Children, for the most part, are a source of happiness and wonder to their parents.
For one local artist, her children are also her inspiration, as they amaze her with the creativity through which they view the world.
Ljubica Fa-Hardi has mainly drawn portraits over the years, but watching her two children, Filip, 7, and Monika, 5, create art has rekindled an old love: illustrations.
"Once I had kids and saw them drawing and developing their skills, and seeing how their imagination works and the ideas they have, it made me want to get back into it," she said.
Fa-Hardi added drawing is one of her children's favourite activities, especially since they can draw together.
"It's funny, it's cheerful and it's free," Fa-Hardi said.
The vibrant young woman discovered her talent early, growing up in Yugoslavia, as her own mother was a portrait artist.
In kindergarten, Fa-Hardi remembers drawing a portrait of her mother for a Mother's Day project. Although the names were written on the backs of the drawings, Fa-Hardi's mother immediately knew which one was hers.
"She recognized herself and I was really pleased with myself."
Fa-Hardi said she enjoys drawing portraits because she's interested in people and what she sees in their faces.
"That's what fascinates me," she said, adding she still enjoyed drawing illustrations.
Although Fa-Hardi remained artistically inclined throughout her school years, participating in and winning many art competitions, after she graduated high school, she chose a different path: architecture.
Fa-Hardi said the choice was mainly because she was skeptical of the chances of success with an art degree.
"I was very happy with my choice and still am because there's a lot of creativity and design in architecture," she said.
While in post-secondary, Fa-Hardi was fortunate to meet one of her childhood idols, illustrator Ljubomir Sopka, when a friend introduced the two.
Sopka drew illustrations and comics for the Ruthenian children's magazine, Zahradka. Fa-Hardi said the illustrations in the magazine were unique, adding much of Slavic children's literature was mainly text with few illustrations, compared to Canadian children's literature, where many books and magazines are predominantly images with little text.
Fa-Hardi was able to have many of her illustrations published in the same magazine, which helped with university costs, but also enabled her to work with Sopka.
"It was really nice to be with someone you admired for so long," she said, adding they became good friends and still keep in contact even now that Fa-Hardi has moved to Canada.
Fa-Hardi came to Canada with her parents in 2000, returning home after a year to marry her fiancé Slvko Hardi, who then came to Canada with Fa-Hardi.
She said it was initially a difficult transition, especially while looking for work.
"It was hard because of the language barrier," Fa-Hardi said. "I wasn't able to communicate at the level that I wanted to."
Added to that was the economic climate at the time, but eventually, Fa-Hardi was able to break into the business, and now works in the architecture field.
"Little by little, I did succeed," she said, adding her career enables her to spend time at home with her children, as well as to focus on her portraits.
Fa-Hardi said she is very thankful of all the support she's received from members of North Battleford's galleries, and also to the people who have taken an interest in her artwork over the years.
Fa-Hardi became an associate member of the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists in 2009 and currently teaches drawing classes through North Battleford's recreation department.
