Meet Nisrin Shahin

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nisrin Shahin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Nisrin , thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep it alive by not limiting myself to any mediums or times of creativity. When I can’t paint I doodle with pen or pencil at any empty paper surface. When I don’t have access to hold anything I turn to my phone camera to snap pics and edit them. Or if I’m on the move and a lot is going on I take video clips and later edit them into a highlight video. If I’m not feeling like creating I just discover new genres of music to explore new sensations and widen the horizon of my imagination. If I’m feeling down and burnt out I listen to books that help me broaden my knowledge in art and self development methods. And when I want to disconnect with everything I just put music on and sing along and move with the beats. So much creativity to explore all around us you can’t not create at all times.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am Nisrin Shahin, a proud Palestinian-American and a local artist based in North Carolina. My artistic journey has been deeply inspired by my father, a multifaceted artist who worked across various mediums. His creativity and passion sparked my own pursuit of art.

I graduated from Meredith College with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Interior Design and minoring in Studio Art. While art was always a part of my life, I began diving deeper into painting and exploring the art world during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This newfound passion led me to establish Nisrin’s Art Studio—a space where art could inspire connection and creativity within my community.

Nisrin’s Art Studio offers art classes, private art events, and artist meetups. It serves as a platform to bring together art lovers and build a thriving community. My journey started with hosting private and public paint nights, which evolved into creating a monthly event called Coffee & Arts Meetup. This meetup spotlights a local artist and fosters personal and creative connections.

Drawing on my background as a wedding planner and my love for event coordination, I launched the first annual Nisrin’s Art Studio Talent Show—a platform to showcase local talent and celebrate creativity. The event has become a cornerstone of my work, and I am thrilled to announce the second annual Talent Show, themed “Igniting the Artist Within,” which will take place on May 23rd, 2025, at the White Magnolia in Raleigh, NC.

Stay connected for updates on events and programs by following my Instagram page @nisrinsartstudio. My website is also in the works and will be live in June 2025, with the link shared on Instagram once it’s ready.

I am always eager to connect with local artists and collaborate on events that bring our community together through the transformative power of art. Let’s grow, inspire, and create together!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Keep creating no matter what no matter when. Don’t be so hard on yourself just keep trying. Stay curious, always be open to learning and exploring new areas of knowledge that you usually wouldn’t look into.

You don’t know what path you will take until you keep walking in it. So fail and fall and keep going until it reveals itself to you.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am always open to collaborating with fellow creatives who are eager to explore their talents and build a strong network of passionate artists. Together, we can create magic that makes our world brighter and more beautiful.

As a Muslim creative, my goal is to nurture and hold space for the Muslim creative community, fostering growth, connection, and opportunities for us to flourish together.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Nisrinsartstudio

Image Credits

All photos are taken and edited by me