• Introduction
• When did you first know you really loved making art? Can you tell us about the time you realized art was super fun for you?
• Do you remember the first things you drew?
• What’s the coolest thing about drawing and painting that makes you smile? What do you enjoy the most when you create? 
• Do you like using colorful pencils, paints, or something else when you make art? What do you like to use and why?
• Could you walk us through your creative process?
• Who or what brings you inspiration for your art?
• How do you feel when you finish making a beautiful piece of art?
• Have you ever made art that tells a story?
• What was the hardest thing you’ve ever tried to draw? 
• How did you overcome your challenge and what did you learn from it?
• What advice do you have for young artists struggling to find their own creative voice or receiving negative feedback?
• When people look at your art, what kinds of feelings do you want them to have? What do you want them to think about?
• Do you think art can make people feel joyful and hopeful? Can it make someone’s day better?
• If there are other kids who want to make art like you, what would you tell them?
• We also use art to raise awareness about topics that are dear to us. What are your interests and your messages to the world?  

Introduction

Young artist Violet Barredo (Australia, age 9) opens the door for us today to explore her artistic journey. In this interview, we’ll accompany Violet as she shares her evolution as an artist, from those early sketches to her present-day creations. At the tender age of six, Violet discovered her love for art, and since then, she has been on an extraordinary adventure of self-expression and imagination.

With a deep appreciation for nature and a special interest in endangered species, Violet’s art carries a message of preservation and wonder. Through her drawings, she softly reminds us to find joy in the delicate beauty of life’s small details, inviting us to see the world through her eyes.

So let’s set out on this shared adventure, where Violet’s canvas becomes a window into a world where creativity knows no limits. And each stroke of color breathes life into stories waiting to be told, inviting us all to become part of her narrative.

4TinyHands: When did you first know you really loved making art? Can you tell us about the time you realized art was super fun for you?

Young artist Violet Barredo: I began to like art when I was six years old. I started drawing and found it really enjoyable. That’s when I made some of my first drawings, and that’s when I knew art was super fun for me. Art then has become my self-expression. If I am frustrated – I go to my room to draw, if I see things that I like – I draw them, if I am happy – I also draw. And if I am bored – drawing also entertains me. Drawing has always been one of my favorite things to do.

4TinyHands: Do you remember the first things you drew?

Young artist Violet Barredo: I can only remember a few because I made them when I was really little. I still have some of them at home and they are mostly stick figures. They were simple and easy drawings.

But the one I consider my first “real” drawing is of penguins on the ice. I created it on my very first day of art class using charcoal and I remember that when I did it, I was really proud of it. I still have that drawing, and it’s framed and hanging on our wall. 

4TinyHands: What’s the coolest thing about drawing and painting that makes you smile? What do you enjoy the most when you create? 

Young artist Violet Barredo: The best thing is that you can create whatever you want. It helps me be creative and use my own ideas. I can combine all kinds of ideas in one paper. Isn’t it cool? Once I did this one drawing where we could live in a world of sprinkles and cute animals. To me, that would be the most wonderful place to live.

Another cool aspect of drawing is that I can put all the things I like on paper. I like cute animals, especially cats. Usually, I would draw them in a different and fun way, and it is so satisfying to see them on a piece of paper. Being able to see them in reality instead of just imagining, and sharing these images with my family, brings me happiness.

4TinyHands: Do you like using colorful pencils, paints, or something else when you make art? What do you like to use and why?

Young artist Violet Barredo: I enjoy using different mediums, but if I had to pick one, I’d go with colored pencils. They’re my favorite because I can control them easily. They’re great for adding shadows and for shading.

4TinyHands: Could you walk us through your creative process?

Young artist Violet Barredo: Here’s how I usually make my art: I think of an idea and start drawing it. Once I’m done with the basic sketch, I work on the little details that make it special. I really enjoy how it all turns out in the end. Some drawings can be completed in just an hour or two, while others might take a few days. When I use paint, it usually takes longer because I need to wait for it to dry and then add more colors.

4TinyHands: Who or what brings you inspiration for your art?

Young artist Violet Barredo: I mostly get inspired by looking at pictures. When I find something inspiring, I make my own version of it. Usually, it turns out just the way I imagined it!

One thing that really captures my attention is the picture of a cat and other cute animals and how beautiful they are. I often find myself imagining them everywhere, and this leads me to draw them. I also have a “Pusheen” poster and after looking at it, I got an idea on how to draw them. By combining my own preferences with the concepts from the poster, I was able to craft drawings like animals floating with balloons, a cat on top of the burger, and even a climbing cat.

So, this is what truly inspires me, my love and passion in drawing combined with all the beautiful things around me.

4TinyHands: How do you feel when you finish making a beautiful piece of art?

Young artist Violet Barredo: I feel really excited and I love how it turns out. It’s fun to see what I’ve created. It always makes me feel happy and proud.

I must admit, not all of my drawings turn out beautiful. I’ve experimented with new materials and ideas, and sometimes they haven’t turned out as well as I hoped. Nevertheless, I would keep exploring different ideas. And when they actually did turn out the way I like it, I would be amazed and very happy about it.

4TinyHands: Have you ever made art that tells a story?

Young artist Violet Barredo: No, I haven’t done that yet. But I think it could be really fun and exciting to try in the future. It sounds like a cool and interesting thing to create.

4TinyHands: What was the hardest thing you’ve ever tried to draw? 

Young artist Violet Barredo: The toughest thing for me to draw is a person. Making the face look right and getting all the features in the correct places was tricky. Sometimes it turned out strange and not much like a real person. I am still having a hard time drawing faces. 

4TinyHands: How did you overcome your challenge and what did you learn from it?

Young artist Violet Barredo: I overcame my challenge by practicing and putting more effort in my weakness. Drawing human facial features is a big challenge for me. But I looked for some ideas on how to do it through videos and some tips from the internet, and then I kept on practicing based on my research.

I would sometimes focus and draw only the eyes so many times, until I am happy with it, and then practice on the other features as well. Sometimes, though, I simply draw a mask to cover the nose and mouth. I am still working to get the full face done nicely even now. Additionally, I am also practicing how to draw the body parts. And I will keep practicing until I can finally get used to drawing people’s body parts and facial features.

My weakness does not discourage me as it is my chance to improve myself. I embrace my challenge and I use it as an opportunity to grow. But sometimes, it does make me tired if it is too hard. If I feel that it is too difficult for me, I give it a rest and do something else that I know I am good at. After few weeks, when I feel more inspired to face the difficult challenge, I would come back to it and try once more.

I also tried using different styles to see which style I would prefer. This is my way of making the challenge a bit more exciting. I would do this many times until I find the style that I would like to use for my later drawings. While working on this, it helps me find different ways to draw and it actually gives me new ideas.

4TinyHands: What advice do you have for young artists struggling to find their own creative voice or receiving negative feedback?

Young artist Violet Barredo: My advice is to keep practicing until you get the hang of it. Once you start to like your art and style, you can start creating big drawings with all that practice and start trying out your new style. You can take it slowly and eventually you will be able to do it.

Negative feedback will surely make us feel sad, but it will also make us grow. It means that feedback will tell us what we miss or what we did wrong, or how we can improve. Let’s take it in a positive way and be thankful of the feedback. Let’s also use that negative feedback to improve our Art.

4TinyHands: When people look at your art, what kinds of feelings do you want them to have? What do you want them to think about?

Young artist Violet Barredo: When people look at my art, I want them to feel the same emotions that I feel when I look at what I’ve drawn. I want them to see the real feelings in my picture and have a good feeling about it. I hope my art makes them think about what I see and how I feel. 

Moreover, I want them to see how beautiful our world is through my drawings. That there are so many beautiful little things around us. I might be drawing, for example, trees in the dark night, but there is snow in it as well. I made it dark so we can see the beautiful snow better. Those small, cute things, when you put them together, can create a beautiful and unique picture.

4TinyHands: Do you think art can make people feel joyful and hopeful? Can it make someone’s day better?

Young artist Violet Barredo: For me, art helps me relax and feel calm. It’s something I can do when I’m bored or don’t have anything else to do. And you know what’s really cool? It brings happiness and excitement as I see how my artwork comes together. I believe art can totally make someone’s day brighter and more hopeful.

I also hope that people can feel the fun of my drawing and that they are reminded of the beauty of the little things around us that I have put together in my drawings.

4TinyHands: If there are other kids who want to make art like you, what would you tell them?

Young artist Violet Barredo: My advice is to begin and keep practicing every day. Have fun doing art in your own way and never stop. Let your ideas guide you and believe in yourself. As long as you believe, you can create art just the way you see it in your mind. 

I also want them to know that not all of my drawings turn out great. Some might not be as good, but I’m always happy with the process of learning. So, don’t be discouraged if they don’t turn out the way you want them to on the first or second try. With continued practice, they will eventually turn out great, and you’ll be happier and prouder of them since you’ve put a lot of effort into your art. Even now, I’m still learning and striving to improve and become better, and I’m enjoying every step I take toward that goal.

4TinyHands: We also use art to raise awareness about topics that are dear to us. What are your interests and your messages to the world?  

Young artist Violet Barredo: I have an interest in endangered animal species, and I enjoy animals and drawing them. I draw these animals in my own style and matter. I draw them with the hope that people will see how beautiful they are and that we need to save them. We hope that future generations will be able to see these animals – not only in pictures, drawings, and through stories shared by those who’ve seen them – but also in real life, at least in the zoo. As for the tiger and the koalas, who are close to be extinct, I hope you could try to help for more people to see.

I also enjoy drawing nature – flowers, trees, and rivers. It’s the beauty of our natural world that we want to preserve and not lose. Through my drawings, I aim to convey how much I appreciate nature and hope that those who see my art will also be inspired to care for the beautiful nature, and ensure that we continue to enjoy its wonders for generations to come.

If you enjoyed Violet’s artistic journey, I invite you to discover other talented young artists. For instance, there’s Dira Oena, whose art is characterized by ‘square faces,’ Fateme Masoumi, who uses her artwork to uplift people’s spirits, and Fico Saverio, who creates colorful and highly detailed pieces full of joy and imagination. You might also find inspiration in Ronia Khalaj‘s artwork or in Thomas‘ love for nature.

For more inspiration, feel free to visit 4TinyHands’ Facebook page and Instagram account.