Today we’d like to introduce you to Paz Aboujaoude
Hi Paz, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As long as I can remember, I have always loved creating. I have sketched and doodled ever since I was a child. The older I got, the more I dabbled in different mediums and techniques. When I was 12 years old, I wanted to be a fashion designer. With that being said, I sketched designs and taught myself how to sew. This made me gain confidence in my work. Shortly after, I put my skills to the test and experimented with acrylic canvas paintings. Painting on canvases became an outlet for me. I have gained so much peace and patience because of it. My art is not perfect, but in reality, I do strive for perfection in every single piece of artwork I create. While sketching and creating these canvases, I discovered that I enjoy lettering and perfecting lines. This helped me come to the decision to go into chalkboard art for businesses. Furthermore, I have my marketing degree, so I have an advantage of what the customer would want to see when it comes to advertising. While designing my chalkboards, I use the knowledge and skills I have gained from past projects and my degree. This is a small, but important, part of how I started. There are a lot of other aspects that make me the artist I am today, but this is how I discovered my love for art. I will continue to better myself and my art by learning new techniques and practicing old ones.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This has not been a smooth road for me in the slightest. I have struggled with health issues for the last four years of my life. I have something called thoracic outlet syndrome that I had to have surgery for because I could not use my right, dominant hand anymore. This affected me for about two years before I was properly diagnosed. I lost dexterity and could barely hold a pencil, let alone a paint brush. I have the same thing on my left side now, but I am hoping I can persevere and avoid going through another surgery. I no longer have my right first rib or right scalene muscle because my nerves were getting crushed and losing circulation. A few nerves were fused off to help relieve some of the pain and scar tissue was removed from my back. Art has always been an outlet and a way for me to express myself and escape, so it was a struggle not being able to create for all that time. There was a point where all I wanted to do was paint, but the pain was so bad when I would pick up a paint brush. I pushed through and finger painted to display how I was feeling at the time. Overtime, I learned how to adapt to the pain.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a versatile artist. I work with many mediums to help visions come to life. I specialize in and am known for acrylic canvases and chalkboard art. I am proud of how much of a perfectionist I am. I strive to make all my work as clean and bright as I can. I have a very fun, smooth, and bright style that sets me apart from my competitors. In addition, I enjoy challenging myself and stepping out of my comfort zone. I am not scared to try new things and learn new methods. I feel like these are important aspects to have in order to expand my artistic abilities.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Growing up, I had the ability to take art classes in school. This helped me learn the techniques that I still apply to my art to this day. My art teachers were always very supportive of my work, and they would tell me that I had an eye for art. My parents and siblings have always been supportive as well. They are my biggest cheerleaders and always encourage me. They give me their honest feedback and let me know what I need to fix when I have been staring at something for too long. I always love seeing and hearing their reactions to my work. It keeps me going. I do not know where I would be without their continued support.
Pricing:
- Canvases – Prices vary based on the size and the amount of time.
- Chalkboards – Prices vary based on the size, if the board needs a fresh coat of paint, and the amount of time.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pazncrafts/
- Other: Email: pazncrafts@gmail.com
Image Credits
Paz Aboujaoude
