Varsity student’s love for art is inspired by elephants

Jaini Shah’s ambitions are, literally speaking, as big as an elephant. The up and coming painter, who has defied physical challenges, has a penchant for drawing wild animals, with a soft spot for elephants.

In fact, she is a mother to two of them.

“I find animal pictures refreshing,” Jaini says. “They bring life to a room. I have adopted two elephants: Mbegu is two and a half-years-old and Pare is over one-year-old.”

On November 19, Jaini and her sister Diva, both prolific artists, held an exhibition in Nairobi, dubbed Jaini’s Art Diaries, where they showcased the best of their work. Jaini, as it were, paints portraits and wildlife, while Diva does abstract painting and landscapes.

The exhibition was Jaini’s final year project at the United States International University (USIU), where she is studying a degree in Public Relations.

“I don’t take it for granted that we have a national park in Nairobi, right next to the CBD. This is really amazing, having what many travel far and wide to see right next to us,” says Jaini.

Jaini was born with muscular dystrophy, a condition that has resigned her to a wheelchair, but that only serves to inspire her. Jaini doesn’t pity or swoon over her condition instead she is so engrossed in living — between going to school, travelling, painting, trying out different cuisines in  restaurants, writing her blog and networking, her days are filled.

Jaini says she honed her artistic skills at Oshwal Academy, Nairobi, where studied. “We had art and writing classes, which added immense value to my passion, and strengthened my desire to pursue the arts,” says Jaini.

At Oshwal Academy, she made friends with all sorts of people, who later supported her pursuits in the arts and when she later joined USIU-Africa.

The pieces of art at the exhibition are pieces she has been working on over the years, with her first canvas painting done in 2009. “This experience was different and interesting. I had done a lot of water colour paintings, and I was a little nervous to learn a new concept.  Then also, I decided to paint my favorite animal, the elephant.”

Jaini is the first born in a family blessed with artistic people, including her sister Diva, who is more into photography than painting. Diva is the official photographer for Jaini’s blog, Jaini’s Diaries. The ladies credit their success in art to their parents, who they say have been a source of inspiration since they were children.

They say they travel a lot, across the world, something that inspires their artistic minds. “My paintings are a reflection of what I see, how I feel and the different emotions I experience,” says Jaini.

Jaini’s fauvorite quote is “Dream it. Wish it. Do it.”