AMMAN — A local artist turned the economic crisis triggered
by the pandemic into a unique opportunity. Twenty-three year old Iraqi artist
Farah Rakan tapped into her creative spirit to start a small business selling
her own paintings during the
pandemic.
اضافة اعلان
Rakan told Jordan News that she discovered her deep passion
for art when she was just eight years old, adding that she spent most of her
time doodling and coloring. This continued into school, when she used to skip
classes to go paint instead.
When Rakan turned 15 years old, she first decided to open
her social media page, called “farah.pdf.” "It was my hobby and a way to
release my stress and express myself through my art," she said.
She participated in her school's open day to share her
artwork and sold her first painting there. "I kept my love for art on the
side all my school years, then my mom decided to put me in a summer art school
just for a year," Rakan recalled. After that, she started watching YouTube
videos and discovering more and more about her artistic talents.
But then, she went to the
Applied Science University in
Amman as an interior graduate student. For the first two years, she took basic
art classes, but for the rest of her time there she “didn’t paint or sketch a
single line.”
"I was so caught up in the project and stayed up all
night," she added.
Rakan had worked in a bakery, in sales, and as an art
teacher for children. But just months after her graduation, the coronavirus
pandemic began. With no jobs available, she decided to paint again. After three
months of lockdown, she started a small business making custom paintings that
reflect her customer’s personality using her unique artistic style.
The young artist gets her new ideas from nature, her daily
life, and online sources of inspiration, she said.
The goal behind her Instagram page is to reach more people
and share her artwork with people who enjoy art. She hopes to build a community
through her social media. Because of the pandemic, she has been unable to
display her work in bazaars, but in the future she plans to display her
paintings in local shops and exhibitions. She is also hoping to one day open a
studio to teach children art.
“And because we are talking about goals and dreams, I'd like
to open my art gallery in France!" Rakan added.
Each painting requires a different process. Sometimes Rakan
starts a new painting without thinking of the outcome, but sometimes she
brainstorms and plans a whole mood board for the ideas and colors she is going
to use. The artist mainly uses acrylic paint, prioritizing affordable options.
A 10 by 10cm portrait can take up to three days, depending
on the details and the reference she uses. The prices depend on the cost of the
materials and on the number of working days required.
Rakan described herself as deeply satisfied with her
customers' reactions and reviews — once a happy client even described her work
as “beautiful chaos.”
Still, like any other business, Rakan faces some financial
difficulties, struggling to achieve as many commissions as she would like.
She said that she draws inspiration from other pieces of
art, such as Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss,” adding that artists play a crucial role
in society.
"We can reshape our world into a better place and talk
about our community issues in a way that gets people’s attention," she
said.
Rakan encouraged others to “stay committed and focused.” She
described art as “a process that needs time to work. Stay real about it and
don't fake who you are. You'll eventually create your platform out of people's
real love for what you do.”
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