Meet Sharmin Khan | Educator & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sharmin Khan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sharmin, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
For me, painting is what brings me the most joy outside of my family. As I splatter paint across my canvas, I feel as if I could make anything. The possibilities are endless when it comes to painting, a beautiful blankness that I make my own. Hues of vibrant viridian swirl with deep azure, a layer of rouge and mauve, the brightness of gold and a center of coal. Such combinations are just one of billions, and it doesn’t end with just colors. The composition, the style, the ornamentation of each piece, everything is up for me to decide. The joy of creation, of staining my fingers with paint is one that I will never tire of. At one point, I had let myself become preoccupied with the end result of the piece, rather than letting myself enjoy the process. I know better now however. For me, the passion of art cannot only involve the final product, although that certainly is a factor. The allure of art is the process of adding my paint and seeing where it goes, deciding what I shall add or do next, and letting myself experiment and have fun with it. It is a labor of love, one that will never fail to make me smile.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I had been an artist my whole life, and was passionate about it for years. However, it was only around four years ago that I had the opportunity to make it into more than just a hobby. I had stumbled across the world of acrylic pouring online, and I just couldn’t get it out of my head. I just knew I had to try it, so I went out and bought some new cheap paints and a few small canvases. I ended up creating two pieces, which had ended up with muddled colors and indistinct patterning. I absolutely loved the medium. Fast forward a bit, and I had been actively experimenting with the techniques, exploring the limits of the craft. Eventually, I had the idea to start posting my own videos, and I anxiously released my very first pouring video. Views were low at first of course, but I didn’t give up. I kept throwing myself into my art, and refining my technique. Slowly, both my channel and I grew, and I began making money off of my videos and selling my art. Now, after years of labor, I have grown to amass quite the following. More than that however, I had developed my distinct style, one that could be recognized as my own ad that could inspire others. I am so grateful for all of the people who followed my journey, and for the people who love my art and support my channel. If there is anything I have learned over these past few years, it is the beauty of inspiring others. I want to motivate other people to do their best and to never give up, to pursue their passions and to persist with what they love. These principles are invaluable to me, and I hope to be able to touch the hearts of others with them as they have mine.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I often take my visitors to a little drive towards Globe via the 60. I find the state highway 60 to be an extraordinarily scenic and relaxing route to drive on. For the cuisine, I would definitely take my guests to any of the local Mexican restaurants. Depending on the age group, Tempe downtown is always fun, with something for an type of person. The desert botanical is an amazing place to visit while visiting Arizona. Also, throughout the year, so many exciting events take place in Phoenix metro, which is a surefire way to win over guests.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my family, who’s support for me has been invaluable for my art journey. Without them, I am certain that I would not have been able to get as far as I did. I had the support of my daughters, who assisted me with far too many videos to count. They acted as my cameramen, as well as doing behind the scenes work to ensure that everything went smoothly. My youngest daughter often gave me her own creative input, and helped me to develop my art style. In addition, my husband helped me to set up an art room that I could dedicate to filming and honing my craft. My family has done so much to help me on my journey, and I am so grateful for them.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkyway_art_design/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bysharminkhan/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCov_X0sKfeusPonZQKEZyzg

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MilkywayArtDesign/edit?ref=seller-platform-mcnav