Like many artists, Vanaja started painting while working a full time job. She was always artistic,but it was not until 1995 that she started painting in earnest. After overcoming a serious accident in 1996, she resumed her efforts to enjoy fulfilling her aspirations in 1998. A Mississauga artist, Vanaja received her art education from many esteemed artists through various workshops, and at the Haliburton School of the Arts, Loyalist College and portraiture classes at OCAD. Most of her work is a visual narrative inspired by her extensive travels. All this is reflected in her paintings in the wide array of subject matter capturing those moments, or in capturing nature and the brilliance of forests, flowers, and the ocean. She also paints pet portraits for charity. Her works have been exhibited in a number of shows and have won many awards, including Third Prize in the prestigious 2023 Elora Plein Air Competition. She is an active member of the Art Guild of Scarborough and serves as Exhibition Chair on the Executive. She is also a member of: • Arts on the Credit (AOTC) • East Central Ontario Art Association (ECOAA) • Central Ontario Art Association (COAA) • Oakville Art Society Vanaja also had the privilege of being invited to judge the following art competitions: 1) Children’s Painting Competition for Freedom 24, a project by New Horizon Media Arts, in May, 2024. 2) Panorama India’s Art Competition, July 2024 (as co-judge)