Priti Lathia is renowned professional artist and teacher. Her work has a vibrant, colorful and joyous feeling. Priti loves to paint nature with a painterly flair. Her paintings are inspired by places she has visited or still life subjects that has inspired her. IndiArt is honored to Have Priti Lathia as one of the IndiArt Judges.

1. Please tell us about your involvement with Art.
I am a full time professional artist and teacher. I paint every day, constantly producing and building a body of work. I work and teach in all mediums and genres of art. I am currently working on semi abstract landscapes in acrylic. I sell my work through group and solo shows, art galleries, my professional blog - http://priti-fine-art.blogspot.com/
and facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Priti-Lathia-Fine-Art/140395842665988.

2. What does being 'creative' mean to you?
Being creative involves taking an original idea, subject matter or photograph and creating a beautiful painting using art tools and techniques. Creativity in art begins with a foundation of knowledge, discipline and mastering a way of thinking. It involves experimenting, exploring and imagination.

3. Do you think art can be used to communicate a message to the society?)
The right balance of art and message can move the hearts and minds of the viewer. Art with a message invites the viewer to think for themselves. For example, Spanish painter Pablo Picasso painted a very powerful and moving statement depicting the horrors of war in his painting “Guernica”. Another painter Susan Crile painted the torture at Abu Gherib.

Today it is very common to see that society has found, in art, a vehicle for communicating values that make us a more humane society. We see posters, flyers and visual aid materials for campaigns for a greener world, blood and bone marrow drives, eradicating poverty, education for all, save the ozone, against smoking and drugs etc.

4. Why did you decide to judge Ekal's IndiArt competition?
I am honored to be invited by Jharna Madan to judge the Indiart “Colors of Rural India” art competition for kids in the NE area. This competition brings together my many loves, my love for art, love for education and love for India.

I judge art based on 5 characteristics-

    Beauty: is the painting captivating
    Skill and technique
    Inherent meaning or emotion behind the painting
    Uniqueness
    Fulfilled intent – of theme, emotion or idea

5. Any piece of advice for our young artists?
Paint more and develop the skills to produce your thoughts on paper.

Always challenge yourself, to grow as an artist you have to keep on working at it

Skills like drawing, color theory, elements of art, principals of art, effects of light on objects, edges, composition etc can be learnt through studying and applying it in your painting, but, the illusive part is creating a finished painting that conveys drama and emotion and moves the viewer. I think that involves soul searching and takes a lifetime to learn!!

6. In one line define art:… Art is…
Art is a creative expression of feelings or an experience.

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