Shifra Arts LLC
I am Shaheen Yadav- Artist, Teacher, Chartered Accountant, Lawyer and also a full time mom. Teaching has become a joy, a job I landed by chance and I will be forever grateful for the trust that the parents and the school have put in me.
About my art classes at TongYan
This will be the third consecutive season with the school. Each of my classes are unique. I try to complete a different technique/subject in each class. All levels of students are welcomed. I work with the students in a way that they are free to explore and push their creative minds while enhancing the skills they possess. They finish the class having progressed in their level of understanding of the subject. These skills are important to grow and persevere in whatever field they choose later on in their life.
There are two sessions, one for younger kids 4-5 yrs -ART102 and another for kids 6+yrs- ART202. The subject of each class is overlapping but the teaching technique is customised for the age level. We work with a lot of different materials but the main focus is acrylic painting on canvas. Mediums like Watercolors, pencils, pastels, ink, origami and collage or decoupage are also incorporated to hold the focus and interest of the kids. The class is exciting not just for me but also for the students as they are surprised with a unique art work for each class. I am looking forward to teaching your kids in the next session of the Tong Yan Chinese Schools' Creative Explorers program. See you all soon.
Featured Artwork
Our Mission
This work of art was completed in the year 2020. Living in New Jersey by the waterfront, the New York skyline holds the attention of everyone who visits/lives in the US. After settling in the US and getting comfortable I realised that the sunsets at the Jersey City skyline and the skyline itself was a new painting each day and each moment was so difficult to capture and enjoy enough. That’s what held my attention and I had the desire to capture this scene on canvas. This painting is my view of this beautiful moment in time which I captured on camera on a cold January evening in 2018 and translated on canvas. I love how the sun sets and there is a burst of pinks, oranges, blues, yellows and the clouds, which make each moment unique. This is an attempt to freeze that peaceful moment on a lovely January evening from the bustling NYC looking at the beautiful Jersey City that I call home.
I have used oil paints on a pre-stretched canvas. The oil paints are layered step by step to reach the effect that I wanted and to feel the evening as it was on that day.
Now when I revisit the painting I realise that the name and the subject are so perfect for each other. The skyline I painted has already changed and I see new construction every day. What was once a neglected part of the State, is now buzzing with activity, families and businesses. There is so much charm in living here and the place has become inviting and expensive.
In this entire exercise my favourite is the sunset and the gorgeous hues of orange, pink and blue. The crane that is painted on top of the building shows the silent paddling of the economy that will bring about more change. It was challenging to capture the hues of the sunset sky and also to keep the architecture true to the original picture I clicked on my iPhone. When I stand back and look at the painting the lights show the workday has ended and all the activity has calmed down.
Ever Changing Jersey City Skyline
Stretched Canvas 20x24" –Oil Paint