We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Reshma Bhoopal a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Reshma, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
Self-care isn’t something that has always come naturally to me, but I’m gradually realizing its importance. I’m making a conscious effort to set aside time for the little things that bring me joy. This means stepping away from social media and the demands of my business to focus solely on creating for myself.
I spend time painting watercolors, curling up with a good book, meeting a friend or going out for walks. I have noticed I always come back with renewed energy and bursting with new things to create.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My earliest love for stained glass started at 15 when I traveled with my mom to Europe. I was fascinated to see beautiful renditions of stained glass and the intricacies in the design and the colors just blew my mind. Years later when I got the opportunity to take a stained glass class, I was hooked.
I started working on stained glass window panels, lamps. Took a local class to try out mosaics and found my way to fused glass which has evolved into adding painting, silkscreening and other mediums into my work.
I love working with glass and I constantly work on upskilling to better my work and try to incorporate different things and offer new experiences. I started offering classes and custom workshops in stained glass and fused glass, which has been a great way to connect and share my experiences.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
As a bit of a perfectionist, I find that my desire to constantly improve drives me in my artistic pursuits. With my mind constantly buzzing with ideas, I often find myself overwhelmed. However, I’ve discovered that organizing my work into lists, and breaking those down into smaller tasks, helps me stay focused and productive.
Collaborating with other artists is where I truly thrive. Learning about their art and the stories behind their work sparks my creativity and encourages me to think outside the box.
When I decided to explore stained glass, I knew I needed hands-on instruction. Taking a class was a crucial step in my journey. While research was helpful, nothing compares to the experience of learning from someone directly. Of course, improvement comes with practice, and I’ve dedicated myself to honing my skills through consistent effort.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities, or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My Husband Swaroop has been a big influence in my life who gave me the push to pursue my artistic career and has been a constant support. He has been my constant with helping me grow when I wanted to make my hobby into full time art, be it taking pictures or
setting up my shop or my booth at events.
The best way to learn and grow as an artist is lots of practice and learning from our mistakes. I found my place in a local community studio with the most talented amazing people who were my sounding board for new ideas or troubleshooting when I’m stuck.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Finding a balance between creating art and managing the business side of things can be challenging for me. Sometimes, I get so immersed in creating that I neglect important tasks like updating my website or photographing and listing inventory for sale. To tackle this, I rely on lists to organize and prioritize my tasks, which helps me stay focused and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Although selling doesn’t come naturally to me, I’m proactive about seeking help. I take courses to improve my business skills, and I regularly reach out to peers and other artists in my network to brainstorm ideas and gain insights.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artsfromglass.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/artsfromglass
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/artsfromglass
Image Credits
Deborah lord photography – Personal Photo, Garden nook and Hearts
