Pooja Kenjale-Umrani
Hello there! I am Pooja Kenjale-Umrani.
I am (or should I say ‘was’) a software engineer by qualification and product manager by profession. But I prefer to be identified as an artist by heart. After working for several years in the IT industry it was eventually the heart that won over my soul and mind. I finally decided to quit my 9 to 5 ‘job’ and decided to take on with a dream to do something my heart loves. What followed was a long, arduous journey that led to a beautiful outcome – By The Lakeside Art Studio. A manifestation of my passion and love for making handmade candles, the art is my attempt to blend my fondness for lights, fragrances and colors. I have made over 500 candles and hold an expertise in making paraffin and natural soy wax candles.
As years passed by, I realized that making only candles was not satisfying my inner peace. I knew I wanted to paint. Painting and sketching was always in my blood stream thanks to my artist mother who passed on the genes to me. I started painting using watercolors in 2016 and I couldn’t put the brush down ever since! I am still practicing my floral techniques on a daily basis and I feel there is no limit to learning and practicing.
Being an artist is my full time profession now and I don’t regret it one bit. I have started conducting watercolor workshops locally and also have online classes available on SKILLSHARE. I also have an ETSY store to sell my art to like-minded art enthusiasts!
Read more about Pooja and her work in our Artist Spotlight article.