We’re looking forward to introducing you to Meera Ramanathan. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Meera, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I have been creating paper collages with hand embroidery with teapots and mugs as a theme for several years now. I am currently revisiting and working on my personal art by using inspiration from my south Indian roots in Kanjeevaram sarees. My childhood was filled with trips to the saree shops with my mom, sisters and aunts where we would spend time before a wedding in the family or a holiday to purchase hand woven silk sarees. The elders would spend time asking questions about the colors to the seller, discuss the motifs and select beautiful sarees after much discussion. I have been creating works incorporating the motifs and the weaving in the sarees recently and have been enjoying the process. I have been using yarn, paint and weaving and the process has been different from what I am used to. I have been working out of my comfort zone – there have been several days of experimenting, problem solving and retrying techniques. The new theme, media and technique have been giving me much joy and satisfaction.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Meera Ramanathan and I am the Project Resource teacher for visual art in San Diego Unified School District. I am the chair for the VAPA Advisory council for San Diego Unified School District and also the chair for the CAEA San Diego area K-8 art show.
I have a master’s degree in history of fine arts, drawing and painting and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Visual Art. I also have 9 years experience working in an early childhood setting.
In my art class, I like to introduce my students to artists from different parts of the world while giving them the opportunity to create, present, respond and connect with different media and techniques while finding inspiration from their own life experiences. My goal is always to see how I can make my lessons accessible to all my students while keeping them challenged, motivated, and engaged.
I am San Diego Unified school district’s 2025 Elementary Teacher of the year and also the recipient of several other awards including the Artistic Innovation award at the VAPA Spotlight awards with San Diego Unified School District, Outstanding Elementary Visual Art Educator award by the California Art Education Association and my art program was awarded the Exemplary Program status.
I have appeared in several television channels including NBC 739, ABC10 News, CBS8 and KUSI news. I have also been interviewed and featured in the San Diego Union Tribune that showcased my role as an art educator and artist.
I am a working artist as well and enjoy working with paper and yarn – I have had several solo shows in San Diego and have participated in group shows as well.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Growing up, I helped my mom make dinner every evening. On one such day, my mom was chopping the vegetable Okra and I noticed that she was throwing the ends away. I asked her to save them for me. I was inspired to dip those star shaped ends into paint and pressed them onto paper to create beautiful, colorful designs. I created several of these that evening because they were so pretty, and I felt great creating something with my hands. A new passion was awakened! The next day, I saw that my parents had proudly displayed my Okra artwork in our living room. Over the next few weeks, they proudly announced to anyone that came home that I had made those beautiful works! Their simple act of proudly displaying my work had a profound effect on me as a child. What they had done was given me validation that what I made was important and deserved recognition. This instilled in me a lifelong passion for creating, and I wanted to share that feeling of validation through art making with others which inspired my love for teaching. I am grateful to my parents for giving me the opportunity to pursue my interests and encouraging me to create! They were able to see what motivated me and sparked joy in me.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Find your own path and be passionate about what you like. Practice and have perseverance to keep doing what you love! Take positive risks, challenge yourself to try new things and always be drawn to that spark that motivates you. Surround yourself with people that are kind, inspire you and care about you. Give yourself grace, make mistakes and embrace your imperfections.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Art gives me joy – creating art, going to art shows, organizing art shows, talking to my students, the artists around me, thinking and planning what I want to create, what materials I want to use, the theme and what I can do to beautify the space around me.
Family matters a lot to me! There are traditions that have been passed to me I wish to pass on to my two daughters. I am also passionate about what I like and go after them with discipline and dedication!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me for my passion, hard work and my dedication to my family, art, and cooking. I did things in a way that was meaningful and fulfilling to me and the people around me. I want people to remember me as a strong advocate who believed that the arts teach students to problem solve, work as part of a team, take positive risks, be creative, confident, disciplined and add value to their academic growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: Art with Ms.R, meeraramanathan.com
- Instagram: @ms.r_art_class
- Other: Weekly blog – Ms.R’s art class
