ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Meena Kumar

• Tell us a little bit about your shoppe.  SwirlyGarden is a whimsical art boutique full of vibrantly hand-painted glasswares & ceramics. The designs are inspired by aspects of life we cannot help but grow attached to such as nature, nostalgia, and romance. Incorporating visual art with the art of dining and entertaining helps us to better savor the drinks we are drinking, the food we are eating, and the people we are sharing those moments with. Being both functional and decorative, these products make for charmingly unique personal items and gifts.

• What is your favorite product in your shoppe and why?  This is a tough one. All of the products currently in my shop are there now because I have a particular fondness for them. If I had to choose a favorite though, I would say my Mosaic Nesting Dolls Stemless Wine Glasses. They are inspired by Russian Matryoshka dolls which I have been collecting since childhood. I just find the intricate detail in paint and craftsmanship to be so fascinating. When something is handmade like that, with so much care, a story just kind of unfolds in your imagination while staring at it. They make me wonder about the artist, what they were thinking during the long hours they were sculpting, carving, painting, etc. Along with that, the idea of each doll resting within another is so whimsical and fun. I still get that initial tinge of excitement when I take them apart, one by one, to discover just how tiny the tiniest one is. I have always wanted to create an art just as whimsical and I think my Mosaic Nesting Dolls wine glasses are the closest I’ve come so far to achieving that. Plus, my version is dually functional – you can drink your favorite beverages from them and tell your glass apart from the others by looking at the size of the doll painted on your glass!

• When you’re not hand-painting beautiful images on wine glasses, what are your hobbies?   I enjoy writing whether it’s for my blog or stories I hope to one day publish. I am also a big foodie so I love cooking, baking, and eating foods of all kinds. My mom is South Korean and my dad is Indian so I’ve grown up appreciating flavors from around the world. I really love traveling as well whether it’s somewhere halfway around the world or a simple weekend getaway within the country. Exploring new places and trying to live like a local in a part of the world you’re not familiar with is an amazing experience. You meet some of the most interesting people and while learning about other cultures and lifestyles, you learn more about yourself. I also stay pretty active. My mornings usually start with either a good swim or hot yoga. In the evenings I go for a run to work off the day’s stress and get my mind cleared. I also have to admit, I’m a huge movie geek. It’s not unusual for me to catch a movie by myself in theaters during the middle of the week after lunch. I also get pretty crafty with my sister when she’s in town. I guess I just like to keep myself artistically engaged for the most part.

• What do you like best about The Artisan Group?  The Artisan Group is just such a strong and vibrant community. I love being amongst such creative, entrepreneurial, and art appreciating people. There is constant support within the team and everyone gives off an inspiring amount of positive energy. I know that members are from all over the country but I sometimes feel like surely we must all be neighbors, it’s that well connected. Questions and comments are addressed immediately, we are updated right away with important changes and upcoming deadlines, and the level of organization is solid, all of which are priceless attributes. Undoubtedly, the opportunities we get, such as gifting to celebrities for big media events is pretty thrilling. This group truly encourages artists to spread their wings and fly and I am just honored to be part of it!

Meena will participate as a display participant in the upcoming luxury celebrity gift lounge on January 13-14, 2012 at the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, in honor of the The 2012 Golden Globes Nominees and Presenters.