Young Emirati inspired by Manga comics

Dubai: Japanese cartoons and stories have impressed Emirati Afra Galadari since she was a little girl and were her first sources of inspiration for her art, in particular cartoon drawing.

Her early success has made her the centre of attention at her school and made her counterparts to look up to her. Afra spoke to Gulf News about her passion for cartoon drawing, and how she's dying to be a fashion designer in the future.

"I first got attached to art and cartoon drawing from Japanese cartoons [anime] and also from reading Japanese comics [manga]. I admired the way that people were attracted to it, and I also loved the style it was drawn in and how unique every character in every series was. Watching all those characters created an inner eagerness to make my own."

Afra began drawing young.

"I would say I started drawing around the age of six, and I recall that it was drawing a picture of three girls in different coloured dresses standing beside each other."

Afra is now 14 and a student in the ninth grade at Dubai International School. Afra has never received formal art training, making her talent even more impressive.

"I've never taken courses in cartoon drawing, it was all the work of my competitive spirit," she says

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She grew up with her cousin who also shared the same hobbies and tendencies.

"My cousin Hessa was the one that I always traded art with back in the day, we used to run around our grandmother's house showing our mothers what we have drawn. She's really good at it, but I suppose now she's more into photography, editing and creative arts.

"I actually had a lot of encouragement from my family and schoolmates. I also started getting closer to it once I saw other kids at my age drawing Japanese cartoons, and I felt competitive and determined to be better."

Asked whether she draws cartoons for children's magazines, she said; "Not yet, although that would be great."

She admires another Emirates-based artist for his work: "I really admire Haydar Mohammad, first for his work in the Emirates today, and how he sends an important message through a funny one-slide comic. Then for his work on TV with Shaabeyat Al Cartoon which is one of the best cartoons I've ever seen and it's really funny too."

Dream

Afra has her sights set even further ahead, with aspirations to become a fashion designer.

"Cartoon drawing was always my first choice as a kid, but as I grew older I became more interested in fashion designing, and I'll not spare an effort to be able to become a designer one day," she said.

"I've always wanted my own clothing line ever since the fashion designing dream started, and that's what I long for. I know it's a long shot, but nothing's impossible."

Despite her young age, Afra has developed her own personal philosophy, she says: "No matter how good or bad I might be in drawing, I'd still do it because it's something I love, so go ahead and do what you want and don't let anybody stop you.

"If you've got hidden talent, go ahead and show the world what you could do, and if your talent is shown but not noticed, then fight for it because that's the only way to succeed."