Sanjib Rana

Sanjib Rana is the only artist I’ve worked with who was not a signboard artist. He had never painted on metal before. We met through a friend who recommended him highly.

When we first met, Sanjib painted everything from murals to shower curtains (!) for the well-to-do community in Kathmandu, specializing in birds and horses. Sanjib had his own stock photos of plants, birds and horses which he used in his paintings. Like many other signboard artists, he still subcontracts the lettering and rarely uses both English and Nepali in his signs.

Sanjib changed phone numbers one trip and I frantically looked for him, not finding him until I was back in California. But now we’re back in touch and I cannot wait to see more of his work.

In 2008, I introduced Sanjib to the owner of 12 luxury hotels and he painted bird art and murals for the hotel rooms and lobbies. 3 days a week Sanjib took his mother to dialysis, 3 days he worked for the hotel and one day he rests. This is my greatest success in this project. Sanjib now works year round and has a steady income from his art. He has a 27-year-old daughter, who has become a Nepali influencer.

I also introduced Sanjib to an American artist  – Gus Harper – and they have had several successful collaborations which Gus sells in California.  It is so nice bringing a good paycheck back to Sanjib and their paintings together are stunning.

Sanjib uses acrylic paint rather than the enamel that the other artists use, so his pet portraits are best kept indoors.