Ms. Srisha 

sradhakrishnan@srvusd.net

Room 4211

Education:

Masters in Business Administration, India

Single Subject Credentials - art 

Background:

“I have always been fascinated by what Mother Nature has given us. I become attracted to anything bright and colorful, eager to pick up the colors with my brush and use my personality and expressions to create a piece of art." 

Hi! I am Ms.Srisha and I am an art educator and contemporary realism artist.

My artwork focuses on precision and realism, creating a realistic world inside the canvas, and taking inspiration from nature. Paying close attention to the details, you can smell the roses, feel the tiger, and taste the fruits.  Color is an integral part of my work, and it has been since I was a young girl. Born and brought up in the colorful and rich country of India, rangoli was my initial art form, which started my interest in using colors to express emotions. I spent years practicing the graceful art of rangoli, decorating my house with colorful designs during festivals and special occasions. As a teen, I didn’t have many opportunities to learn more about my passion, so after studying Master's in Business Administration and moving to sunny California in 2003, I took some painting lessons and became a Level 2 certified instructor. This marked the first step in my career as an artist and an art teacher. 

I dabbled with watercolors, sculpting with clay, and sketched with colored pencils, but I always enjoyed oil paints, making them my main medium. I am mostly self-taught and paint in a style that puts emphasis on colors, personality, and passion. I took various art courses at DVC and received a certificate of accomplishment in painting and drawing. My work can be found in private collections in the United States, Europe, and India. I have exhibited my art in the Blackhawk Gallery in Danville, Dougherty Station Library and Community Center, and the Alcosta Senior Center. I started my teaching career in various after-school programs in 2007 and joined as an art instructor in 2017 at Live Oak Elementary school, and Hidden Hills elementary school, and also taught middle and high school at Venture Academy, San Ramon. I have grown substantially as an art educator in these positions by fine-tuning my talent and knowledge, developing an art curriculum, and applying various teaching strategies to help students succeed in their art education. 

Teaching Philosophy:

I have always enjoyed learning since childhood and find joy in sharing that passion with others. I strongly believe that teaching involves lifelong learning and it is a perfect outlet for me to share my passion and help students find a love for art as well. After 15 years of teaching, my love for watching my students discover their own artistic abilities has never faltered.  I love to show my students how to bring out the best in themselves and believe in themselves. Throughout my career as an art educator, I have advocated for the importance of art in school. I believe that being involved in the art process is a kind of meditation that relieves the mind from the restraints of stress and opens up the mind to a different level of thought patterns. I provide a safe environment in my classroom where students share their ideas and take risks.

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge”- Albert Einstein