The Artist Behind the Art: Farah's Flourishing Florals

We are thrilled to introduce Farah Bidin, the founder of PaintstoBrushes, as the latest artist in our Meet the Artist Behind the Art blog series. Farah is an incredibly talented artist and art instructor from Malaysia, whose journey into the world of art is as inspiring as her beautiful creations.

In this blog, Farah shares her artistic journey, her love for watercolor, and offers valuable advice for watercolor beginners.

Farah’s Watercolor Journey

Farah's journey into art began in 2016 when she was introduced to watercolor during a calligraphy workshop in her hometown of Sabah, Borneo. Seeking a creative outlet to balance the demands of her corporate job and to manage anxiety and work-related stress, she found solace in the calming nature of watercolor painting.

Little did she know that this introduction would ignite a passion that would lead her to leave the corporate world behind in 2017 to pursue a full-time career as an artist and art instructor.

“I also work with brands to create awareness about art, offering my services in creative social events as well as creating products out of my artworks,” Farah added.

Why Watercolor?

Her decision to focus on watercolor was driven by the medium's unique qualities that allowed her to capture the softness of florals, her favorite subject. Farah's work predominantly features florals, landscapes, and still life subjects such as fruits, all inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds her in Malaysia. “I am also influenced by visuals and finding them from books or pictures from Pinterest,” shared Farah.

Her love for nature and botanicals is evident in her vibrant and expressive paintings.

Her Art Influences

When asked about her influences, Farah credits artists like Yao Cheng and Jenna Rainey for inspiring her floral paintings. She also draws inspiration from the works of renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Henri-Edmond Cross. 

“Their mastery of color and form has significantly impacted my artistic style and approach.”

Farah's love for watercolor stems from the medium's ability to create unique and unpredictable results with each brushstroke. The way colors interact with water and blend on paper allows her to achieve the loose and expressive style that defines her work. She finds joy in the process of color mixing and the way colors bleed and blended on the paper, creating a sense of spontaneity and vibrancy in her paintings.

Her Advice for Watercolor Beginners

Farah offers valuable advice for beginners eager to explore watercolor. She encourages aspiring artists to start small and experiment with primary colors and a good round brush before investing in expensive materials.

Emphasizing the importance of practice, she recommends dedicating at least 15 minutes each day to creating art, whether it's through timed drawings or doodling in a sketchbook.

Her Watercolor Journey, So Far…

In addition to creating art, Farah also finds time to teach watercolor workshops for beginners in Malaysia and online, reaching out to an international audience. Her passion for sharing her knowledge and love for watercolor is evident in her commitment to nurturing budding artists.

Reflecting on her journey, Farah's advice to her younger self is simple yet profound:

"Don't be afraid to go after your dreams."

Her own journey is a testament to the power of following one's passion and embracing creativity as a means of personal growth and fulfillment. Her flourishing florals and mastery of watercolor serve as an inspiration to aspiring artists around the world. We are truly honored to feature Farah as part of our Meet the Artist Behind the Art series, and we look forward to witnessing her continued success and artistic evolution.

To explore more of Farah's stunning work and learn from her expertise, connect with her on social media via PaintstoBrushes and check out her online watercolor painting class over at Skillshare! Thank you for joining us in celebrating the incredible talent of Farah Bidin. Stay tuned for more inspiring artist features in our Meet the Artist Behind the Art series.