Jefrey Fakhry was born to a civil engineer father and an interior architect mother, so perhaps it was quite natural that he would pick up a pen and start drawing. Just 16, the young Lebanese student is recognized by his teachers and his peers as a standout talent with a bright future ahead.
“My main inspiration came from my mother. She is a ‘complete’ artist, good at everything from singing to drawing. Since I can remember, I have always been attracted to her drawings and always looked up to her. So I started reproducing her artwork until I got enough experience to do my own creations. She has always been very supportive, and very involved.
“I usually prefer realistic drawings, especially portraits, but I am trying to develop my work by exploring other types of art such as landscapes and abstract art. Lately I‘ve diversified from simple graphite pencils into charcoal. Most of my drawings are made using my imagination, without referring to any other influences. I would normally take up to two hours to complete a portrait of an imaginary person, but if I am using a photo as reference I can take four to six hours.
“I sometimes try to inject a message into my drawing, but that depends on my mood. When I feel that something is wrong, my drawing could be propose a solution of the problem – like a drawing I made recently on recycling that won a drawing competition. I have won several competitions like the 2009th “Lebanon spring” and the recycling drawing competition at school in 2013. This confidence has helped me secure exhibition space – in 2013 I displayed my artwork at an exhibition in my school, the British School Al Khubairat, on ‘optimism’ and another entitled “unique art experience”.
“It’s sometimes hard to draw with new art tools, and some subjects are still hard for me to draw than others but I plan to work at it. I hope to be going to college in France and becoming an architect, but I always want to continue drawing as a hobby.”
By Justine Foss
