About Mai
I didn’t find art overnight.
It found me when I needed to find myself.Although I had artistic tendencies since childhood, art truly entered my life over 12 years ago, during a moment of deep confusion. I was searching for my identity, feeling lost in the noise of life, trying to convince myself that I was “fine,” while something inside me felt constantly missing. My sense of existence came from others, not from within.Art became the space where I slowly returned to myself.Before teaching, I was searching, emotionally and internally, for meaning, joy, and a reason to feel whole. Through art, I learned how to listen inward, how to reconnect, and how to exist without pretending. This journey shaped not only who I am as an artist, but how I guide others.
Why I Teach
Over the years, I’ve worked with complete beginners who had never drawn a circle, people returning to art after long breaks, and individuals using art as emotional support. Despite their differences, most arrive with the same fear:“I can’t do this.”I see the tension before they say a word. I see how quickly they judge their work, how easily they give up, and how deeply they need reassurance—often without asking for it.My role is not to rush them, criticize them, or overwhelm them with rules.
It’s to remind them:
Don’t judge too fast.
Be gentle with yourself.
You are allowed to try.
My Teaching Philosophy
I deeply believe that anyone who feels drawn to art can create. Passion never appears without reason, and creativity is not a talent you’re born with—it’s a skill you develop.I intentionally move away from rigid academic teaching, where right and wrong feel like an exam and rules disconnect people from their emotions. Too many instructions can silence intuition and stop creative flow—the very place where real expression begins.Instead, I create a calm, judgment-free, and reflective environment where:Each person expresses themselves in their own wayNo two artworks are expected to look alikeTools are given, not imposedEmotional safety comes before perfectionMy students don’t learn how to paint like me.
They learn how to paint like themselves.
Between Cairo & Dubai
Living and working between Cairo and Dubai deeply shaped my perspective.Cairo connects me to familiarity, emotional understanding, and unspoken connection. Dubai exposed me to diversity, different needs, cultures, and ways of seeing the world—pushing me completely out of my comfort zone.This contrast taught me how culture, background, and lived experience shape artistic expression. It’s one of the reasons I respect individuality so deeply inside my classes.
Who This Journey Is For (and Who It’s Not)
This experience is not for those seeking quick results or shortcuts.It is for those who are ready to slow down, reconnect, and build confidence—both on the canvas and within themselves.People who work with me often leave with a quiet confidence,
not louder, not rushed,
just enough to know that they can.
2025 © Mai Shokry. All rights reserved.