about me

Maya Raza is a self-taught watercolor artist, entrepreneur, and educator based in Norman, Oklahoma. Her artistic journey began on March 20, 2020, in an unexpected moment of stillness during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While cleaning out her garage, she stumbled upon an old sketchbook titled How to Learn to Draw, a simple discovery that opened the door to a new chapter of creativity.

What started as quiet sketching quickly grew into a colorful exploration. With no formal supplies, Maya used whatever she could find, dried-up watercolor paints, markers, even chalk, to bring her drawings to life. She soon realized how deeply painting fulfilled her. Around this time, she began placing a new painting in her front window each day, hoping to bring a bit of joy to neighborhood families taking daily walks. Watching children stop, point, and smile sparked something profound, inspiring her to create more vibrant, nature-infused pieces featuring bold colors, animals, and elements from the world around her.

Since those early days, Maya’s art has blossomed into a full-time passion and a thriving small business: Maya’s Artbeat. Her love for nature, her travels around the world, and her background in education all shape her detailed, expressive style. Maya holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Oklahoma, and her heart for teaching continues through the watercolor workshops she leads for learners of all ages.

Today, Maya’s work can be found across social media, at art festivals, in galleries, and through collaborations with other artists and local businesses. Her paintings and products are showcased at the Tin Lizzie Gift Shop inside Will Rogers World Airport and at Painted Tree in Moore, Oklahoma. Whether through exhibitions, commissions, or creative merchandise, Maya seeks to share the same joy that first sparked her journey-inviting others to see the world through color, curiosity, and wonder.