"A piece of me lives in every canvas—each one holds a purpose, a message meant to be felt and understood." – Jared Farouki

In the depths of despair, Jared discovered the vivid colors of his soul. As a child, adults often told him he had a special gift for art, yet his rebellious nature led him to ignore that truth. It wasn’t until Jared was in his senior year of high school that he reluctantly entered a freshman art class, and in those moments, Jared realized they had been right all along. He fought against the very thing that filled his heart with joy—showing up late, tuning out my teacher’s praises, and sticking to his headphones like armor.

When high school came to an end, Jared tucked his art supplies away alongside my dreams, suppressing the spark that his teacher had ignited. Fast forward to 24, he found himself in a psych ward after a desperate attempt to escape the pain he felt—a turning point that brought him back to his love for art. Armed with only a few old coloring pages, Jared rediscovered that fleeting sense of peace that only creativity could offer.

Once he stepped out into the world again, Jared decided to embrace his gift. He bought the cheapest art supplies that he could find and began painting daily, despite his early works being far from perfect. But each brushstroke was an act of defiance against his past. Jared soaked in tutorials, shared his art with family, and slowly, he felt the weight of doubt lifting.

Then came the moment of validation—a local gallery accepted his work. It was an affirmation he desperately needed. He then reached out to his former art teacher, finally expressing how his class transformed his understanding of art and life. To his surprise he was met with unwavering support.

Every corner he turned became a reminder to keep pursuing what sets his heart ablaze.

His current fixation is large scale canvases, using colors and values to convey emotions. 

He currently lives and works on his passion in Springfield, MO, with his two cats Bug and Elbert. 

You can find his work at different local galleries and exhibitions.