A Return to Creative Courage

A smiling woman with short brown hair poses with her hands raised, showing her palms painted blue. She is wearing a colorful, patterned sleeveless top and stands in a busy indoor environment with people and artwork in the background.

In November 2025, I stood in the middle of State Street Market at Arts Los Altos’ Live Painting Art Battle—fingerpainting in front of hundreds of people, surrounded by “real” artists. The old voice whispered: “You don't belong here. You have no originality.” But I painted anyway. Messy. Imperfect. Mine. When the audience voted me Audience Favorite, something shifted. Not because I won, but because I showed up. That’s what courage looks like.

I’m Mansi (Maan-see), a mixed-media artist, writer, and creator of The RIPPLE Practice™.

At 19, I was told I had “no originality” and I believed it. I threw away my art supplies and stopped making anything at all. A decade and a half later later, while watching my toddler paint—fearless and joyful—I was reminded that creativity is unbound, untethered, free.

Along with my then-3-year-old, I began making little tokens—experimental art pieces—and handing them to oft-overlooked everyday workers as a tangible nod of appreciation.

Over time, strangers became neighbors, I started feeling a sense of belonging—having transitioned from a communications professional to a homemaker and mom— and I started taking more artistic risks.

My heart expanded.

But it wasn’t until August 2024, that I finally claimed the word artist.

What began as a spur-of-the-moment desire to thank the unappreciated has blossomed into a daily practice. Whether through handmade tokens, The RIPPLE Practice methodology, vulnerable storytelling, or intimate gatherings, I help people reconnect with creative confidence and make kindness tangible.

My upcoming book, Little Tokens of Love, Big Ripples of Happiness (Schiffer Craft, 2026), is an invitation to join this practice—not as a craft project, but as a way of being.

What I Offer

  • Interactive sessions designed to help participants unlock creativity, encourage self-expression, and build authentic connections. Workshops are best suited for groups of up to 10 participants to maintain an intimate, immersive experience.

  • Talks on presence-based living, the power of small meaningful moments, and how the Ripple Practice can create lasting impact in our communities.

  • Collaborations with brands, organizations, and media to inspire creativity and presence through The RIPPLE Practice methodology.

  • Creating opportunities for people to engage in meaningful conversations, share their work, and build impactful connections while using art as a conduit.

Get in Touch

Where the Ripples have Reached

  • Audience Favorite — Arts Los Altos Live Painting Art Battle (November 2025)

  • Featured guest — ReBloom Podcast on creative courage (October 2025)

  • Guest on several podcasts since 2022

  • Social-emotional learning facilitator for middle school, Los Altos School District

  • Collaborations with schools, senior programs, and neighborhood initiatives

Three women smiling at an outdoor event, standing close together with arms around each other, in front of tents and trees with fall foliage.
A group of women sitting around a table outdoors, engaging in conversation during a gathering or party. Some women are wearing aprons, and there are various items on the table, including paper and containers.
Two women, one older and one younger, stand outside near a teal donation or mailbox with colorful floral designs. They are looking at the mailbox as if they are curious or thoughtful, with a background of trees and parked cars during sunset.
A woman with short brown hair smiling while looking at a colorful, patterned gift box with pink, orange, yellow, and white floral designs.
A woman in a colorful sleeveless dress stands at a table, working on a painting with watercolors and brushes. Other women are seated at the table, and it appears they are engaged in an outdoor art activity.
Three women smiling together in a restaurant. The woman on the left has glasses and long dark hair, the woman in the middle has her hair in a bun, and the woman on the right has short dark hair. There is a coffee mug on the table in front of them.

Let’s Make Ripples Together

Interested in bringing The RIPPLE Practice to your community, hosting a workshop, or exploring a collaboration?

Get in Touch