Detailed black and white pencil drawing of a wolf howling with its head tilted back, surrounded by a forest scene.

An Art Story

Decades ago, out of thin air, my love for art was born….

Much like a seed germinating in the soil, my interest in art started as early as I could remember and before the age of 10. I began with drawings on scraps of paper. I drew cars, trees, and houses, which at the time I didn’t think much of, until my father's friends started asking if they could keep these drawings.

A collection of paintbrushes with varying sizes and shapes, placed in a container near a window in an art studio.

Progression

As I got busy with academic achievements in middle and high school, I delved more into art. Oil painting gave me the ability to express myself much better. The unique mixing of colors and the various tones I was able to see was incredible.

After an art assignment in middle school, my art teacher shared, “I can’t believe this, what a beautiful piece of art!” I felt that was the water that my interest in art needed, to start growing.

And so, I continued with oil painting and drawing through high school and the first few years of medical school, exhibiting here and there.

Then life got busy with my career and family, but I kept art in my life, expanding to interests in photography, gardening, reading literature and poetry, writing, decorating, cooking, baking, fashion, and sports.

Last year, my love for fine art was rekindled and is stronger than ever.

I took on another challenge in art that was always fascinating to me, but I never got to pursue — portrait drawing using a pencil. I researched the task and bought books, but they didn’t match what I was expecting, until I started watching online tutorials about pencil portrait drawings.

And it was love at first sight — how a pencil and brush can literally give life to a drawing on a canvas.

The more tutorials I watched, the more I realized that I needed to refine and create my own style of drawing.

I started with portraits of animals and then challenged myself by drawing portraits of family members.

Starting again was not easy with the doubt and negative talk inside. But, taking on a new project is much like a toddler learning to walk — with many falls, but the ability to keep trying to stand is crucial.

A man wearing a cap and dark sweater sitting on a high stool at a table in an art studio, with paintings of a lion, a woman praying, a fish, and a bird displayed in the background.

Black and white drawing of an eagle with its wings spread wide, flying above water.

The Ongoing Journey

My current style involves drawing with graphite and charcoal using pencils and brushes.

The process takes quite a bit of focus and finesse, and allows me to get completely absorbed in the project at hand and present in all the beautiful moments that go behind the scenes to produce it.

I’m also exploring the impressionist style, and I am studying the work of pioneers of impressionism, such as Monet, and portrait oil paintings, such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt, and others.

Through my art, I feel I can express my love for nature and human nature in their simplest forms.