"Life inspires me. Everyday experiences, emotions, and happenings motivate me to braid a story and present it on canvas. My thoughts on life and life experiences flow intuitively on canvas, creating space for more."
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Originally from India, now living in the United States, Rashmi Ranganath’s artistic journey began when she traveled to Australia. She encountered Indigenous art that deeply inspired her, leading her to create miniature dot paintings. Encouragement from family and friends motivated her early explorations and gave her the confidence to continue.
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A pivotal moment came when she met her daughter’s art teacher, who introduced her to the mixed media painting process. From there, her creative process began to evolve, becoming richer and more layered.
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Rashmi has contributed to community art projects, including public artworks, and has led demonstrations and workshops for fellow artists through art guilds and leagues. She has also volunteered with hospice care, offering art sessions to patients and counselors—a deeply meaningful experience.
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The realization of how transformative the creative process—and the resulting artwork—could be was life-changing. This led Rashmi to leave her career in IT and fully embrace her calling as an artist, committed to making a difference both personally and in the lives of others through her art.
Why I Paint​
Art is not merely an object—it is alive, evolving through the countless ways we feel, interpret, and connect with it. When we truly engage with art—whether standing before a painting, listening to music, or reading a poem that stirs something within us—we often lose track of time. The world fades, our thoughts quiet, and we enter a space beyond the ordinary. Though these moments are brief, their impact is lasting.
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As an artist, I experience that same sense of immersion and surrender in the act of creation. Painting allows me to enter that timeless space, and to share it with others. To invite someone into a moment of beauty, reflection, or emotional connection—that is both my purpose and my greatest fulfillment.
My Creative Process​
My creative process is both intuitive and intentional. Ideas often emerge through dreams or life experiences, these are stories I feel compelled to share, sometimes first expressed as poems before taking form on canvas. While inspiration arises intuitively, the act of creating is intentional, shaped by the materials and surfaces I choose—be it canvas, paper, wood, or even unconventional forms like fire hydrants in public art projects.
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Each painting begins with layered mark-making and collage. I incorporate natural and found materials—paper, fabric, old letters—to build textured backgrounds. Music, poetry, and movement guide my hand as I layer stencils, stamps, glazes, and paint, revealing and concealing.
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Once the foundation is in place, I use fluid acrylics, inks, and oils to bring the story to life, adding depth, adjusting focus, and creating emotional resonance. My process is constantly evolving, rooted in curiosity, experimentation, and a deep love for storytelling through art.