Tasneem Bootwala's Art

The works I selected for my art portfolio are confident and evocative. My submissions demonstrate a broad range of intentions and articulate multiple insights. I have explored many types and styles of art throughout my high school career and some resonated with me more than others; I chose pieces that would showcase my various strengths and interests.

My favorite aspect of art is that it is something that people will walk away from feeling so many different ways. When people look at my work, I hope they will feel a part of themselves in the art, regardless of their personal life experiences. I hope they can find their confidence in Self Portrait or their feelings of isolation in Refuge. I hope they can find their realism in Succession of Apples or their imaginative spirit in Cupcake War. My hope is that if people are able to identify with something within my art, they will be more accepting of me.

Art has played a role in my life since before I was born. My father was an interior designer, my mom is a henna artist. My grandmother and my aunt are art teachers, and my cousin is an architect. In my family, art is an integrated part of upbringing, as essential as food or shelter. Art is the overarching constant in my life that trickles into everything I do: my biology notes have more illustrations then words, my after-school activities include teaching art classes at an elementary school and my summer internship was at an Art Museum. Because of the role art has played in my life, I can pick up a paintbrush and paint as if the brush is an extension of my arm and the canvas is an extension of my mind. Creating a successful piece of art fills me with fulfillment and contentment.