Today we’d like to introduce you to Fathima Farha.
Hi Fathima, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began making art in childhood for fun. What began as something I enjoyed doing slowly became something I wanted to take seriously. In high school, I committed fully to developing my work by building a portfolio, participating in exhibitions and competitions, and becoming actively involved in the National Art Honour Society. Receiving the Best Use of Lighting Award at the 2024 Congressional Art Competition marked an important moment in my growth, encouraging me to embrace critique and push my skills to the next level.
Today, my work centres on realism and still life, which I use as a way to tell stories. I continue to experiment, learn, and refine my practice while sharing my journey online and engaging with a broader creative community. My path so far has been shaped by consistency, curiosity, and a deep love for making art, and I’m excited to see how the work continues to evolve.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. After finishing school, I took a year off to focus on my art, and that was honestly scary. Without a clear structure, I dealt with a lot of self-doubt and pressure, especially questioning whether I was making the right choice. Some days felt productive, while others felt slow and lonely.
I struggled with comparing myself to others and feeling like I wasn’t moving fast enough. Staying motivated every day was hard, and I had to learn discipline on my own. But that year taught me how to trust myself, sit with uncertainty, and keep showing up even when things felt unclear. Those struggles shaped how I work now and made me more confident in my path.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work with acrylic, oil, and graphite, and I focus a lot on realism and trompe l’oeil. I’m drawn to painting and drawing paper and other everyday objects, and I like creating work that makes people stop for a second and question what they’re looking at. I really enjoy using light, shadow, and small details to create that eye-tricking effect.
One piece I’m especially proud of is a drawing I made last year, called Dream, which was done in graphite and charcoal on paper. It’s a realistic drawing of a piece of paper in a factory setting. That work felt important to me because it pushed my skills and helped me realise how much I enjoy telling quiet stories through simple subjects.
What sets my work apart is my story and attention to detail. I enjoy working with ordinary materials and investing time and care in them, transforming something simple into something that feels thoughtful and intentional.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhas.art/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@farhas.art
