TERESA MAHARAJ

VIMMAG: Greetings Teresa, I think I always seem to be running into you at Sunrise Coffee Co., usually on poetry nights, they do make great espresso coffee don't they? You're currently a resident artist at Damned Ink Studios, how did your relationship begin with them?

 

TERESA MAHARAJ: Sunrise Coffee is absolutely fabulous, yes! I’ve shown there, supported the local poets on Wednesday nights and love the local owners. Plus, I could live on their coffee!!!

 

My relationship with Damned Ink began about 5 years ago when I first set foot in the First Friday scene and fell in love with the art of Danny Roberts. I bought prints to study his style and technique. Danny and I used to hang out at a mutual friend and artist’s Mark T. Zeilman (MTZC) gallery on Saturday’s for open studio sessions. Then Danny and Leigh opened DIS and 

soon after I met with Leigh McCormick, his wife, and began to develop a wonderful friendship. Danny and Leigh expressed to me how much they admired what I was doing with my art, and as soon as they decided to open their doors at DIS to other artists, I was honored that they had me down as one of the artists that they planned on bringing in. 

 

 

VIMMAG: You said one of your influences for your art was comic books, could you name any current favorites or favorites you might have had when growing up?

 

TERESA MAHARAJ: You know, I only collected comic books for the visuals. This sounds funny, I know, but I hardly ever read them, hahaha! I so loved to draw characters like Batman, Wolverine, and most of the X-Men characters; Superman, The Hulk. I really enjoyed a lot of Todd McFarlane’s artwork as well. As time went on I studied Boris Vallejo’s figure work. I love Frank Frazetta’s work too. 

 

 

 

VIMMAG: You received your art studies in California, how was the art scene there compared to the one we have now in Las Vegas? 

What do you think about First Friday?

 

TERESA MAHARAJ: When I lived out there, the art scenes were awesome, but it wasn’t easy to get involved in them. There was just so much of it and for a young artist (in their career), I really didn’t know where to begin. 

 

First Fridays and the art scene in Vegas is awesome! It is more accessible and more communal. When you think of Vegas, you don’t necessarily think of art, let alone an arts district. I was blown away by the talent I saw and continue to see in our city. And the artists are down to earth and cool as hell! If you want to talk to them about their work, you can without feeling intimidated. If you ask them for help as far as how to get started in shows, they help you network. The arts community has been extraordinarily helpful and I am honored to be a part of it.

 

 

VIMMAG: From all the body of work you have done could you tell us about three of your pieces and give a history or background on how those pieces came to be?

 

TERESA MAHARAJ: Three pieces, hmmm… Well, we can start off with the first drawing I did for my first solo show that I had at MTZC back in March 2008. That is the drawing of Shiva, Lord of Destruction that I drew in Graphite. I’d just gotten out of this job that I had in the administrative field and realized that I needed a major change in my life. I came to the realization that I no longer belonged in the “corporate” world. I would never understand them and that they would never understand me. I was fifty pounds heavier and was sick of that part of my life as well. I needed those parts gone, once and for all. I needed a transformation on several levels. Anyhow, I realized who I wanted to be and he was the first drawing that came out of me representing the death of the Teresa that lived in a box of conformity and the rebirth of Teresa the artist. 

 

The second piece would have to be Underlying Beauty. She is a very popular drawing that was rejected for a show that I specifically drew her for. I drew her back in 2005 for a juried show that was being held at the West Sahara Library and she was denied. Soon after, I started showing her at other group shows downtown and she received some amazing responses. She now lives with a very happy collector but is still loved by those who can buy prints of her. Underlying Beauty represents the inner beauty within us all. We may look different on the outside but we are all physically the same on the inside. 

 

The third piece I would have to say would be Ganesh or the piece titled as “Vighna-nasa”. Ganesh is the lord of removing obstacles in the Hindu pantheon. He is most often depicted as if he is the cute, cuddly elephant-headed god and he is one of the most worshiped deities in the Hindu culture. Yeah, well, my Ganesh is not like that. I’m a firm believer that we are our biggest obstacles and we need a good kick in the ass once in a while. I know I do! That’s why I paint him so rugged, in your face, determined, fearless, and powerful. And one look from him really kicks my own ass out of my way so I can get the job done.

 

 

VIMMAG: Where do you see yourself in the next five years, artistically? What's next for Teresa Maharaj-Williams?

 

 

TERESA MAHARAJ: I’ve only been painting for about a year. I see myself definitely progressing in my craft. Trust me, I don’t plan on giving this up – ever – especially since I’ve just gotten over my fears of painting. Hopefully, I will mature in style and subject and grow a body of work. Getting into shows in other parts of the country and the world would be a dream come true, for sure. But right now I’m focused on growing as an artist and doing it better. Only time can tell where my growth will take me.