ALISHA
DINAPOP
Oh, hey!
My name is Alisha, I am 13 years old and I am a mixed media artist.
Sharing my creative journey to inspire yours.
I have been told many times that I am too young to start a creative buisness, to sell paintings, to design and open a website... that I should wait until I'm older to pursue this dream of mine.
I want to show you that little people can do big things.
'You are never too young, or too old, to do big things.'
I have always been creative. As a young child, I was labelled 'the crafty kid'. 'the kid who could draw'. I had this round wooden table, COVERED with marks from my pencils and markers... I would sit there for hours on end, creating anything and everything. Creativity has been with me my entire life!
When I was asked at kindergarden that frequent question of 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' - I never said 'an artist'. I didn't even think of it! I said 'a teacher' or 'a vet' or 'a baker'... I didn't even really know that being an artist was a job. Like, really? You get paid for creating???
As I grew and went from kindergarden, to school I didn't grow out of it - like children normally do when they hit the age of 10. I stuck at it! I would draw more though - anime girls, stylized illustrations, cutesy animals...
After grade 3, my mum decided to homeschool my siblings and I. We found a homeschooling group where we would meet up with other homeschoolers ever fortnight and did several activities. One of them was... an art class. I was excited for that one! Like, art is my thing! I'm good at that! I am 'the crafty kid', 'the kid who could draw'! Bu these classes were quite different to the art classes at school. It wasn't so much 'crafty' but more - 'arty'.
It was mixed media.
I absolutely adored the lessons. Painting, collaging, drawing, sketching, colouring - HEAVEN! Homeschooling group was the highlight of my weeks!
I then discovered that the art teacher had classes at her home, in her studio! I visted them - and those became the highlight of my weeks. I learned something new and exciting every week! It was just SO FUN!
With each lesson my creative confidence grew and grew... and bloomed.
I started creating more from what I learn't in the classes, at home. Quite quickly, that grew into my own little 'art corner' in our garage. Then that grew into an 'art space' and then into my own small 'art studio' in the guest bedroom!
And then - I practised and practised and practised and practised and practised and practised...
Practise. It's the ESSENTIAL key to finding your style. You can't skip over that part... but that's for a different post.
I made SO MUCH 'bad art'. I filled countless journals with my doodles and explorations... hey, it isn't nessecarily 'pretty' but it is SO IMPORTANT and what led me to where I am now!
Since then, I have accumulated over 70 art journals, sold several paintings, two commissions and a couple illustrations. One of my paintings also won 'Youth Highly Commended' at the Pakenham Art Show! I have such a beautiful community on Instagram of like-minded creative souls - and those who are creatively curious - following me, cheering me on, supporting me and encouraging me through this crazy and wonderful road I am on.
I am so grateful that I get to create the work that I do and be where I am in this creative journey - and I can not wait to see what the future will hold.
If you have read all this way - THANK YOU! I hope that by me sharing my story and my work I will inspire you on your journey.
Live Creatively,
Alisha xx