Smita Mahmud
I began honing my artistic skills at twelve, when my piano teacher gifted me my first sketchbook.
I spent countless hours learning, experimenting, and developing my artistic style and voice. Portraiture was an uphill battle I knew I had to overcome if I wanted to take myself seriously as an artist.
Looking back, not much has changed in how media influences my work. As a kid, I loved anime and drawing animated figures; as I grew older, that curiosity shifted from cartoons to realism in faces.
At twenty-one, I drew “The Kiss”, a reference to Gustav Klimt’s 1908 oil painting. It remains one of my most popular pieces to date. I continue to reference the greats who came before me, creating small homages to the artists who inspire me.
At twenty-three, I find my taste and art style growing alongside me, something I’m forever grateful for, because change is the only real constant. My only wish now is to keep painting for as long as I have something to express; my life’s work will always be an ongoing work in progress.
Anime Sketches (3 Pieces on the Left)
Color pencil on paper, 8" x 11.5"
The Kiss (Far Right)
Mixed Media on Canvas, 18" x 24".
About Smita Mahmud
Smita Mahmud visual artist based in Toronto. She graduated from the University of Toronto, where she specialized in International Development Studies, but art has always been the driving force in her world. Her work is an amalgamation of the media that inspires her most: music, film, and visual art. She draws from what excites her and challenges her to outdo the doer, creating pieces that are chaotic, reflective, and deeply emotional. Each work is an extension of herself, shaped by instinct and the impulse to express everything she can’t put into words.