By Chester Ni
“Art is thick in my blood,” says Maryam, a ninth grade student at Collingwood School. Art has been a part of Maryam Jafari-Amjad’s family for decades, and it has played an important role in her life as both a hobby and a part of her background. Ever since she was in kindergarten, Maryam has been influenced by the art she sees around her. As a child, Maryam was fascinated by images of little cartoon children her aunt drew because she felt that she could see herself in them. Maryam started drawing, and though her teachers were not very supportive, she kept trying and she gradually improved as she took lessons from her grandmother, who has been painting with different mediums for over three decades. So far, Maryam’s artwork has been featured multiple times in mini-exhibitions.
Apart from her family, Maryam is mainly influenced by two artists: Michelangelo, one of the most famous artists from the Renaissance period; and Aydin Aghdashloo, a Persian modern artist. When she was studying artists from the Renaissance, Maryam felt that she could see Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel and understand the thoughts and emotions he had when he was painting. As for Aydin Aghdashloo, Maryam is a fan of how he manages to capture the “different aspects of life without saying a word.” Maryam herself tries to use art as a form of expression, but unfortunately, she often feels restrained by the requirements put forth with the projects that she is currently working on. However, she does value her own artwork, saying, “all of them represent me and my abilities in different stages of art, and I am proud of them.”
Besides painting and drawing, Maryam enjoys spending her time reading and taking photographs. She loves how reading allows her to strengthen her understanding of the world and experience life through the eyes of others. Photography is another passion of hers, particularly because it allows her to capture memorable moments and keep them for eternity. Although Maryam does not plan on pursuing a career in art, she does see it as a significant part of her future as she uses it as a way to “relax and let go of reality.”
“Art is thick in my blood,” says Maryam, a ninth grade student at Collingwood School. Art has been a part of Maryam Jafari-Amjad’s family for decades, and it has played an important role in her life as both a hobby and a part of her background. Ever since she was in kindergarten, Maryam has been influenced by the art she sees around her. As a child, Maryam was fascinated by images of little cartoon children her aunt drew because she felt that she could see herself in them. Maryam started drawing, and though her teachers were not very supportive, she kept trying and she gradually improved as she took lessons from her grandmother, who has been painting with different mediums for over three decades. So far, Maryam’s artwork has been featured multiple times in mini-exhibitions.
Apart from her family, Maryam is mainly influenced by two artists: Michelangelo, one of the most famous artists from the Renaissance period; and Aydin Aghdashloo, a Persian modern artist. When she was studying artists from the Renaissance, Maryam felt that she could see Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel and understand the thoughts and emotions he had when he was painting. As for Aydin Aghdashloo, Maryam is a fan of how he manages to capture the “different aspects of life without saying a word.” Maryam herself tries to use art as a form of expression, but unfortunately, she often feels restrained by the requirements put forth with the projects that she is currently working on. However, she does value her own artwork, saying, “all of them represent me and my abilities in different stages of art, and I am proud of them.”
Besides painting and drawing, Maryam enjoys spending her time reading and taking photographs. She loves how reading allows her to strengthen her understanding of the world and experience life through the eyes of others. Photography is another passion of hers, particularly because it allows her to capture memorable moments and keep them for eternity. Although Maryam does not plan on pursuing a career in art, she does see it as a significant part of her future as she uses it as a way to “relax and let go of reality.”