Interviews

Interview With Famous Artist Shereen

When did you decide you wanted to become a painter?

I started painting a few years ago as a hobby and what I found was that it wasn’t just a time-passer, it was also very therapeutic so I started working more on firstly with water colours, acrylics, oils (my fav so far definitely) not just on canvases but on other mediums as well such as wood.

Would it be fair to say that in your work there is a certain fascination with the past, old traditions, a dying way of life?

That’s a hard one urrmmmm I wouldn’t necessarily go that far – I mean the patience for art itself is already a dying way of life, I may have different view of our modern world and our way of living in the now in that I do think that with modern progression, technology for example, some of us may have forgotten what it’s like to be humane or how to enjoy the littlest things and that’s a dying way of life to me. “Digging in the dirt” a piece of mine may project such this view but I would say definitely “Charlie” – a book of poetry I published would definitely portray this vision.

How important is quality to you?

Quite, there’s so much work not published as I am just not happy with how it turned out. I have scraped so many over the years but I do keep some that I am still not quite happy with. It is almost like okay, perhaps one day, I will re-attempt you and it will be better.

 Trepidation
Trepidation

Tell me about a painting project which you are very proud of?

Not everything I paint has a deeper meaning or a story behind it and not every finished piece always turns out the way to how I imagined it to be in the first place. But then I set out to work on a piece with a story behind it and the final product turns out alright, it’s when I look at it with pride. “Trepidation” (photo attached) one of mine I would say is one where I’m really proud of.

What has been the hardest part of your career?

It was not always easy to accept criticisms for my pieces or writings, it just grew easier over the years.
I would love to call what I’m doing that, you know, career, that I’m doing this everyday, what I love but I can’t. That’s an ongoing regret but it’s also when living in today’s world, logic would take over. Perhaps it will change – I am hopeful it will change.

What would you do if you could not be a painter?

If I had to pick one really, if I were to stop painting, I’d write, there are times when it’s easier for me to convey a message through words. Well I could be a singer but I would be fooling myself, I’d never get anywhere with this voice hahahhaa

Are you active on social media? What’s the best way to follow you online?

Instagram – it’s where I post most – @syaptz  You can also check out my website shereen-yap.com.