How SCRF’s living canvas empower next generation artists

Sharjah 24: At the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF), imagination doesn't just leap off the pages of books – it now spills vibrantly onto giant canvases, thanks to the dedicated ‘freestyle painting’ studio that’s a permanent space at the Sharjah Children’s Illustration Exhibition.

The space runs two sessions daily, from 10-11am and 5-6pm, and comes replete with everything - from brushes to spray cans, colour easels, canvases and more. Every day, the studio has been celebrating and empowering young artists as they dream, create and colour the world just as they see it.

13-year-old Sudanese Sawsan Anwer, carefully blends hues on her canvas, painting a peaceful landscape. “I love making nature come alive with colours,” she says with a smile. “It feels like I’m building my own little world here.”

Meanwhile, for Lana Hayder, a 14-year-old Iraqi-American, the workshop is a step closer to her dreams. “I want to be a painter someday,” Lana says, focused intently on her swirling blue and white sea painting. “It’s so amazing to be given this freedom – you can create anything you imagine.”

For 13-year-old Emirati Hind Suhail, who’s sketching a playful caricature inspired by herself and her best friend, seated not far from Lana, it is the opportunity to sketch paint and doodle that excites her ."It’s funny how we can draw our imaginations and people can see our world through our eyes," said the resident of Sharjah.

The excitement isn’t just among teens. Haizam Shafaf PM, at just seven years old, is perhaps one of the youngest participants. “I wanted to show the moon and the stars because I like to look at the sky,” he said proudly, holding up his star-speckled canvas with a brilliant blue version of the moon.

Twelve-year-old Beiry Karim from Egypt, on the other hand, is busy experimenting with different styles and textures. “I love freestyle because you don’t have to copy anyone,” she said. “You can just be yourself.”

Beyond the brushes and sprays, the freestyle sessions have become symbolic of what SCRF truly stands for this year – a festival that celebrates children not just as readers, but as creators, dreamers, and individuals with not just voices and visions but also vibrant stories of their own.

Until May 4, the studio at SCRF 2025 welcomes people from all age groups and backgrounds to embark upon a journey of self-discovery through art.