Today we’d like to introduce you to Chaimae Oualid.
Chaimae, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I believe it started when I was ten years old. I remember drawing anything surrounding me, especially at school. I would sketch the entire classroom or images from manuals. I remember using black and white only, I was too scared of colors. Then, I discovered Andy Warhol and was astonished by the way the vibrant colors brought those portraits to life. I replicated some of his work throughout my teenage years while exploring different colors. I would post them online and sell them to local galleries or gift them to family and friends. After graduating high school, I moved from Morocco to the US and did not pursue painting at first. I was busy with school and trying to fit in. I did not paint throughout most of college, I wanted to discover my own style but I lacked inspiration. I was getting bored of replicating my surroundings, I wanted to paint on a deeper level but I did not know where or how to start. It wasn’t until a friend asked me for a customized painting that I started enjoying painting again. It was the push I needed to explore my own style. I realized that if I could translate other’s visual ideas and feelings onto a canvas, then I could translate my own. It still took me another two years to find inspiration and create my own technique. I would say that people and work experiences were my biggest source of inspiration.
During the covid-19 pandemic, I was working as a clinical research specialist in a covid-19 vaccine clinical trial. I was fortunate enough to not work from home and socialize with patients. In a time of isolation like that, healthcare workers sometimes were the only people that these patients would see. So, many would vent about the lockdown and share their stories with me. People were trapped in their homes, faced with their own thoughts while fighting to maintain a connection with others and the world itself, despite what was going on. They were all coping but each in their own way. And I wanted to paint that. It was around Christmas time in 2020, I was at home watching a video of Bedouin playing at an electronic music festival in Tulum. Their unique melodies and rhythms beautifully fit into the green scenery they were performing at. So I thought to myself, maybe I should paint these tunes and create my own scenery. I was going for something abstract, painting random shapes here and there to the sound of music in light grey. Then, I started seeing images in these brush strokes and contouring anything I saw.
Fifteen hours later, I had painted a very crowded image with lots of faces, sceneries and different vibes reflected by different colors. I called it “Dissociation”. It represents the world during the pandemic, people’s ways of coping with it and a common vision of hope. And that’s how I start every painting. I never sketch, I do not intend to paint what I paint, I simply follow the music and whatever mood I am on at that moment. Painting was something I need badly at that specific time. I was going through a really difficult phase in my life. When I moved to the US, I had a planned timeline and set goals that I was rushing to fulfill. While things did not go as planned, I never thought of giving up. Through painting, I learnt to think calmly, worry-free, regain focus on myself and work harder towards my goals. When I look at each painting, I see the person I was when I made that painting, the experiences I was going through then and I contemplate how far I have come. It just brings me this inner peace and proof that everything always ends up working out. I remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.
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?
I have only been pursuing painting professionally for a year now and since then, I probably participated in over 20 art shows, including gallery exhibitions and music and art events. I think one of the biggest struggles I constantly face is explaining my work. I am not one to express myself, especially when it comes to talking about my feelings and emotions. I will listen to you, enjoy what you share with me but I have a hard time doing that myself. I would rather express myself through images which are difficult to translate into words because I feel like no matter how great I put it, it won’t do justice to these images. And when you lack this ability, it is hard to sell a painting. But again, I do not paint to sell. I do not rely on painting for an income and I prefer to not influence the buyer’s interpretation. This way, when a person buys one of my pieces, then I know that it is because they feel connected to it in their own way. They make their own story out of it and it means more to them. Over the past year, six paintings sold themselves.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently completing my second master’s in science and starting medical school this upcoming fall. I am very excited. It is something I have been wanting for a very long time now and I worked really hard to get it. My long-term goal is to become a plastic surgeon. It is a specialty that combines both my passion for medicine and art. It would be a way for me to further use my ability to translate people’s visual wishes and help them feel comfortable and happy in their own skin.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think talking to people at public events is a great way to network. You would be surprised how much you can learn from strangers and how much in common you could have with them. They always know someone who knows someone. Social media can also be beneficial when it comes to finding a mentor or networking. It gives an idea of what people like/dislike without necessarily talking to them. It is a great way to get noticed and communicate with art curators and galleries.
Pricing:
- Small paintings 190$
- Large paintings 500-2500$
Contact Info:
- Email: chai.o.arts@gmail.com
- Website: www.chaioart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chai.o.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chai.o.art/
