September 1, 2021 |

Artist Interview - Mariam Ali

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Mariam Ali and I’m a coloured pencil artist and a student currently in my first year of college.

Why do you do what you do?

I’ve always enjoyed using art as a creative outlet and a way to relax in my free time. I’m very critical of my art and always looking for ways to improve so experimenting with different subjects and finding where my strengths lie is also interesting to me too!

What types of colors are you drawn to for your art and why?

Definitely rainbow colours! I love making my art as colourful as I can.

You use so many vibrant colors, do you have any that you favor?

Colour scheme revolving around pinks, purples, and blues are my favourite. They compliment each other so well! I’m in love with rainbow pieces too!

What inspires your art?

Any object that is colourful!

How and when did you get into art?

As a child, I would always love to go through my mum’s huge bag filled with art and craft materials. I’d admire every single one of her creations and that’s what inspired me to start creating myself.

How has your practice changed over time?

As a teenager, I had always been creating using a variety of media; acrylics, watercolours, and graphite. I then discovered professional coloured pencils through Instagram and have been using them ever since.

What’s your favorite piece of art that you’ve created? Why?

My favourite piece of art is probably my pink and purple drawing! One of the reasons being that hair is one of my favourite things to draw as the process is quite satisfying. The second being that I surprised myself with how realistic it turned out.

What’s the best piece of art advice you’ve been given?

To not compare your art to someone else’s, especially if they are at a different stage in their art journey! It took me a while to understand that failing is a part of the creative process and that failing will eventually help you to succeed.

What’s one art tip/technique you can share with us that you find really helpful?

Experiment with different materials and subjects! I find it fun to see how my art style can slightly change depending on which paper I use.

Do you have any secret tips or techniques you use to salvage a piece when you make a mistake?

It usually depends on the size of the mistake! If it is a mistake within a small section, I try to take attention away from it by completing the rest of the piece to a higher standard. I can then try to cover up details of the section using a white gel pen.

What is your favorite Strathmore paper? Why?

Definitely 400 Series Toned Tan Mixed Media! I love how vibrant the colours show up on it.

What art materials could you not live without?

My Prismacolors and Toned Paper.

Who are your biggest influences (or who were when you started doing art)?

My inspirations came from the numerous talented artists I see daily on social media- one being Morgan Davidson, a pencil artist whose colourful illustrations I love.