Today we’d like to introduce you to Hawa Ibrahim.
Hi Hawa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
For as long as I can remember I always loved art. My earliest memory is being taught to color inside the lines by my uncle growing up. I wanted to pursue graphic design after high school, but for some reason, I changed my mind a couple weeks into college. Two years after that, I lost my father suddenly in September of 2011. I turned back to art to help me cope with everything I was going through. I was drawing portraits at the time to challenge myself. March 2020 was the year that changed my life completely. I became a mother, and days later the country was on lockdown. I had to start working from home for my 9-5 and I was working on art in my spare time. I came across polymer clay and completely fell in love with this medium. I became totally immersed in the culture and medium, so I began experimenting making handmade jewelry. I knew this was something I would love to continue doing and haven’t stopped since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a rough road for me. I’ve struggled with mental health issues since the end of high school. I didn’t know how bad until I found myself in the ER one day. I was told I just experienced my first panic attack. I wasn’t sure where I was headed after high school. I started school here in the states in 5th grade, and school was all I knew. This was due to my culture and my parents as I was sheltered in grade school. I think this was one of the main reasons why I changed my major last minute. I didn’t think art would give me a stable career and wouldn’t please my parents. I picked a major that I thought was interesting and would give me financial stability after graduating. My family and I came here as refugees from East Africa. So, I decided on majoring in International Studies. Little did I know I had zero interest in this field. It sounded like I was going to settle on something I had no passion for. I struggled for over a year trying to land a stable job right after college. I think this was when I realized I should’ve listened to my gut and stayed true to myself. I was always thinking about my family and not myself. Regardless of where I was heading, I kept gravitating towards wanting to explore my creativity more and more. I would always ask myself what makes me happy? It was always getting lost in my own world. Freeing myself from any negativity clouding my mind. I’m never anxious when I’m doing what I love. Anxiety tends to appear when I feel stressed or uncertain of things. Art was always like the medicine I never knew I needed.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My focus since the start of 2021, has been my handmade jewelry business. It’s been so freeing to create something from a vision I’ve had. The clarity I get from executing an idea that pops up in my head and into fruition is what keeps me coming back. I try to use as many techniques as I can to showcase my creativity using polymer clay. Since I’ve worked with other mediums for years, I try to implement those into this medium as well. I think that’s something that sets me apart from others. I love doodling, so I’m trying to also find a way to incorporate that into wearable art. I also love fluid art, which I consider as intuitive art. I love not knowing what’ll come out of using specific mediums such as alcohol ink or acrylic pouring. I want to continue to incorporate every medium that I use into my business. I know that’ll help sharpen my creative voice as an artist in the long run.
What do you think about happiness?
Being a mother to my two beautiful girls makes me happy. Helping my mother out with whatever she needs makes me happy. Being there for others in any way possible also makes me happy. I love being there for everyone. I feel good about myself and the world when I am being helpful to others. There’s always a sense of purpose and togetherness in that.
Pricing:
- $25
- $35
- $45
- $45
- $60
Contact Info:
- Website: www.salweity.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/salweity
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087955957218&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@salweity15
Image Credits
Comfort Photography
