Artwork by Sherief Makhail

Starting over is scary!

My name is Sharif Makhale and I’m a NYC based artist. I gave up a 25 year career as a martial arts instructor to pursue my dream of being an artist. Prior to that I hadn’t created any art for almost 15 years. After having a personal crisis.

It was art that saved my life and since I’ve been eternally grateful. Since returning to art, people took notice through social media and I’ve been blessed to be a part of some amazing group art shows here in NY and a solo show in Europe in 2014.

My greatest challenges in art is my strong desire for refinement and wanting to strengthen my academic approach to my studies so I returned to school at the age of 42 to learn as much as I can. I’m at a point where I want as much of the atelier environment as I can find which is difficult here in NYC.

Since finding the Drawing Academy I’ve realized, with the benefits of technology, that I could have the that atelier training at my fingertips whenever I wanted. This is why I would absolutely love to win this course. So I can study the way I’ve always wanted and improve the level of my technique.

I think people should vote for me because I would sincerely vote for them. I believe we need to help return the art scene back to the times where there was a collective consciousness and everyone wanted to work together and create. And that’s the energy I bring forth everyday in my experience with other like-minded creatives.