Talia Ben-Simhon

All my life I was always considered an ordinary girl. My grades were average, my appearance was pretty boring and dull, and I had no unique talents. My life was simple and plain. I never stood out or made a difference. There was always a part of me that wished I could. This all changed during October or my sophomore year of high school. My friend convinced me to join the art class in my school. I figured I had nothing to lose and it meant I got out of taking another language so I switched in. On my first day in the class, I started drawing donuts in colored pencils and surprised myself, and others, with the results. After I received my grade for the assignment, I continued drawing on my free time. I used it as an outlet to express myself. I no longer felt ordinary. From then on, my passion for the fine arts helped me feel different. My confidence was boosted and I found a reason to smile daily on the way to school. When I talk about art, I find it hard to express exactly what about it makes me happy. I don’t know how to say what motivates me, exactly, instead, I show it through my art. My feelings, my thoughts, are put better to paper when I have a paintbrush in my hand. While in high school, I haven't yet discovered my niche but I realized that portraits are my favorite. I learn so much about the contours, shades, structures and features of the human face. I can draw a person, but if I change the angle even a little bit, it can look like a completely different person. I understand now how everyone is so different and I look at the world through a different lens. Most importantly, I don’t make art for other people, I make it for myself.

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