Meet Nishi Patel | author & artist

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

Hi Nishi, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks is scary, especially for an introverted South Asian girl like me. Creative careers just aren’t in the books for a cultural society that prizes over more traditional ones. I would often wonder, “What will people say about me?”

Creative work requires vulnerability, and hiding it leads to isolation. I have always wondered how my paintings and poetry would be received publicly. Posting one of my poems about grief on Instagram was a huge step out of my comfort zone. I quickly learned that other people also resonated with my work and the emotions I expressed through my writing and artwork. Not everyone will connect to my work, which is okay, but when one person expresses how much something from my work has affected them, it means the world – it makes both of us feel less alone.

Learning and taking it one step at a time led me to where I am today. I am proof that an introverted play-it-safe kinda girl can take risks, no matter how small, build it over time, and still make an impact.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My paintings and poems are about the nature of life and the duality of it, particularly grief and joy. We are often told by our environments to either hide our grief or to quickly move on. My work helps to remove this stigma. Initially, my goal was to create one poetry book, regardless of not knowing how to publish a book, I was determined to do it. I am a self-taught artist, so researching and learning came naturally. I joined online communities with like-minded goals, took online classes, and reached out to local galleries and bookstores. I have learned so much from publishing my first book to showcasing my artwork: connecting with other people is priceless; consistency, even a little bit at a time, builds over time; lots of patience is required – and failures are seen as information as to what works and doesn’t work, what I like or don’t like. I have a second book coming out soon and am showcasing my artwork at local venues, coffee shops, and libraries. Grief is meant to be felt, shared, and released. Joy can still exist.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a homebody but do have a few favorite places around town to show my guest a good time. Nature walks are a must, and so is coffee!

In Arlington, we would have coffee at either Grounds and Gold or Chill Coffee and Wine Bar. We’d go for a nature walk at Veteran’s Park or River Legacy. For some entertainment, we’d go bowling at AMF Spare Time Lanes or ice skating at the Parks Mall. Cosmo Nail Bar would be our go-to for some pampering. Dinner at Istanbul Grill or Taco Regio.

In Fort Worth, I would love to visit the cultural district and spend some time at the FW Botanical Garden and the art museums (Kimbell Art Museum and Amon Carter). We would grab coffee from Ampersand. If it isn’t too hot outside, we will chill at the Water Gardens, reading or sketching. More coffee from Summer Moon. Dinner at Righteous Foods or Velvet Taco. If we’re up for some nightlife and drinks, Panther Island Brewing.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Ah, I will always be thankful to my family, local community, social media community, readers, and collectors. The community I have found through social media has helped connect me to others who also have experienced grief, other self-published indie authors, and artists who support each other. A special shoutout goes to Pantego Books, Island Books, Ekaterina Popova, The Art Queens community, Shelby Leigh, the Poetry Club community, Monica Packer, and the About Progress community.

Website: https://www.bynishipatel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by.nishi.patel