“I think there is something very unique and special about faces. Every face has the same features and similar structures yet they all look completely different.”

Talia Ben Simhon

Take a look at this exclusive interview with Talia Ben Simhon. A 16 year old artist talented in realistic drawings. We enjoyed getting to know this young artist and her creative process.

EotB: Please tell us your story and how you began as an artist.

TBS: My name is Talia and I’m 16 years old. I’ve always been interested in art but I’ve never challenged myself to draw something realistic until I entered my sophomore year of high school. My art teacher suggested I try drawing a realistic close up of a candy or dessert. I told her I that I didn’t think I could do it. She said I would never know unless I tried so I did just that. I drew a picture of donuts with colored pencils. Ever since then, I fell in love with drawing realism. There’s something amazing about recreating images that you see in your everyday life on a piece of paper. 

EotB: What has been your greatest challenge as an artist? 

TBS: My greatest challenge as an artist is consistently finding inspiration for my art. Many times the inspiration just flows to me but there are times when it doesn’t. Normally I find inspiration when I’m calm and relaxed. When I try creating an art piece under pressure, it’s super difficult to decide what to make. 

EotB: What is your first memory of creating art?

TBS: My first memory of creating art is from when I was 8 years old. I used to mold ceramic bowls and sculptures and paint them. That was the first time I used art to express the emotions within myself. I vividly remember the castle I made which portrayed the world I fantasized about. 

EotB: How do you feel your age influences your artwork?

TBS: My age definitely has an impact on my art. I’m currently at a crucial point of growth in my life. Being a teenager in high school, I go through many different growing and life changing experiences and emotions. All of that is expressed in my artwork. 

EotB: What types of materials do you use when creating your work?

TBS: I like to experiment with a wide range of materials but my favorite is colored pencils and graphite. I also use acrylic paint, charcoal, pastels, oil paint, watercolors, and Indian ink. 

EotB: How would you describe your style of art? 

TBS: I would describe my style of art as realistic. 

EotB: What has been an inspiration behind creating such beautiful art? 

TBS: The inspiration behind many of my pieces comes from experiences in my everyday life. When I see a beautiful element in nature I get inspired to recreate it with my own personalized twist. I also get inspired by the emotion I see in other people’s eyes. I try to recreate them in my portrait drawings 

EotB: We love your pencil drawings and have noticed that you draw mostly portraits using a pencil. What has inspired you to create portraits and please elaborate on why you have chosen to create them using a pencil?

TBS: I think there is something very unique and special about faces. Every face has the same features and similar structures yet they all look completely different. I like drawing them because it challenges me to be precise with my drawing. If one of my angles is even slightly off then my portrait looks like a completely different person. I specifically like using pencils because they blend seamlessly which helps create realistic shadows and facial structures. 

EotB: What are your plans for the future as an artist? 

TBS: I plan on continuing to draw and paint regularly and watching my skills improve. I also plan on taking my artistic abilities and using it to eventually become an architect. Architecture has always been an interest of mine and I feel that many of the skills I use as an artist can be used as an architect. 

EotB: If someone is interested in purchasing some of your work how would they be able to do that? 

TBS: People can message me through Instagram or through my website.