Artist Spotlight | Saima Heric
Saima Heric
ARTICLE & PHOTO SAIMA HERIC
Saima Heric was born in Novi Pazar , Serbia , and is an artist who specialises in painting . You can see more of her work on her Instagram account : www . instagram . com / art _ is _ on _ fire
IN THE BEGINNING , when I first began to perceive the environment and the people around me , I would create images in my head . In the air I would draw these images with my finger , until I started taking colouring pencils in my hands and began drawing on the walls of my room and the halls of our flat . My parents realised that I loved to draw , and to separate me from my wall , they took me shopping to buy pencils and paper . That ’ s how my observation and curiosity in things was transfered to paper , as my parents had no time to watch my on-goings . Very often , I displayed my works and talked about them to almost every guest who came to visit us . Every one of them has a story .
I have always found my corner to relax with pencils and paper , and mum often has to tell me , “ Leave that paper alone and relax a little .” Then I would have to explain to her that this was my way of relaxing but she would feel sorry for me because she never believed me . Whenever I went on vacation , I always brought along all my colouring pencils and papers with me . I could forget everything , I could repress all the things around me except my instinct to paint the images and things happening around me . My parents began to feel assured of my skills in painting during their conversations with my teachers in primary school but unfortunately they couldn ’ t afford to buy me more than paper , pencils and sometimes if I was lucky , tempera .
By circumstance – or maybe it was the destiny in my life – my path led me to study Art at the International University of Novi Pazar , and thus my art story continues to grow . I see inspiration everywhere . Very quickly , I can start to draw and paint my artwork with images of surroundings that are both real and refined . I try to decorate them , even those that are abstract . Although I come from a place where people don ’ t often see beauty in paintings , people who paint are adorning our environment with art , and spreading beauty and love amongst us . They too are creating their own little paradise on earth . In my paintings , and in the paintings of other artists , lies value in the beauty of nature and all other things that surround us . Contrary to the attitude of people where I come from , I know this fact : my images will live on long after me , and will speak about a time and life that happened many , many years before ...
28 The Travellist | Issue 4 , 2016