Sonia Punjabi


New EWI artist Sonia Punjabi says her work is, “inspired by folk.” Sonia taps into her Indian heritage to create colorful paintings and jewelry. She grew up in the metropolitan city of Bombay, yet remains most inspired by a visit to the Indian state of Rajasthan, known for its vibrantly colored textiles, semi-precious stones, and handicraft traditions.

Sonia was drawn to EWI for its mission and the opportunity it provides her. After only two months, she says the experience has been positive. Sonia will take the EWI business training this month to gain marketing and financial skills. She isn’t sure to what scale she wants to take her art, but she says, “I wouldn’t want to be sitting at home with a small audience. I want to create an avenue.” EWI’s gallery on King Street provides a strong start to this endeavor and a place to showcase her work.

She says of the gallery, “It’s unique. It has a lot of different artwork. I kind of like the concept that here art is anything handmade. It’s almost like a store, but with a cause.” Sonia works at a nonprofit organization, but she notes that EWI is a morale boost for women who do not have that chance. She says it is important for, “especially immigrant women who are in the home, with no opportunity to work. They have these talents, so it gives them this option.”



Wynn Creasy


Wynn Creasy’s life journey has been as colorful and curving as the varying brushstrokes of her popular oil paintings. Her memories of growing up in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains inspire the themes of nature and harmony that run through her art. Wynn began her art career singing musical comedy, then Opera. She has sung on Broadway, at the Met, and at many regional theaters, but as a self- described “recluse and homebody,” she hated living out of a suitcase. She teaches singing and acting, but a desire to make a career change and become a visual artist prompted her to seek training at EWI.

While she is not an immigrant, she immediately recognized the value of EWI’s training program in business and marketing for the arts and signed up. Previously, she had never had a portfolio, photographed her work, or had any formal training in business management or accounting. She says, “From the first night, I thought, ‘This is good.’ There was so much information.”

Later, she realized EWI’s larger role. She said, “This is something I need to be involved in, not just as an entrepreneur, but as a woman supporting other women and immigrants.”

So, how has participation with EWI changed her life? Wynn says, “It’s safe to say those nine weeks completely changed my life.” Since graduation from EWI’s program, Wynn has enjoyed a high level of commercial success, but she warns that recognition doesn’t immediately translate into sales. Her advice for artists just starting out is not to let others set your limitations. She says, “Do everything. Get all the information you can. Don’t do it part way. Do it with 110 percent!”