We had the good fortune of connecting with JAYASHREE KRISHNAN and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JAYASHREE, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The famous quote “Love what you do; Do what you love” sums up my art journey. Though I have gained a wealth of knowledge by completing my graduate program in education through Dallas Baptist University, and have also had experienced working as an educator in a private school, my thoughts have always been towards my passion for multicultural arts and baking. Being an Asian heritage enthusiast and living in a society where people belong to different ethnicities, I wanted to offer workshops to introduce multicultural arts to young children who are creative and interested in learning unique art techniques from around the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an Indian American educator located in Dallas, Texas. I enjoy working on different forms of folk art, and like others, have an inherent wish to create works that are unique and original. My journey as a craft artist began when my family and I first lived in Rockville, Maryland in 2002. Through my Japanese friend, Chiharu, I was introduced to Japanese paper crafts such as origami and Japanese folk art.

In 2004, my family moved back to Dallas. I taught myself some Indian folk-art techniques such as Warli art and Madhubani paintings, and other multicultural arts such as paper filigree, clay modeling, and nylon flower making. Soon after, I hosted my first fundraiser for a private school’s expansion project by selling handmade jewelry and a couple of hand painted Indian folk art. The sales were beyond my expectation, and helped me to realize my hidden talent. As the years went by and my kids became more independent, I decided to pursue my career in teaching as I also enjoyed teaching kids, whether it be for education, crafts or baking.

Since working as an educator, I have realized that incorporating multicultural arts into education can help children to take pride in their own cultural identity while allowing them to also gain respect for other cultures’ art and values. It helps children to learn about diversity and teaches vital skills to stay connected with different cultures present in their community, nation, and the world around them.

Recognizing my love for multicultural arts and craft, my family and friends encouraged me to start my home-based art studio “Arts by Jaya.” Working as a full-time educator didn’t provide me with enough time to plan and work on different craft projects that I hoped to teach young children through workshops. At the start, it was quite difficult for me to decide if I wanted to continue my teaching career. I had invested a lot of time and effort in developing my love for teaching, but I also wanted to follow my passion for multicultural arts. In order to have a balance between my love for teaching and art, I decided to work part-time as an educator, and as a result I was able to spend more time to further improve my artistic skills.

My passion for designing environmentally friendly jewelry began when I experimented with various media for art at my studio The pieces include beautiful motifs of fauna and fauna and are made using sustainable materials, such as clay, stones, paper, wood, thread, and fabric. A great advantage of sustainable jewelry is that it gives the creator the privilege of designing his/her own creation using materials that are affordable to purchase. The resulting piece will be well appreciated by the wearer for both its uniqueness and its beauty that will last a lifetime.

It took me a while to gain knowledge on marketing customized hand painted home decors, sustainable jewelry, and hosting multicultural craft workshops. Working on different art mediums provide me with happiness and an artistic freedom to make whatever I envision.

When I take an order, I make sure I do it with love and dedication. Whenever my customer sends me feedback complimenting me on my unique designs, I am excited and satisfied for all the time and effort invested. I am proud of my accomplishments as I am able to use my creativity and do what I love, which is what I believe sets me apart from others in this competitive market. My journey has been an interesting one, from being an educator to a craft artist and jewelry designer, and I am excited to see what my future holds.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Dallas is a beautiful city where you can find people from essentially every ethnic background, providing a wide range of restaurants. I would definitely take my friend to one of the best Tex- Mex restaurants in the city and also to some of the best attractions in Dallas, namely the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas Museum of Art, and the Reunion tower (which has a revolving restaurant with a 360-degree view over Dallas!). Last but not least, I would take my friend to the Fort Worth Stockyards, which hosts the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive, and has rodeo contests, shopping, and dining – making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Texas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, I would dedicate my shoutout to my family. While growing up as a child, my parents gave me great opportunities to get inspired by nature as they took me to beautiful places in South India, rich of culture and heritage. As the years went by, my supportive husband and two wonderful sons continued to encourage and help me in showcasing my love for multicultural arts to the world. Secondly, I would shoutout my friends for encouraging and motivating me to take my artistic skills to the next level. Special credit to my dearest friend, Radha Sugumaran, for always being a mentor and cheerleader in my life. Last, but not the least, I would dedicate my shoutout to all the national and international magazines who have recognized me as a craft artist and have given me great opportunities to express my passion for multicultural arts and sustainable jewelry by publishing my articles.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/artsbyjayausa?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Artsbyjayausa/

Image Credits
Photo credit – Melissa Staab

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