With a passion for art since her childhood, and a talent nurtured by her parents, Esraa Obeya, a young Egyptian artist, began her journey of making her hobby, painting, become a full-time profession that makes both her clients and herself happy, according to Egyptian Streets
Before graduating from school, Obeya wanted to create something that would be memorable. She decided to do a live painting at her school graduation ceremony. After receiving an overwhelming amount of positive feedback on her art, she decided to pursue it as a career.
As a graduate of Alexandria University’s Faculty of Arts, Obeya took several workshops to develop her talent. When her friends started complimenting her pieces, she became determined to pursue a career she genuinely enjoys.
Obeya’s talent for live painting gained popularity as more people noticed her work through short reels on her Instagram account. She began receiving requests to paint at weddings.
“My day starts at 7 AM. I get ready and head to the venue before the wedding begins to decide where I will be working. I stay until the end of the wedding, painting and adding details to the piece to perfect it,” Obeya tells Egyptian Streets. “It’s a full-day job.”
Obeya observes the atmosphere of every wedding, understands the decoration style, and listens to the music played, to reflect the wedding ambiance in her painting.
“I try to always make sure that the painting I create for them captures a special moment that is not captured in the pictures taken of the wedding. I try to capture the essence of each wedding,” Obeya explains.
Prior to the wedding, Obeya has a detailed call with the bride and groom to ask them about the main elements they wish to highlight. Although live wedding painting is becoming more popular in the country, with more artists adopting it, Obeya believes in her talent and her ability to stand out.
“I was the first to start this type of art in Egypt, and I’m my own competitor,” Obeya says.
Obeya’s focus on the quality of the tools she uses, as well as the quality of the painting itself, is what sets her apart. She believes it’s important to give each painting the attention it deserves, “I give each painting my all because it’s a piece that will remain with them for a lifetime.”
