Creative Soul

Call Website Contact the establishment

Creative Soul I'm Anju, an artist with a deep love for the world's natural wonders and the infinite possibilities of creativity. Thank you for being here. Xx

I find inspiration in every aspect of nature, from its smallest details to its vast expanses. Artist - Anju Desai

Hello and welcome to My Creative Soul by Anju, a space where the world of art and the beauty of nature intertwine. I find inspiration in every corner of nature, from the smallest details to the magnificence of mountains and oceans. Even a simple glimpse outside my window inspires me to sketch or draw. Here is a little more about my journey. Artistry on the Canvas of Life:
My heart was filled with passion, and I started drawing everything I could at the age of 4. I discovered watercolours at the age of 12. A beautiful story unfolded before my eyes when I began painting a small landscape, inspired by my teacher. He said, 'Anju, paint with your imagination; they are great.' That magical day marked the creation of my first watercolour artwork. Living in a busy city where nature was hidden, my imagination allowed me to turn those ideas on paper, creating a sense of serenity outside my everyday life. The first time I created an original painting titled 'Me,' my father watched and said, 'This isn't a real tree.' I replied, 'It's art, Baba; it's my imagination.' During my school years, most teachers referred to me as 'Kalakar,' which means 'Artist' in my language. I also explored other art forms, such as writing for the school magazine, dance performances, and singing. My young adult life was filled with creative pursuits. At age 18 I left all other creative parts and chose painting for life. In 2009 the event business came into my life and I was back on the stage dancing and comparing the events. Still, I paint wherever I get a chance outside the busy event business. Whether it's the vibrant warmth of India or the lush landscapes of New Zealand, every stroke of my brush is a heartfelt expression of the world around me. Art as Meditation:
Art is my way of connecting with the soul and finding that calmness in the world through creativity. I carry my art supplies wherever I travel. It's a great company, and I observe and absorb more when I travel. When I am not driving I am sketching on the bus, train, or plane feeling really the world is my oyster. On the difficult days of my life, I got into the habit of painting 5 watercolour greetings a day. It was rejuvenating for my mind and made a big difference in getting over the hurdles. A Journey Worth Sharing:
My artistic journey began as a young mother, teaching art to curious young minds. Over the years, I've been fortunate to share my passion with countless students, both young and old. It is amazing what a joy a person gets out when they create something from scratch. I loved teaching and getting to know the versatile artistic talent hidden under a person. A lot of laughter, creation, working on the tricks, and fixing the big problems easily was food for my soul. I believe the teacher needs to be humble and give 100% energy and positivity to their students to make them feel good about their journey to open up to the new horizon. Exploring the Canvas of New Zealand:
New Zealand has become my canvas, a place that has provided a blank page for my creative mind. The South Island's breathtaking landscapes, everyday life in Auckland, the stunning beaches, and mesmerising sunsets—all of these elements inspire my art and fill my heart with wonder. I explored acrylic paints in 2004 and got really into it. Creating many paintings to date and sold nearly 80% of them. I am still in the creation of various projects, most of them are imaginations inspired by the New Zealand landscape. In every corner of the world, I have found beauty. When better cameras were invented I got into photography for ideas to paint and sketch or just to capture the colour for me to observe better. The colours in New Zealand are out of this world and I am glad to be able to capture them and present my vision through photography. A reflection of my mind is the camera:
In every corner of the world, I have found beauty. The Art of Collaboration:
I'm always open to collaborating with fellow artists, as I believe that art is even more powerful when it's a shared experience. If you're an artist at an art gallery or an avid art admirer who shares my love for art then let's explore the possibilities of creating and exhibiting together. Do get in touch, I would love to create new arty connections. Thank you for joining me on this artistic journey. I invite you to explore my gallery, read about my experiences, and get in touch if you share my passion for art and the world's natural wonders. Let's paint the world with creativity and inspiration, one brushstroke at a time. With warm regards,
Anju Desai. https://anjudesai.co.nz/art/

Creative Souls | A Beautiful Afternoon of Art, Connection and Creativity 🎨What a harmonious and beautiful afternoon spen...
16/10/2026

Creative Souls | A Beautiful Afternoon of Art, Connection and Creativity 🎨

What a harmonious and beautiful afternoon spent with like-minded people, celebrating creativity, sharing ideas and appreciating each other’s artistic journeys.

At the beginning of this year, we started with a Meditative Art course, exploring creativity as a way to slow down, connect and find a little peace within ourselves. This term, we embraced Colours of Diwali, and I was so delighted to see everyone’s enthusiasm, courage and willingness to challenge themselves.

Our artists chose some wonderfully ambitious subjects, and seeing them bring their ideas to life was truly admirable. Every artwork tells a story, and every artist has a unique way of seeing the world. It has been a privilege to be part of this journey.

A heartfelt thank you to Cindy at Onehunga Community Centre for doing such an exceptional job organising our classes, arranging everything and supporting us in so many ways. Your kindness and commitment have helped make these creative experiences possible.

And to my wonderful, wonderful, wonderful students — thank you for bringing such warmth, respect, encouragement and harmony to our classes. You have made this journey so special, and I am grateful for the connections and friendships we have built along the way.

🌿 Looking ahead: We are hoping to offer a shorter creative class next term. If you would like to join us, please email [email protected] to register your interest.

🖼️ Come and enjoy the exhibition!

The exhibition opened on 16 October and runs until 29 October 2026. Visit during library opening hours to enjoy the beautiful collection, connect with the artists and discover the stories behind their work.

All artworks are for sale, so this is a lovely opportunity to support emerging artists and take home something truly special.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this creative journey. I look forward to creating, learning and sharing many more beautiful moments with you in the future.

Enjoy the artwork, celebrate the artists and let creativity bring us together. ❤️

16/10/2026

Do join us for opening today. Colours of Diwali art exhibition Onehunga Community Centre
Anju Desai Crystal Ong

🪔 Diwali in Colours – Art Exhibition Opening 🪔Join us for the opening of a beautiful Diwali art exhibition featuring art...
15/10/2026

🪔 Diwali in Colours – Art Exhibition Opening 🪔

Join us for the opening of a beautiful Diwali art exhibition featuring artwork by students and Anju Desai, celebrating the colours, creativity and spirit of Diwali.
📅 Friday, 16 October 2026
🕓 4pm – 6pm
📍 Onehunga Community Centre
Come along to our opening ceremony, meet the artists and students, enjoy the artwork and discover what else is coming up at Onehunga Community Centre.
Let’s come together as a community to celebrate Diwali through art, creativity and connection. ✨
Everyone is welcome!
For enquiries: [email protected]

After our wonderful pop-up festival opening on 26 September, we are now ready to bring the whole programme together!Pres...
28/09/2026

After our wonderful pop-up festival opening on 26 September, we are now ready to bring the whole programme together!

Presented by Events by Anju with Art Out East, there is a lot coming up over the next two weeks at Botany Downs Centre.

And the best part? Most of these programmes are free and open to the community. This is not just about us — it is about creating a space where we can share knowledge, culture, creativity and connection with our East Auckland community.

Here is what is coming up:

🌿 Thursday 1 October, 11.30am–12.30pm
Healing Spices with Anju - A relaxed talk exploring the everyday use of healing spices.
📍 Botany Downs Centre

💃 Thursday 1 October, 6.30pm - Bollywood Dance Pop-Up
Featuring our wonderful Botany class group.

🎲 Friday 2 October, 10am–10.45am & 11am–11.45am
Chopat – Heritage Board Game - Come along and discover this fascinating ancient Indian board game. Two sessions available.

🥣 Wednesday 7 October, 10am–10.45am & 11am–11.45am
Anju’s Street Food Demo – Bhel Puri - A fun food experience with tasting.

🥣 Wednesday 7 October, 3pm–3.45pm & 4pm–4.45pm
Anju’s Street Food Demo – Papdi chat
Another delicious Indian street food experience.

🎲 Friday 9 October, 10am–10.45am & 11am–11.45am
Chopat – Heritage Board Game
Another opportunity to come along and learn this fascinating game.

Book here - https://events.humanitix.com/host/botany-town-centre

Most activities require booking, so please check the Art Out East booking link below, or visit the Art Out East pages tagged here for more information.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening ceremony on Saturday. ❤️

Let’s create a beautiful community hub together — a place where we can share our knowledge, celebrate our cultures, enjoy creativity and bring a little more colour and connection to East Auckland.

Today was the opening day of the Auckland Heritage Festival, and what a lovely way to begin it. 🌿I was invited to the be...
24/09/2026

Today was the opening day of the Auckland Heritage Festival, and what a lovely way to begin it. 🌿

I was invited to the beautiful Nathan Homestead for a day filled with stories, creative activities and a little glimpse into Auckland life from the past.

We heard from some wonderful women speakers who shared stories about Auckland’s food heritage, old Auckland writers and their recipe books, early television food programmes, and even cookbooks dating back to 1910.

There was also a fascinating little peek into everyday life around 1940s Auckland. One thing that really stayed with me was a book called “365 Days of Pudding” — literally 365 puddings! 😂 My first thought was… how much sugar was going into all of that?

I also joined Jillian for a fun trinket tray-making workshop, followed by a painting activity where we created something inspired by a recipe. I did not have nearly enough time to finish mine properly, but it was lovely to put something together quickly and see how it could come to life. Perhaps I will give it more time another day.

Thanks to lovely Cara and Firth who are working tirelessly behind to run this festival smoothly.

As per now now the Auckland Heritage Festival is open to the public!

I am also very excited to be part of the festival with my own event:

🌿 Mindful Living Through Heritage Spices

📅 Wednesday 30 September
🕚 11am–1pm
📍 Mt Albert Library

Come along and explore how our food traditions, spices and everyday rituals can connect us with heritage while supporting mindful living.

For more information, visit Events by Anju on Facebook or www.anjudesai.co.nz

Questions about the festival or my event?
Email [email protected]

Auckland Heritage Nathan Homestead Mt Albert Library

Address

Pakuranga
2010

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

0211537969

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Creative Soul posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Creative Soul:

Shortcuts

Share