Smita Upadhye
Lifelong Artist
​
Hand to pencil & pencil to paintbrush. At Artismita we are focused on showing the world how artist Smita Upadhye sees the world from her studio in New Zealand. Almost 60, and still youthful through her creations.
It's time to add to the beauty our world has to offer. Smita paints, sculpts, designs and customises everything with her unique gift.
Namaste!
My Journey
My teaching career started in 1980 as a lecturer at India’s renowned Sophia Polytechnic in Mumbai. I was the lead teacher/ lecturer for their 5 Year Commercial & Applied Art Diploma. Over those five years we covered subjects like nature, still life and life drawing. Since then I’ve been practising as an independent art tutor, which I continued after my move to Auckland, New Zealand almost 20 years ago.
​
My Classes
As a practising artist and an independent Art Tutor, I run classes for children and adults from my home studio on Sundays and Tuesdays. In addition, on Thursdays, I run drawing classes from start to finish at the Waitakere Art Studio located at the Corban Art Centre in Henderson.
​
Beneficial Art
Research shows that art activities boost brain capacity, in other words, art is great brain food! Art engages one’s senses in open-ended play develops cognitive, social, emotional and multi-sensory skills. As a result, it boosts concentration, observation, hand-eye coordination, patience and makes for a steady mind. Art helps relieve stress and functions as meditation, which has made it a popular choice as a healing process worldwide. Practising art regularly develops vital emotional intelligence, spiritual well-being, boosts self-esteem and feeds overall creativity at every age.
​
My Expertise
I teach comprehensive drawing techniques, beginning with fundamentals like basic line drawings, progressing through tonal rendering to detailed finished artworks in various dry and wet mediums of painting. I demonstrate and explain the importance of different drawing techniques, shapes, negative and positive spaces, understanding perspective, layouts, working with lights and shadows, all the way to specific, detailed elements of the subject. I work with each student on an individual basis, problem-solving with them to ensure each and every student completes each step successfully at their pace.
Smita's Achievements
2022
March - Presented an article and a portrait in graphite pencils of her school principal at the Balmohan Vidhyamandir Student’s International Day celebration.
March - Exhibited at the Franklin art exhibition, Franklin district.
July - Member of the judging panel of the North Shore Salon of Photography Competition.
​
2021
May - Installation of Indian Rangoli design for Auckland Marathi Asso. on Maharashtra day celebration.
July - Interviewed by the My Marathi channel on Apana television, Auckland, New Zealand.
October - Conducted an online Indian lantern-making workshop for the AMA's Diwali festival.
November - Conducted an online Warli Painting Workshop for Avondale Library's Diwali celebration.
November - Artist Interview by the Indian Weekender Marathi Misal By Prashant Belwalkar.
​
2020
May - Participated in the ‘Fight against COVID-19 in Maharashtra’ Community Poster project.
October - Installation of a 3-metre Rangoli at Manukau Westfield Mall for the Diwali Festival.
October - Conducted a Rangoli workshop for the Kids Holiday program arranged by CATNZ.
November - Conducted 3 workshops on 'How to draw Manga Characters' for the Avondale community library.
November - Painted a Traditional Indian Mural on the Vector Powerhouse in Avondale.
​
2019
April - Conducted the school holiday clay workshops at the Onehunga Community Centre.
April - Conducted a clay workshop for the Kids Holiday program by CATNZ.
May - Featured in the ‘I Love Avondale’ Community enrichment campaign as a key community contributor.
June - Donated her painting ‘Om Namah Shivay’ faith panel for the new multi-faith spiritual centre opened by DHB at Waitakere Hospital.
July - Invited by the Blockhouse Bay Community Library to participate in their project called ‘Artist in the library'.
August - Presented a pencil portrait to Dr Prakash Aamte as a tribute.
2018
April - Sole feature of an article by the ‘I love Avondale’ Newsletter.
May - Created an interactive colour-in mural based on Avondale icons for the Avondale Community Library.
May - Conducted an Indian lamp painting workshop at Riversdale park for the Whau Arts Festival.
November - Judged the Rangoli competition hosted by Auckland Community Libraries.
November - Installation of a 3-meter Rangoli at Manukau Westfield Mall for the Diwali Festival.
November - Conducted an Indian lantern-making workshop for AMA for the Diwali Festival.
December - Participated in the Titirangi Community Art Market by the Upstairs Gallery, Titirangi.
​
2017
​March - Her Lord Ganesh painting was exhibited in the Auckland Art Festival’s art category.
October - Conducted the ‘Fantasy Fun’ creative workshop for the Disability Arts Festival, Henderson.
October - Conducted a Rangoli workshop at Kelston Girls' High School, Auckland.
​
2016​
October - Conducted the ‘Tree of Unity’ workshop at the Disability Arts Festival, Henderson.
​
2015​
November - Donated my ‘Lord Gajanana’ faith panel for the new multi-faith spiritual centre opened by DHB at North Shore Hospital.
​
Smita is a true admirer of the art in culture.
CULTURE
CURATOR
