Meet Rania: A Journey Through Art and Expression
Meet Rania, a talented illustrator whose captivating artwork blends imagination with intricate detail. Whether through digital mediums or traditional techniques, every piece tells its own story, showcasing the versatility and depth of this remarkable artist.
In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the inspiration, process, and future projects of Rania.
Here are some of her answers when I interviewed her:
1. Can you please describe a brief background about yourself as an artist?
For years, I had been searching for an artistic outlet from my day job in risk management. I love my risk work -particularly the all-consuming energy of responding to a crisis - but I wanted something that would allow me to disconnect my brain and channel that energy into creating something beautiful. I also knew I wanted to do something that didn’t require a lot of equipment and I could do with my family, in front of the tv at night.
Drawing houses just sort of happened organically…. One night, I was sitting in front of the tv with a cat on my lap looking at realtor.ca and saw a beautiful house and decided to draw it. There was just something about the lines and how they came together and I knew I wanted to capture it on paper. Of course, with a cat on my lap, and drawing on the armrest of the chair, it came out a little slanted but I still loved how it looked! It also taught me I didn’t need to sketch it out in pencil first (in my mind that felt like drawing it twice!), to embrace the imperfections of drawing in ink straight on paper - and that the wobbly lines of not using a ruler added to the beauty and uniqueness of the work. I started posting on Instagram and before I knew it, a friend asked me to draw her mum’s house for her birthday and then a realtor asked me for a drawing of their client’s house…. It just grew from there!
2. Can you please list an overview of your work and achievements?
Since I started drawing in February 2024, I’ve drawn over a hundred houses and buildings including a project for YMCA of Greater Toronto which was turned into 40th anniversary tote bags for Central YMCA and a multi-site drawing which was turned into gifts for board members. It was pretty special to see my drawings “in the wild” on tote bags that people were carrying around the city! I also make a point of donating my art to charitable causes each year and have had a couple of pieces sell in silent auctions.
3. What inspired you to become an artist?
I have always felt the need to create… and had a particular fascination for paper and pens. Growing up, I would spend hours doing origami - intrigued by how the precision of the lines in the folds yielded beautiful creatures and flowers. That precision spilled into my high school art where much of what I did was hard-edge - perfect lines created by masking tape and paint. My teachers and friends will even attest to seeing me take notes with a ruler and colour coded pens! Using pen and paper for my art was a natural progression to that phase in my life.
4. Did you have early influences or mentors in becoming an artist?
I’ve always loved surrealism. Magritte is my favourite artist and having lived in Belgium, I feel a particular affinity for him! Dali and Picasso are my other loves. Not at all related to whimsical house portraits - I know!
5. Are there specific subjects or themes you gravitate toward? Why?
Houses are definitely my muse. I grew up in four countries and 14 different homes. As adventurous as that sounds, moving as a child is HARD! I vividly remember the heartache of leaving each cherished home and the special features of the home that I knew I wouldn’t have anymore. I still remember the window of my bedroom as a teenager that I could sit in and read a book, looking out at the ravine behind our house - and even now as an adult, I drive by an old house and tear up as I remember one of our cats that would love to sit in the window on my desk while I worked from home during COVID. The connection we have to our homes goes so deep - they are where we celebrated special occasions and were our refuge from struggles that we navigated…. Being able to capture those memories for people is incredibly rewarding and meaningful - and such an honour to be privy to someone’s special connections to their home.
6. What are some of the biggest challenges you face as an artist?
Marketing myself and my work… sprinkled with a dash of imposter syndrome! As an artist, I just want to draw and have my work speak for itself. In reality, artists have to balance their creation with putting themselves out there - on social media, in person, to their target audience… it can be overwhelming. As for the imposter syndrome - I still get nervous each time a client picks up their commissioned piece and whether they will actually like it. I’m always blown away by their reactions in the end. I’ve had clients cry - tears of joy! - when they saw their whimsical house portrait… and even had a complete stranger hug me when she received hers. Those moments make my heart explode with joy.
7. What tools do you currently use, and why?
I use a Pigma Micron 0.5mm pen. The Pigma pens are archival quality, waterproof and fade resistant so my clients are getting something that will last a lifetime. They are also quick drying and bleed free which means crisper lines and no smudging if I’m working in areas with a lot of coverage. I may also use finer nibs to capture smaller details or create depth in the drawing.
My go to paper is 300 GSM acid-free. This also ensures the longevity of the art - the paper won’t yellow or turn brittle over time.
8. Have you ever been involved in an event as an artist? If so, what was that experience like?
Not yet - but get in touch if you’d like to collaborate!
9. What advice would you give to aspiring artist looking to make a career out of it?
Give yourself grace…. This is a marathon, not a sprint and to be successful, you need to keep moving forward and learn from your mistakes along the way. Surround yourself with people who support you and you can learn from and take one step that brings you closer to your goal each day.
10. Can you share a quote or mantra that inspires you in your work?
I would have to say “You’re better than you think”…. It’s always easy to compare yourself in this field - on social media, in comparison with someone else’s sales… the list goes on. YOU are what makes your art unique and you are probably doing better than you think on a number of fronts that you’re being hard on yourself with. Keep going, embrace the imperfections and move on!
Photos by: Rania S.
Instagram: @pentopaperhomes
website: pentopaperhomes.ca
