Raidaa Ziard is a 12-year-old artist from Kollupitiya who studies at Wycherley International School, Colombo and has already begun an impressive artistic journey.
Living with her parents and younger sister, she spends much of her free time exploring art forms such as acrylic painting, watercolour, sketching, textured art, and most prominently, mandala art.
Over the years, with encouragement from her art teacher Ransirini Gamage, she has developed a strong connection to mandala art, which now defines most of her work.
Her dedication led her to exhibit 45 pieces at the Mandalas by Ransirini exhibition at Siam Nivasa, an experience that filled her with pride and motivation to grow further.
Her creations, which she also turns into stickers, bookmarks, and greeting cards, can be viewed on her Instagram page mystique_byraidaa.
Beyond her artistic talents, Raidaa sings, practises drama and public speaking, attends karate classes, and enjoys writing imaginative stories, making her a multi-talented young creator with a clear vision for her future.
Can you tell us about yourself?
My name is Raidaa Ziard. I am 12 years old and currently in Grade 7 at Wycherley International School, Colombo 7. I live with my parents and younger sister in Kollupitiya, near the sea.
I love spending my leisure time doing art. I experiment with different art forms like acrylics, watercolour, sketching, and textured art. Art brings me calmness and helps me focus.
Since when have you been doing art?
My mum says I started communicating through drawings even before I could speak.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, boredom sparked my creativity. I spent hours drawing and learning techniques from the internet. That was when I truly discovered my love for art.
My school art teacher, Ms. Feroza Rafeek, has always encouraged me, and I also joined online classes to improve my skills.
Two years ago, I enrolled in Ms. Ransirini Gamage’s mandala classes, and that’s when I really found my passion. Now, mandala art makes up most of what I do.
What is mandala art?
Mandala is a therapeutic form of art that uses repetitive, intricate designs arranged symmetrically in circular patterns.
Creating mandalas helps reduce stress and anxiety. The detailed and repetitive drawing process brings a meditative focus and builds concentration. Mandala art also encourages creativity as I experiment with different patterns and colours.
I use my mandalas to make stickers, bookmarks, and greeting cards.
What do you enjoy most about creating mandala art?
It’s a challenging process that requires patience, but when I finish a piece, I feel proud and happy.
I usually create my mandalas while listening to music, which makes the process even more enjoyable.
How do you feel when you’re drawing or painting?
I feel great. It’s a real serotonin boost!
What inspires the patterns or colours you choose in your mandalas?
When I started learning mandala art, my teacher introduced me to different patterns, and we experimented with various colour combinations.
Later, I was inspired by an Instagram artist who used cool colour palettes, and since then, I’ve developed my own unique patterns and colour choices.
What’s the most challenging part of making mandala art?
Any mistake is hard to fix, so I have to be very careful while creating.
Tell us about your exhibition experience too.
In July, I showcased 45 pieces of my art at the Mandalas by Ransirini exhibition held at Siam Nivasa. The exhibition ran for two weeks and was attended by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
I felt very happy and proud to see my work displayed alongside so many other artworks.
What was it like showcasing your art at the exhibition?
I never imagined my art would be displayed at a real exhibition. I just drew because I love it.
Seeing people appreciate my work made me feel incredibly happy and proud. I was a little nervous at first, but when I sold my first piece, I couldn’t believe it.
Do you have a favourite piece among your 45 artworks from the exhibition? Why is it special?
My favourite is the ‘Rainbow Mandala.’ It took about a year to complete the collection, and this piece stands out because I used multiple colours and created a very detailed, intricate design. I felt very happy when I finally finished it.
Who are some artists that inspire you?
Definitely my teacher, Ms. Gamage. I’m also inspired by Farah Alhamawi from the UK for her colour choices, and I admire Vincent van Gogh’s art.
How did your family support you in your art journey?
My mum always finds art classes for me, where I’ve learnt many techniques. My dad doesn’t question the cost because he believes if I enjoy it, it’s worth it.
My aunts have always cheered me on as well, even when my early drawings weren’t very good.
How do you balance school and your art practice?
I mostly do my art during holidays. On school days, I focus on my studies and do small bits of art as a reward or for relaxation after finishing my homework, or else, I do it during weekends.
Do you have any other interests?
Apart from art, I love singing and attend a weekly class. I also enjoy drama and public speaking, and participate in Trinity exams.
In addition, I practise karate, which I really enjoy, and I write imaginative stories during my free time.
What do you hope to do with your art in the future?
When I grow up, I hope to use my art to help both myself and my community. I plan to conduct art workshops and classes to share skills and encourage creativity, especially among children.
I also want to offer art therapy as a means of self-expression and emotional release, particularly for children on the autism spectrum or with learning disabilities.
Creating commissioned artwork tailored to client preferences and illustrating images for books, magazines, and others are on my list too.
You mentioned wanting to help others through art. What inspired that?
Nothing brings joy to my neurodivergent sister more than colours. I’ve also experienced firsthand how therapeutic and healing art can be, especially mandala art. My sister just turned 10, and I want to share that joy with others.