Pooja Collections

Stained Glass Magic

Stained glass although associated with churches in Rome and Venice, manages to give a very contemporary look to the whole setting. The trend of using stained glass is becoming popular as interior designers are realizing the value of this kind of work.

Pooja Arora, a 25-year-old entrepreneur is creating such paintings and designs for connoisseurs of colour, form and design. Pooja is into 40 types of paintings, but her basic forte is stained glass. Stained Glass is a European concept found in buildings and churches of Rome, Venice, Florence, etc. Stained glass painting involves cutting of glass, outlining and then painting on one piece of glass. On fusion glass, small pieces of glass are painted and pasted.

She also does Tanjore paintings, Old Gujrati work, and calligraphy, Oil glass, Tanjore clay painting and gift-wrapping but these are just add ons. In three years Pooja Arora has set up a business single handedly and made a success out of it. Her actual break came when she met architect and interior designer Ruby Harsharan Singh and her husband.

Pooja owes it all to Mrs. Singh, who is her mentor and godmother. Pooja held her first exhibition at the Japanese Embassy. Exhibitions at the Blind School, The Australian, British, Philippines and Canadian embassies followed in quick succession and before she knew it she had even started taking classes. Her product range includes glasses and artwork on furniture, mosaic work - a new concept developed by her. She also brings out the Harappan and Mohenjodaro effect on furniture, coal ceramics on furniture and panels, trays, coasters, napkin holders, table mats, oil paintings, glass and wooden coasters. Pooja has also worked for big names like Essex Farms, CTC Plaza in Delhi and a banquet hall at Ludhiana. The price range of the product depends upon the total quantity and design.

Pooja does not compromise on quality and uses imported colours. She takes references from books and visits the site to plan out in a systematic way, the need of the client and the site. She then makes the design on paper and after approval from the client makes the final product. As Pooja says "The basic concept, colour combinations and designs are all given by me and my karigars can work on the quantity required. The original idea is mine, and I make sure to make one piece to make it easier for them to follow.

Sometimes I work till 2 at night, but I make sure that my delivery is on time. I am very particular about the delivery date and most of the times I try my best to meet the deadlines. My work has been appreciated and earlier I used to get 6-8 students in one batch but now I get around 60-80 girls in summer itself, which is remarkable. Even though these classes tire me, I learn and improve with practice and also know how to handle people and their moods as the age group I get is between 8 to 50. I also believe in one thing - if you give your best, the best will come to you".

Today Pooja works with well-known architects in Delhi. Pooja plans to put up more exhibitions which are more interior based and take up interiors as her line of work. Pooja also takes classes in summer in two batches of morning and evening with 15 students in each batch 6 days a week. Pooja's family has been very supportive of her work. Pooja retails by the name of Pooja's Collections and gives all the credit to Mrs. Singh. Pooja's paintings and interior products combines contemporary work with the traditional to create masterpieces for your interiors.

- Jyoti Narang