Tina Masoum will be a senior this year at Edmonds-Woodway High School. While painting and drawing are two of her favorite things, she is interested in pursuing medicine when she attends college. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Tina Masoum will be a senior this year at Edmonds-Woodway High School. While painting and drawing are two of her favorite things, she is interested in pursuing medicine when she attends college. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Family inspires this self-taught artist

The Edmonds-Woodway senior loves art, but will probably study nursing in college.

EDMONDS — Tina Masoum, 17, is a self-taught artist whose paintings are displayed outside the Frances Anderson Center. She will be a senior at Edmonds-Woodway High School next year, and is in the school’s academically challenging International Baccalaureate program.

Question: What made you want to become an artist?

Answer: I’ve been painting and drawing since I was really young. I was inspired by my dad because he is an amazing artist, as is my sister, so I just wanted to be like them.

Q: You learned how to paint and draw realistic-looking pieces on your own?

A: Really, it’s just going through the internet and finding pictures I really like and thinking, “Oh, I bet I could draw that.” So I just … find images that really inspire me and spark something in my head.

I just try things out on my own until I figure out how to do it. … Everyone is different in their methods, so I think it’s important to teach yourself rather than figure out what others do.

Q: Have you taken any art classes in high school?

A: No. I took a photography class, so I guess that’s kind of cheating. It really helped me with art in its own way, because I got to learn about color theory and how to set up a really nice image. … I also did take an art history class this year, which taught me a lot about human form and anatomy.

Q: Why did you decide to display your artwork on the fence outside the Frances Anderson Center?

A: Well, I can probably thank the International Baccalaureate program at my school for that. We’re supposed to do something called the CAS Project, which is creativity, action and service, so we’re supposed to choose two of those aspects. I chose to do creative and service. I thought if I did an on-the-fence project for the Edmonds Arts Commission, it would be really cool.

In terms of the subject of the paintings, we were kind of stuck on what we wanted to do. We asked around and did some research, until one of my good friends from elementary school told me that bee decline is a huge issue that’s happening around the world. If there are no bees, there are no humans. So we looked into it, and it’s true. About 250 bees die a day.

Q: Is the fence project at Frances Anderson Center something they do regularly?

A: It’s something that the Edmonds Arts Commission always has up for students or artists to do. I believe every two to three months they’ll have a new piece on the fence.

Q: Do you think you’re going to keep learning about bees?

A: I think so. It’s an important topic. I know people don’t really stress it that much, but if you really get down to it, it is a problem. I think maybe in the future instead of just advocating for it, I’ll try to do things to protect our bees.

Q: You asked a couple of friends, Lukas Mraz and Hannah Wechsler, to help on the school project. Why’d you choose them?

A: I know Lukas is a photographer. I thought he’d know aesthetics, which he did. He’s really great at it. And I chose Hannah because she’s just a really dedicated hard worker, and I knew she could get it done.

Q: What were each of your jobs?

A: I lead them and showed them how to fix it if there were any mistakes. They were a huge help. They painted the base and some of the details, but for the most part I gave them the job of making (the project’s) website.

Q: Do you hope to continue making art?

A: I think about this a lot. I’m not sure if I want to go into a career with art. But I really love doing it. I think as a side job selling prints, or original pieces for commission would be super fun to do, but as a main career I actually want to go into nursing.

Q: Why nursing?

A: My dad suggested I take on nursing, and after looking into it I think it’s so fun, so interesting. My sister is studying nursing at the University of British Columbia in Canada. She’s having an amazing time, she loves it.

Q: Where do you think you’d like to go to college?

A: I want to go to a college in Canada. Preferably the University of British Columbia.

Q: Why there?

A: We’re Canadian citizens. We live here on my dad’s work visa. I think tuition is cheaper there … but also I think that Vancouver is an amazing, amazing city. I’ve been there so many times, I just love it. I don’t know why but I’m just drawn to it.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @stephrdavey.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

A view of a homes in Edmonds, Washington on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County to mail property tax statements this month

First half payments are due on April 30.

Ticket and ORCA card kiosks at the Lynnwood Light Rail station on Thursday, April 4, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Beginning March 1, Community Transit to reduce some fares

Riders eligible for reduced fares will pay $1 for a single ORCA card tap and $36 for a monthly pass.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The amphitheater at Deception Pass during the 2021 concert series. (Photo provided by Deception Pass Park Foundation Facebook page.)
Deception Pass Foundation seeks Adopt-A-Trail volunteers

If you’re looking for a way to get outside and… Continue reading

A pedestrian is struck and killed by vehicle Wednesday in Everett

The pedestrian was a man in his 60s. The collision happened at 5:30 a.m. on Broadway.

Want coffee? Drink some with the Marysville mayor.

A casual question-and-answer session between mayor and constituents is planned for March 24.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.