Get over fear, mistakes in pursuit of success - Vashti Harrison

From Syamsiah Sahat

SHARJAH (United Arab Emirates), May 20 (Bernama) -- Do not be afraid to make mistakes and always overcome fear in order to succeed. 

It may sound cliché but that’s the principle that No 1 New York Times Best Selling author-illustrator Vashti Harrison holds in her pursuit of career success. 

The American artist, who has illustrated non-fiction, biographies apart from picture storybooks also advised to never give up if works are rejected, and instead make it as fuel to produce better work.

“There is no one way to be an artist, and you try out different things and learn from mistakes. What is important is to get over the fear, or mistakes and continue to work hard,” Harrison said as she shared tips to her young fans at the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF), here today.

In the session, Harisson impressed her audiences when she drew Mike Wazowski, a character in Monsters Inc. on the skin of half a green apple.

She also demonstrated how she could convert black and white outlines of people into colour images of her father, Ted and mother Chandra.

Harrison, whose Hello, Star and Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History are among her numerous New York Times best-sellers, also gave them tips and tricks to put into their artwork.

To a question from the audience on what inspired her to draw, she said sharing her artwork with young people was her passion and she loves talking to young artists.

Meanwhile, in another session, the Sharjah Child Safety Department helped raise awareness on the issue of bullying through interactive workshops.

Leading the session, social worker Takia Yahya Ahmed said the workshop provided an effective three-pronged strategy to deal with incidents of bullying.

-- BERNAMA