I believe that a lot of people have a misconception of what creativity truly is. In this blog post I’m going to break down what I think it means and list seven methods that anyone can apply in their daily lives to become more creative.
Read MoreThe (he)art of a daughter of diaspora.
Many creative professionals and artists have fluctuating incomes, increasing the risk of occasional shortfalls. Luckily, it’s possible to avoid coming up short by using side gigs to bring in some extra cash.
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I believe that one of the many joys in life is curling up with a good book for hours and satisfyingly reflecting on it after you’ve turned the last page. Here is a list with some of my absolute favorites:
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Starting over in a new city can be intimidating and lonely. If you have ever had to move, or you have a big move coming up, I understand the feelings you may be going through. In this post, I’ll break down some tips to help you better prepare yourself for starting over.
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It goes without saying that 2020 was a year of strife for many, but this blog post isn’t going to be about lamenting. Rather, it will be about a lesson I learned and how I want to look forward.
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In my last semester of undergrad, I added Studio Art as a minor. For six hours a day I was painting, sculpting, building, and drawing. Here’s a breakdown of all the projects I worked on in my classes:
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Alhamdullilah (praise be to God), Rayan and I were wed on March 15, 2019, in Tampa, Florida. I want to share what our take on an intimate, Pinterest-inspired wedding can look like between two Muslims of Moroccan and Kurdish descent. Let’s begin.
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When I was a young girl, my grandmother would always tell me stories when I visited her in Morocco. The story of Lamya and Manthiha was one of my favorites. Here's how it goes:
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I want to share with you the things that shaped me as a child- the sources of inspiration and nostalgia that influenced my art over the years. Here is a reflection of my journey.
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So many people stress over being talented. It’s a great quality to have, but it’s not the big picture nor the end goal of what we should be chasing. Here’s my insight on the matter:
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The ghoul had utterly tricked her, plain and simple. Now the young girl was his prey. She was absolutely alone, and one day away from being devoured by the ghoul. How will this chapter end?
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After 4 years, I finally got to revisit the motherland last summer. The last time I visited was at the age of 16, and it was incredibly emotional and eye-opening to be back at 20, looking at the country through a different set of eyes. Here are the lessons I learned:
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I wanted to create a series of portraits featuring my old paintings, but recreated on models through face-paint (thus literally bringing my paintings to life). And so, I hit up my talented photographer friend, Vi Hunyh, and we began our first collaborated project.
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I missed the sound of my grandmother’s voice, so I called her one day to catch up.
“Tell me a story, mi-la-la,” I ask on the phone. My grandmother was amused to hear me ask this. Nonetheless, she began the tale…
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Representation. Media. Diversity. We hear these words being thrown around on social media all the time. Every “woke” account has mentioned it at some point. But what’s the big deal? What exactly does representation mean, and why should we care?
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The creative process can be either smooth or chaotic (guess which one always happens for me). Regardless, it is always rewarding. Follow along as I show you the the steps I go through to create an illustration.
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“If you could be anything besides an artist, what would you be, and why?”
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I think there’s a really big misconception about artists and talent. Often when I draw, people will approach me and say, “Whoa, how’d you do that? That’s so amazing! I can’t even draw a stick figure!”
Here's what I have to say about that:
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This painting incorporates themes that make up the very fabric of my identity. My fears, my truths, and my hopes. Whether their experiences are the same or not, I hope that when people look at this painting, they can find it relatable in some way, and perhaps be moved to a higher level of self-awareness. That is my purpose as an artist.
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When I was a kid, I didn’t know much about quality art supplies. The most expensive tools I used in my middle school years were Crayola supplies and sharpie markers. I look at my humble collection of art supplies now and realize that I’ve come a long way.
And so, here’s a breakdown of the tools I currently use.
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