Yasmine Alroe is far from your average teenage artist.
The 16-year old creative wonder from Stuartholme School has recently had a range of her portraits sold at Our Corner Store in her home town of Bangalow.
“I just walked in with my sketch book and asked if they liked any of my drawings and if they wanted to sell them,” she said.
“Luckily for me, they said yes!”
Over Christmas, Yasmine sold over 30 individually hand-crafted greeting cards and numerous portraits.
“When the first order sold out, they called me asking for more; it was so exciting.”
Owner of Our Corner Store Aneka Sidoti said Yasmine’s work is an inspiration to younger artists and was very well received by customers.
“When we told people Yasmine’s story and her age people were so excited to support her,” she said.
“Everyone loves to know more about the person behind the art work.”
Yasmine is the Year 12 Art Captain at Stuartholme School in Toowong.
“My teachers were very encouraging of me selling my art and sharing my pieces with the community,” she said.
“Everyone was really happy and excited when I told them how fast my work sold.”
When asked if she plans to find a store in Brisbane to stock her work as well, she replied with “Hopefully! That would be great.”
Yasmine is currently working on a compilation book of inspirational female artists, illustrators and writers for her mid-year senior assignment.
“I have started interviewing a range of women that inspire me,” she said.
“I feel like they’re my friends now after drawing their portraits and spending time with each of them.”
“I plan to title the collection ‘Girls’ and Our Corner Store have said they’ll help me sell it.”
Head of Art at Stuartholme Georgina Hooper said she couldn’t be more proud of Yasmine’s passion and success.
“Yasmine is a very hard working student and I can’t wait to see where her talents will take her,” she said.
Yasmine plans to follow her love of Art when she finishes school and study Illustration at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
