The 'Second Act' - How Raksha Soni Left Her Software Engineer Career to Pursue Her Dream of Being an Artist
“A few years ago, I began a second act when I realized I had so much more to contribute and give to the society and world around me. I decided to leave my career and pursue a new journey with my creative passions.” Today’s woman dreamer, Raksha Soni, is a prolific artist, with a passion for making a difference in her community. She shares how she created a second act to her life, in leaving her technology career, and founding Brush & Paisley. An inspiring story about career change, Raksha lives her life by the 3 Cs - creativity, community, and compassion! Enjoy.
1. You worked as a software engineer for 20 years at which time you started the "second act" of your life. Tell us about this journey.
My journey has been anything but linear, but the consistent thread through it all has been my zest for learning new things. I grew up in colorful Rajasthan, and got the opportunity to live and travel through many beautiful places due to my father’s work. I developed a deep interest in art, cultural heritage and traditions, and I studied Fine Arts at Banasthali Vidyapith to continue that passion through education. Life swept me away, as it often does, and I landed in Boston raising two kids and finding a new career: software engineering. While I still pursued my creative hobbies, I threw myself into learning a whole new field and immersed myself in it for almost 20 years.
A few years ago, I began a second act when I realized I had so much more to contribute and give to the society and world around me. I decided to leave my career and pursue a new journey with my creative passions. I founded Brush & Paisley in 2017, with a vision to create art, teach students, and build a community for creative individuals. My signature style as an artist combines my Indian ethnic background with life in New England using my favorite mediums: watercolor, acrylic and oil.
Over the last few years, I have found an incredible community of artists in New England who were supportive of my work, and through it, I have found a new voice to paint. I became the artist in residence at the Brush Gallery and Studios in Lowell, MA a couple of years ago. I firmly believe that giving back to the community is important in any career or professional endeavor. As a result, I started teaching art to children and adults, initially hosting classes in person, and then transitioning to Zoom classes during Covid, where I provided a creative escape for children and parents. It has been incredible to watch the engagement with my classes - I now have students who join from all around the world!
2. What are the 3C's that you live life by and how do you incorporate them into your daily life
3 C’s that make up my life’s mission: creativity, community, and compassion.
Creativity -- Life has become so fast paced that we often don’t leave time for doing the things that broaden our perspectives and thoughts. Creating something - anything - can be such a rewarding process and really unlocks something in the mind. It has been wonderful to see the resurgence of hobbies during Covid, whether it be cooking or baking or knitting. My personal mantra is to create something every day, no matter what it is.
I spend time with anything artistic, whether it is drawing, painting, designing traditional Indian clothing, interior decor, gardening, or arranging flowers. I love being able to put my creative inklings to use and have even done some large-scale event decor. The creative process gives me tremendous joy, satisfaction, and a sense of great accomplishment. I feel so blessed to have a loving and supportive family, who give me encouragement and strength to follow my dreams and passions.
Community -- I believe that art is not meant to just be created, but to be shared with those around you who appreciate and support the work. I wake up every day knowing I am eternally fortunate to have the ability to create, share, and make a difference in someone’s life with my art or through my actions. I realized helping people brings me joy, which led me to donate my artwork or services to charitable causes like Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, Make a Wish, Vision-Aid, Saheli, Foodlink, Coalition for a Better Acre (CBA), Shishu Bharati and many other local organizations. One of the reasons I pivoted my career was so that I can provide a creative outlet for my community. I have felt my work transform with the community I have found, and I really relish in sharing it with friends, family, and others. I am truly grateful to my parents, who taught me the importance and power of giving back and helping others in need.
Compassion – I have felt a lot of fear, anxiety and strong emotions in adults and children in the past couple of years. One of the biggest reasons I started online teaching for kids is to keep them engaged, productive and learning while they are at home. I also offered “Free Weekly Community Online Art Classes” as part of a way to engage with and give back to the local community through art. Compassion became the first step in helping others find their voice through art. I take great pride in the positive environment of my art classes and how my encouragement, mentorship, and support bolster the confidence of a child or an adult throughout their journeys.
During the pandemic, I also felt the urgency of some community programs where we can fulfill the basic need of simple food during tough times. I started “Meals to Heal” with a friend and 80+ selfless volunteers who came together to fight this battle and work tirelessly to serve people in need. We provide simple, nutritious, homemade meals to patients with Covid -19 or any other major illness, surgery, pregnancy postpartum, elderly people, students or families in need. Our volunteers served 2500+ meals at the door steps of the recipient every day. I feel truly blessed to meet many compassionate, caring and selfless people through this program.
3. You also teach art to young kids. What are some of the different kinds of art and mediums that you have taught? Why is art important for children?
There is a lot of pressure on kids and parents today, and everyone is working so hard to make sure that kids are academically challenged and spending their time on productive activities. There is so much research showing how art can help children process their experiences and present new ways for them to express themselves. Plus, art is fun! I foster an environment where children can create without judgement and competition, and I love hearing from parents when they say their children can’t wait for their art class.
During Covid, I really had a chance to experiment and figure out how to teach classes online. I have gotten great feedback about my lay-flat style of teaching, where it is relaxing to watch and the focus is on creation and art. I teach step-by-step drawing, cartooning, sketching and shading, and Indian folk-art forms (e.g., Madhubani, Kalamkari, Pichwai, Miniature etc.). I cover many mediums, including watercolor, acrylics, and pastels. Constantly changing the mediums also keeps it interesting for the students.
4. What classes do you want to offer in the future and what are your future plans?
It’s been a fulfilling journey, and I am planning to continue with learning new things, sharpening my skills and knowledge and sharing that with the world. I would love to expand to even more mediums like oil and mixed media and provide creative outlets for older kids. Over the last year, I have also expanded to teaching classes for adults, and I want to continue to evolve the formats and offerings there as well. The support and feedback over the last year from my students has been so overwhelming and positive. Above all, I believe in listening to my students and hearing about what they want to do next, and continuing to adapt my teaching accordingly. My ultimate goal is to share what I know and help as many people as I can to create more positivity and happiness in their lives.
Check out some of Raksha’s work below!
Thank you Raksha for sharing your wonderful story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network.
Bio: Raksha founded Brush & Paisley in 2017, to bring her art to new audiences. As an artist she is prolific and has had over a dozen exhibitions where she has showcased her signature style; from intricate Madhubani drawings to lush, opulent landscapes that capture the nostalgia and emotion of India. Along with furthering her own journey as an artist, she teaches young kids and adults to helps them express and harness their creativity and find their artistic voice. A leader in the South Asian community, she has been a leader on the Hindi Manch Steering Committee, and organized and hosted the first National Hindi Convention in Boston in 2018. With her eloquent Hindi, she has brought a different taste as emcee at local Hindi events. She has led the fundraising efforts for Ekal Vidyalaya through innovative efforts like Art Workshop, IndiArt, Ethnic Clothes drive: events to bring creative minds together. She has been leading the efforts for India Association for Burlington to decorate and setup Diwali Mela at the town center. She has served as a core team member of Hindi Manch, India Association of Greater Boston, Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, and the Indian Americans for Burlington.
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