Artists – Maina Foundation

Laya Joseph

My name is Laya Abraham Joseph, born in Kerala, India and residing in New York for the last 15 years. A self-taught artist, since the last 5 years, I have taken up painting as my profession. My professional background as a botanist influences and inspires my art. Nature and landscapes are a common theme in my paintings. I work primarily in acrylic and mixed media. My paintings are mostly abstracts and semi abstracts, expressionistic in style and often rooted in memories and experiences.

Ritu Khetan

Ritu Khetan is a self-taught artist whose work is deeply inspired by her roots in Rajasthan, India. Captivated by the beauty of henna art, she wanted to extend its reach beyond traditional temporary hand designs by creating intricate, cone-painted patterns on candles, trays, and home décor that would last forever. From introducing the art of Henna to the students of Carnegie Mellon University to crafting three-feet pieces from scratch for her home, Ritu loves to share the joy of simply “creating” with all those around her. She is honored to work with the Maina Foundation and use her passion for art to raise awareness and support in the fight against breast cancer.

Lisa Miceli

Lisa Miceli lives in Mystic, CT and is plein air painter and art teacher with a focus on expressionist watercolors, oils and acrylics. She teaches studio classes and workshops at the Lyme Art Association, Mystic Museum of Art, Avondale Arts and on Fishers Island, co-teaching “Oil and Water” studio and plein air painting with her colleague Howard Park. Lisa developed her expressionist watercolor style and use of the hake brush studying with British plein air watercolorist Ron Ranson. A significant early influence on her painting was her grandmother, Lucille Gauthier who was an illustrator, watercolorist, and a WPA artist.

Lisa is an elected artist at the Lyme Art Association and at the Mystic Museum of Art, a member of the Noank 9 plein air painting group, and co-chaired the New England Watercolor Society plein air painting program. Lisa’s paintings have been in numerous juried shows and her works hang in galleries throughout New England. Lisa has received watercolor awards at the New England Watercolor Society NorthEast Regional and Plein Air shows, awards at Mystic Museum of Art and Lyme Art Association, and she was winner of the JMW Turner watercolor competition at the Mystic Seaport Museum. Her work can be viewed on her website at www.lmiceliart.com.

Galleries include: Westport River Gallery in Westport, CT, Arnould Gallery in Marblehead, MA, Mystic Museum of Art, Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme, CT, Madison Art Society, Willow and Birch in Madison, CT, Avondale Arts in Rhode Island, Thames River Gallery and the Garde Arts Center in New London, and Bryan Memorial Gallery in VT. Her plein air work and expressionist watercolors hang in 1515 Lincoln Gallery in Oklahoma City.

Geeta Pathak - Soul Art Story

From the innocent doodles in school books, to priceless canvases. It has been quite a journey. An artist by chance, i did not realise i loved painting so much. Life with all its precious moments of love, angst, heartache, amidst playing different roles of daughter, sister, friend,wife, and mother all came together one day as art became my lifeline. That’s why you will see that i paint everything and anything i perceive to be “in the moment.”

Natalie Sambamurty

Natalie is a self-taught artist who works with acrylic, watercolors and oil paints. Her inspiration comes from conservation of wildlife, traditional Indian art and lifestyles, serenity of nature, and different cultures of the world. She is passionate about children’s and women’s health. She has been involved for several years with Maina Foundation, whose mission is to increase awareness and to promote early detection of breast cancer in women around the world. She hopes that through her passion for art, she is able to contribute to the cause she wholeheartedly believes in.