Local Artist…Yasmin Shima from Bondi

By James Hutton on February 23, 2021 in People

No excuses. Photo: Daia Larie @daialarie

Introducing Bondi’s Yasmin Shima, the local artist behind this month’s cover painting…

How long have you lived here? Pretty much my whole life. My grandmother lived in Bondi, so our weekends were spent playing on Bondi Beach and watching Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

Why do you live here? The beautiful beaches, coastal lifestyle, vibrant community, great food and coffee, and waking up each day on one of the best coastlines in the world.

What’s your favourite beach? Bondi will always have a place in my heart. Mackenzies is also a favourite.

What’s your favourite eatery? Shuk has the most delicious menu and bakery.

Where do you like to have a drink? Rumba is the only place in Bondi that has retained it’s charm after years of rapid gentrification. I love the crew and mezcal there. It reminds me of being in bars in Mexico, sipping on a margarita, not a worry in the world.

How would you describe your art? Evolving. My work is figurative. I love painting portraits and animals using acrylics, oil and mixed media. My work reflects my free-spirited nature and inquisitive mind; it’s considered yet spontaneous, and I often create imagery around romantic notions or subjects I want to highlight.

Where can people see your work? My Instagram profile @shimaartprojects is where I showcase my work. I also host Paint & Sip classes at Bondi Beach Public Bar, WeMake Studio and in my Bondi studio. I offer a mobile service so people can book me to host a paint class anywhere, anytime, and I teach kids how to paint too.

Who are your artistic inspirations? I am most inspired by artists I’ve found on social media, @dimitramilan and @badwaycreative. I enjoy viewing the work of contemporary artists like Craig Ruddy, Robson, Fintan Magee and Herakut.

When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? My grandfather was a gifted artist and my father always had a painting on the go while I was growing up, so when the kids at school started asking me to draw for them, I knew I was a bit different.

Any other local artists to look out for? @painter_be has an ability to shift his art stylistically across various mediums, and @wedreaminpictures has really mastered her style and embodies her art.

Did you study art? I’ve been self-taught since I started painting again after a 20-year break, and I just commenced formal training with The Milan Art Institute (USA).

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Find artists who inspire you and follow their story and process. Watch and learn from the pros, then practise a lot. Learn how to use paint and tools correctly. Create good habits with your studio – keep your brushes clean, paints organised and studio space clear and inspiring. Move old work to encourage new. Stay committed and curious, push through creative roadblocks and don’t let defeat get you. Create, even when you don’t feel ‘inspired’. Stick to your craft like you would a job. Schedule time to create, even if you have a busy lifestyle. Excuses are the death of creation and progress.

Do you have a favourite quote? “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Make time to do something you love. Learn a new skill or pick up something you forgot you enjoyed. Being creative allows us to move away from linear left brain thinking and into the right hemisphere where your mind can flow freely without any distractions. It’s a form of meditation to help quiet the mind and open up to imagination, innovation and a world of possibility.