We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vasu Tolia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vasu below.
Vasu, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Let me define impostor syndrome before I tell you how I overcame it. Impostor syndrome is the idea that your success is from a lucky break, not because of your talent or qualifications. This concept was first identified in 1978 by the psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes. They theorized that women were uniquely affected by impostor syndrome. Since then, research has shown that both genders can experience such feelings. Currently, impostor syndrome can apply to anyone “who isn’t able to internalize and own their successes” – Audrey Ervin. As a member of ethnic minority, I always had to rise above the rest to be noticed. Nothing fell in my lap without hard work, I could never take myself for granted. Since I am a “Perfectionist” – I have very high expectations from myself. Even if I meet most
of my goals, I feel like a failure at times. I don’t like to speak at meetings or committee gathering just to make my presence felt with unnecessary chatter.
In my previous career, I had plenty of occasions to feel an ‘impostor’, because I had to find my way into the academic world without a mentor. So first I had to learn to want to be like the achievers I saw at the meetings, as I wanted to contribute to my field also. Then I had to develop ideas to create projects on my own and carry that task to completion on my own. If I needed help with certain aspects of that project like statical analysis, I felt incompetent. However, I was lucky that when some of my colleagues saw my drive, they wanted to jump in with their expertise for developing collaborative projects. At that point, I overcame the sense of insecurity and felt belonged.
When I was younger, I had this “superwomen” concept and I pushed myself to try to be ‘super’ in all aspects of life—at work, as a parent, as a partner, as a family member, as a friend—I shouldn’t say pushed myself, it was basically my persona, and I lost ‘myself’ somewhere along the way. During retirement, as I have found art, I am more at peace while painting and writing. Although that ingrained feeling of wanting to be there for everyone still stays, I am learning to put what I love to do first and I am learning to shed that ‘guilt’ feeling when I put my priorities first now.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am more a visual artist at present, than a poet. I believe that imagination sparks creativity which leads me to envision something different and unique to capture on canvas, paper or wood. I generated new ideas for medical research after a thorough review of existing data and apply the same principal in creating art. My art is definitely affected by and reflects the happenings in the world at this time in my life. Art is an essential component of the human civilization. The way we understand our history and culture is intertwined with art, there is no substitute for it. It could be in any of the many types of art and as we experiment more and more with paints, substrates, materials, its range is expanding more and more. I am a 2D visual artist working mainly in acrylics and mixed media. I throw in found objects when I see fit, I cover and uncover, I layer and scrape, I pour and drip to mention a few techniques, however, my scope for being original is limitless. Having said that, I do not chase every innovation I come across, I am settling on a few topics and methodology as I forge forward. Continuing education is the key in every field to open new doors and broaden horizons. I get it by doing workshops in areas of my interest.
I love the autonomy of creation and my own time schedule to do this. I have discovered that I don’t need to have a formal education in art to express myself, my transferable skills are the main qualities I need to carry over from my past to adapt to create new opportunities for myself. I find it very therapeutic to be in my studio, I get into a zone and my positive outlook on life is fostered further. But I can do it anywhere as a study with minimal supplies. By joining professional organizations, I have enjoyed networking and engaging with others in my field.
I have a broad range of art, encompassing the entire spectrum between realistic and abstract, made as nature, figures or just conceptual. I hope to make a difference by sharing my perspective to inspire change, make people feel certain ways by sharing my goals for uplifting the communities. If my compulsive desire to create can make an iota of positive difference in the world , I’ll consider it to be one of my most significant achievements.
I had two solo shows in Sept 2023. The first one was (Brewery park gallery, Detroit, MI) called ‘This is every woman’. This concept was based on saluting many faces of women – by exploring the emotion, gesture, attitude and identity in each of the 26 artworks. The women were portrayed in liberated, intellectual and purposeful roles as vibrant figures. This series of paintings revealed ‘ joie de vivre’ through diverse styles, showing the grace at every stage of the life in different ways. There were very representational or faceless faces, fully formed or abstracted figures representing each and every woman. It was meant to be healing and inspirational for overcoming all boundaries for liberated or suppressed souls.
The title for this collection was inspired by Chaka Khan’s song –
‘I’m every woman, it’s all in me
Anything you want done, baby, I’ll do it naturally
I’m every woman, it’s all in me.’
The second solo show was on the theme of ‘Nature’ at the Posterity gallery in Grosse Pointe, MI. I had 27 paintings in representational and abstracted styles glorifying the beauty of our planet’s vista as scenes, flora and fauna.
I am thrilled to be looking into byproducts on my art as prints, gifts and apparel for furthering my focus on creating funds for my missions.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I glance back, I believe that dreaming about making a mark in whatever endeavors I have ventured in, has been my signature characteristic. I don’t let any obstacle dampen my enthusiasm if I set my heart on it. I do painstaking research on everything I attempt to do and weigh the pros and cons before embarking on it. For example, switching gears from being a medical professional to a visual artist didn’t happen overnight. When I started to learn drawing and painting, initial works were quite discouraging, however, I gave it time. In about 3-5 years of starting, things started falling in place as I learned new techniques and gained confidence. Transitioning from realistic to abstract art making was very daunting and being in the middle with an amalgam of both elements in the same work is even more difficult than either ends on this spectrum. So I would add perseverance as a quality if one is going to realize that dream. One can’t really dare to dream until one finds some success along this path. Imagination ( this is literally limitless in its scope) comes into play as one moves forward. I think about themes to work on related to the causes that are dear to my heart, I am happy to develop these ideas to fruition on my substrate. While nurturing my passion to become an established artist, I am looking to be more impactful by using my artworks to fulfill my goals to empower women, to help medical research, to care for needy children and those with mental health struggles and help with the environmental issues. These goals are based on my passion for helping with the current challenges we face in our country and the world .
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I would love to develop a collaboration using my artworks for charities that share a passion and commitment to my goals on sustainable social change. As our world changes, the needs across the globe continue to increase. For that reason, strategic partnerships are becoming a more crucial strategy for nonprofits. Eventually, every penny collected counts and helps for developing innovative efforts to produce new solutions to complex problems. I look forward to building my lighthouse brand awareness to promote goodwill by partnering with such nonprofit organizations.
It’ll be my honor and privilege to give back to the community by working on public causes that meet my passions for helping humanity. When I give myself and my creations, a tremendous sense of well-being improves my morale.
Although I have been donating my artwork to several local institutions fundraisers, I want to raise their funding opportunities further by increasing their donor base. Such a partnership will further their networks by direct and indirectly increasing exposure of their missions. They may attract new volunteers and pro bono services from newer crowds.
I’ll ensure to set strong guidelines about how the partnership is going to work. I will make a fixed percentage donation from every sale generated from my website on the original artwork and other byproducts of it. I am willing to further their purpose-driven mission, vision and values. I would love to speak at their events about how a second career with renewed goals is possible at anytime in one’s life.
I am very excited about this new purpose-driven focus for and from my artworks. These thoughts permeate my DNA ,because I sincerely believe that such partnerships enhance their ability to drive societal impact as well as fulfill my missions by working in synergy. I invite corporate partnerships also to use my products in their gift-giving campaigns to generate more funds for non-profit causes of mutual interest. They can reach out to me through the contact form on my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vasutolia.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toliavasu/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vasutolia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
