurotypicals, kids with Autism, Down Syndrome, Dyslexia, ADHD to name a few). It has been a wonderful experience to teach and learn at the same time. This teaching opportunity has helped me learn how to be patient while explaining new concepts to kids, engage students, manage the classroom, and be a leader while creating curriculum and lesson plans. I enjoy working with my students. This experience has taught me to be a teacher and a student at the same time!

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In March  2021, 7th grade, I hosted my own Virtual Art Show, “Charity Begins at Home.” The inception of the idea for an Art show came during the Covid-19 pandemic since I wanted to do something to help the community. I created more than 60+ paintings and sold them online. I successfully donated more than $2100 to DSACT and  helped more than 800 families in Central Texas having individuals with Down Syndrome, a cause so close to my heart. https://pitredeepali.wixsite.com/shreya-artshow

This art show made me realize that I want to continue doing “Art for a Cause” every year and raise awareness and funds for causes that I strongly believe in. 

 

In December 2021, 8th grade, I hosted my second virtual Art show, "Teachers: Our True Heroes." I believe that our teachers work very hard, even more during the pandemic and do not get the appreciation they deserve. When I started Middle school, I was excited and nervous at the same time. I started 6th grade with no pandemic, 7th grade virtual school through pandemic and now 8th grade with masks and in person. All three years have been so different and yet one thing that made me love school was the support and help from all my teachers. I have been fortunate to have amazing teachers every year who deserve a big shout out and applause for their hard work, patience, understanding and support through the years. My Virtual Art Show, “Teachers: Our True Heroes” is my way of saying “thank you” to all my teachers. I donated 100% of the proceeds from this art show to my teachers at CRMS (Canyon Ridge Middle School). I donated $1,030 to CRMS teachers to support to fulfill teacher grants to support their classrooms & students, purchase classroom supplies, and so much more that the teachers need! 

https://shreyasatelier.wixsite.com/crms-artshow 

 

​In July 2022, summer of incoming 9th grade, Art for a Cause partnered with Claire S. to host the ArtnBake Summer Camp. The Camp was conducted during summer from July 18th thru July 29th, 2022, for 2 weeks for 4 hours everyday. The Camp donated 100% of the net profits, $1,540, to Austin Pets Alive! and we sponsored  a kennel that will support the needs of roughly 13 dogs while they wait for their forever homes. It also provided medical chip-ins for sick and injured animals to get the treatment they need! This cause was very close to my heart since my dog is very important to me and my family and we wanted to help every dog find a perfect family of their own. https://pitredeepali.wixsite.com/artnbake22

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This  year, as I was learning about different organizations for causes that I want to raise awareness about, I was intrigued by Safe in Austin (SIA), a non-profit organization that provides a loving home to animals who suffer from abuse or neglect because animals deserve to experience unconditional love. The animals provide healing and hope to trauma, at-risk, and/or special needs people, these are the animals who triumph and inspire world-wide. Having a brother with a disability, I get to experience everyday the positive impact that our pet dog, Bubbles, has on my brother Raj's life. They have a strong connection and a close friendship. Not everyone can afford a pet but everyone (especially people with special needs) deserves this chance to build friendships. Seeing my brother so happy with Bubbles makes me want to help others to have the same opportunity. After the Healing Hearts Tour that I took at SIA, I was convinced that Safe in Austin can provide the healing to many people with disabilities while rescuing animals. 

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Meet Tulip (the goat on wheel chair), Halo (the dog with prosthetic front legs) and Petunia (the cow with epilepsy) among many who were rescued and are healing people! 

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So this year I will be donating 100% of proceeds from my Virtual and In-person Art Show to Safe In Austin so that our donations can help them support and provide ongoing care for the animals while changing the lives of the people who need them. Please buy my artwork and show your support!