EMERGING young art talent Amaya Gamage will launch her own children’s picture book on Sunday.
The Mount Gambier talent will debut Amaya’s Alphabet, which brings to life animal characters to represent each letter of the alphabet.
Amaya’s mother Dr Rasika Rampatige said her daughter had a long interest in drawing.
“When Amaya is awake, she will draw,” her mother Dr Rampatige said.
Despite being just 13 years old, Amaya has already achieved success, with a drawing featured on an animated ABC broadcast.
Amaya was also a recent participant in the 2018 South Australian Living Artist exhibition and last month claimed the South East Art Society’s young artist award.
Dr Rampatige said Amaya’s passion for drawing started the moment she could walk.
“She was drawing all over the walls as well as what she could get her hands on,” Dr Rampatige said.
“It started with scribbles and she used it as a way to calm herself, but she really enjoys doing it as it naturally comes to her.”
Dr Rampatige said Amaya’s main inspiration comes from Disney characters, more specifically from The Lion King.
“She draws a lot of lions, which comes from the Lion King, as well as her love for animals,” Dr Rampatige said.
Thrilled about Amaya’s success as a young artist, her mother said it was “great that she is doing what she loves to do”.
The family has also taken extra steps to support Amaya in her quest to become a “proper artist”.
“She is also learning Photoshop, as her passion at the moment is to work towards becoming an animator,” Dr Rampatige said.
“She wants all of her animals to move animation and she is learning and moving towards that.”
Coinciding with Autism awareness month, Amaya currently has a self-titled art exhibition on display the Main Corner.
The exhibition will be displayed until the end of the month.
Amaya’s book launch will be held Sunday from 11.30am at the Mount Gambier Library.
“I just want to thank everyone for their support in this time and the amount of support she has had from council, the Main Corner and library, as well as Tenison for keeping her interested in what she loves to do,” Dr Rampatige said.
