Yara Almouradi has been a friend of mine since elementary school and our friendship grew stronger in college while taking the same architectural classes. I have always admired her talent in art whether it was in painting, drawing, designing, and the way her mind works. She is that girl that knows everything about life and the one people go to if they need to talk. I truly appreciate her friendship {LOVE YOU YARA!} and now I am proud to present her as the first in my Featured Artist category!

Interview with Yara Almouradi

When & Where were you born >>>> Damascus, Syria 1990

Tell us a little about yourself >>>> I like to think of myself as a creative person who enjoys many things in life and tries to share those experiences and feelings through art. I am currently into realism, not only to portray the control that I am learning, but also to try and have the viewer of my art feel the same way I felt when I saw whatever it is that I have recreated through art, because life is art.

Describe yourself in 5 words >>>> creative, silly, easy-going, sarcastic, observant.

What art media to you like most >>>> oil painting & graphite renderring. I just began using color pencil, & I gotta say, it is growing on me!

What’s your favorite color to work with >>>> Hmmmm, tough question. I pretty much use all of the colors that I have, but I tend to like the warmer colors more: orange, brown, red, yellow–all the different hues tend to blend together a lot better and smoother than the cooler palette.

What is your biggest inspiration >>>> Anything that catches my interest,really. I enjoy artistic challenges so I try to keep my inspiration sources open.

When did you first discover your creative talent >>>> I have always had a creative side of me, I used to paint when I was 4 years old! Granted, they weren’t master pieces, but it was still fun to pick up the paint brush and just make designs and draw!

Could you tell us about some of your work >>>> I began drawing cartoons and anime characters, creating my own and such; then I after I thought that I have succeeded in that aspect, I moved on to still life rendering. After I developed a good sense of perspective, I decided that I should try to sketch realistic figures. I would use my cartoon/anime background to draw random people, then I moved on to drawing my friends. Whenever I would get frusturated with my lack of realistic human drawing ability, I would render a sketch of an animal then go back to humans. After I got a steady style going, I then began to take actual art classes–however, taking art classes didn’t begin until I started college. During college, I took painting classes as well and exposed myself to that aspect of art. I usually fully render a piece, then paint it on canvas or wood.

Any influences or anyone you look up to when it comes to designing >>>> I try to let anything and everything influence my art. Since I have yet to discover something that I really like to do, I am pretty much willing to try anything in the art world. After I experience it, I can say whether or not I enjoy it. I like to have a reference when I am drawing/painting something since I am still in a learning stage and I am still striving to create realisic pieces. Since photography is a hobby of mine, and I am inspired by many things, I usually like to take several photos of something that intrigues me, so I can recreate it later.

Share with us something funny that has happened to you recently >>>> I was searching for my hair clip for approximately half an hour. Feeling overly frusturated, I asked my sister to assist me in finding the clip. Together, we searched the entire house several times for about 45 minutes without avial. For you see, this was my only clip that ACTUALLY held up my hair!! Feeling defeated, I began to run my fingers through my hair, only to notice that it was not down…..my clip had been in my hair the ENTIRE time and neither me nor my sister noticed!!!!!!

What hobbies do you have other than art >>>> I enjoy photography, music (guitar), creating films, reading/writing

What do you plan to do in your future >>>> I am currently an art student at CSUF with a drawing/painting concentration. I plan on becoming an art professor at a college/university and host galleries on the side.

Do you have any advice for beginning artists >>>> Try every media you can get your hands on. Don’t limit yourself to paper & canvas–wooden panels, tree bark, skateboards, fabric, glass, plastic, trash cans–anything can be your ‘canvas’!!! Don’t let anyone tell you that you are a bad artist either. Sure, everyone can improve, but do not allow others to take away your passion for art. Don’t be afraid to ask someone for advice on how to improve your art–you never know what is out there until you go searching.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why >>>> Hmmmm, another tough question!!!! I would love to travel to many different places in this world, see the people, see the different ways they approach art, THEN I can give you an honest answer as to where I would want to be.

<<< Examples of your work >>>

< click on the photos to see them bigger >