Rising Stars: Meet Shweta Matai of Redondo Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shweta Matai.

Hi Shweta, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Most people see things, of course I have always somehow managed to involuntarily go a step further and see all the colors and a typical color wheel surrounding all the permutations and combinations that go into everything around me – living “life in technicolor” was a default setting, a skill I was born with!

I consider myself the lucky grandchild who somehow ended up with a major chunk of all this creative inheritance – my grandfather (a doctor by profession but with so much raw, untapped creative potential!) used to paint and I learned by sitting on his lap, doodling alongside his easel on his canvasses at times too – I am blessed to receive this creative gift and he would be so happy to see what I have done with this gift now.

Mostly self-taught, I did receive basic formal training in oils. People often ask me how I do it and my answer is I really don’t know….it comes naturally, it’s something I just do; it’s like second nature to me. I see and observe everything around me in detail, color, shapes and dimensions and the ability to put this down on paper or canvas is the very purpose and essence of my being.

Painting gives me purpose – the challenge of tackling various subjects, colors and textures on canvas keep me curious to learn more, engaged and determined to push myself to do more!

I find that painting helps me focus and deal with life’s lemons – one instance is an incurable medical condition surrounding this complicated relationship with food that I have. I can’t possibly eat most of the food items I paint and when asked if I miss being able to eat, my answer is always no, because I paint the living daylights out of every food item I can’t eat 😊

My inspiration comes from nature and color, and my favorite quote is by Claude Monet when he says:
“Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love!”
This captures the essence of why I paint – it’s to record the fleeting moment of joy at the sight of nature and color- there is beauty everywhere and I am on a mission to take it from “reel” to “real-like” one oil painting at a time!

I share snippets of my life with everyone on canvas – Be it at a complete sold-out exhibition at age 19 or as a full-fledged adult now… if I have ever sold, gifted or donated my paintings to you, thank you for sharing my life’s experiences – Afterall every picture does tell a story!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
• I can tell a story on canvas, but if you ask me to talk about it or promote my content it’s another story altogether – having talent is just part of the parcel, I feel like to get exposure and have your work reach the right audience needs efficient story-telling and content creation capabilities, and this is a bit of work in progress for me.

• There is so much talent out there, its mesmerizing and awe inspiring (intimidating too at times honestly!) – it’s also very easy to get lost, suffer an uncurable case of imposter syndrome and very difficult to avoid comparison. Just when you think you have created your own masterpiece, you look around to see a dozen other magnificent pieces of work (that can serve as both a humbling experience and give you the much-needed boost to try harder and do better!)

• I didn’t go to school to learn art – I lucked out in the talent department and had some basic training but other than that its just my work that I hope speaks for itself – I find that it is sometimes difficult to convince people about my work without the backing of formal credentials – sometimes sheer talent just isn’t enough, but there are always exceptions to the rule so I’m hoping that somewhere, somehow, someone is watching and liking my work 😊

• On a personal note, having stared death in the face, dealing with insurmountable pain due to medical procedures and nearly missing life’s bus more times that I can count, I have realized the importance of legacy and what you leave behind. I know I ought to make every minute count and thank my blessings. I’m also incredibly grateful to be able to share my gift of HE-art with everyone and this is one way I hope people can still remember me fondly for generations to come – I try to make a conscious choice to look at everything positively rather than dwell in the negatives.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For me, painting is an inherent genetic skill – I’m primarily self-taught with some basic, formal training in oils.

My artistic style transitions between traditional and contemporary realism – it represents unique storytelling with oil paint on canvas.

I take scenes from “reel” to “real-like” with skillful rendering of impasto and alla prima (wet-on-wet approach to painting), inspired by the great masters and the Dutch golden age of painting, I work on completing a painting layer upon layer with details being set in at the very last stage. My work is visually colorful and looks very real but stops just short of being hyper realistic. Up, close the viewer can see various brush strokes and techniques along with paint renditions and manipulations (people have told me that they will definitely come back to see more because they like it so much 😊)

Lastly, I am known for my still life paintings, landscapes and floral art but I think my claim to fame in my little South bay community is being called the “Burger lady” thanks to that one little burger I painted a couple of years ago – that burger has done the rounds of various exhibitions and won many awards. While people may not remember me but they always remember the “Burger lady!”

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Persistence.
I never stop trying – sure I’ve had so many set backs, but I usually take a day or two to process (possibly have a good vent about it!), and then get right back to it and try all over again. I may not succeed but I never give up!

Pricing:

• Pricing varies – depends on the size, cost of materials and time; and possible shipping charges if any

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/FineartbyShwetaMatai
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shwetamatai_artist

Image Credits
Profile shots of artist and artist in studio courtesy: Daniela Crum