Modern Day Monet

Modern Day Monet

By: Kate Abraham

For Abigail Babaz, art is not just a hobby. Her love for painting has been present from the beginning; she always knew it had a spot in her heart.

Abigail Babaz

“Ever since I was young, I’ve been obsessed with looking at paintings and studying them. It’s just been this long-standing love affair I have not been able to shake,” she says.

Babaz is a senior at the University of Mississippi and a native of Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently working towards her BFA, with an emphasis in Painting, but this plan of study was not always the case. Freshman year, she began her college career as an art major but lost interest as the time commitment was pervasive. She switched majors but still found herself unhappy. She said, “about a semester or two later, I realized how miserable I was. I once loved going to class but found myself dreading it.”

Knowing that her true passion for art, she switched back to the art program and is thriving today. When talking about re-entering the art program, she said, “(I was given) the confidence I needed, and it was a huge turning point in my college experience. I realize now that I really had a shot at doing work that was meaningful and had a purpose.”

Babaz’s talent did not go unnoticed by her peers. When sophomore year came around at Ole Miss, she wanted to paint a piece to put in her room at her new apartment. For fun, she posted photos on Instagram while creating the piece, and she began to gain followers who were noticing her talent. This led to many asking for her to do commissions, and she has continued to do them ever since.

“I started taking commissions all of a sudden and by accident...ever since then, I have really enjoyed making people happy with my artwork.”

Babaz’s talents aren’t restricted to one category, but she enjoys painting landscapes the most. She explains that she finds herself creating varying types of work throughout different stages of life.

“I love getting to create things that are so personal to me for other people to enjoy. I think I want all of my work to tell a story,” she said when asked what she loves most about creating art.

As her talent continued to be recognized by many, her popularity has grown exponentially. Recently, she began to sell some of her artwork at a gift shop on the Oxford Square, Daisy Gift Company.

When asked what advice she has for those who aspire to begin to sell their art as she does, she said, “I think creating work can be so difficult...it is so important as an artist to not compare yourself to other people. Everyone is coming from a different background or a place with different insight. The best weapon you have as an artist is, as much as you try, you are never going to be able to paint exactly like someone else, and they will never be able to paint like you.”

Babaz sees her passion for art as something that will always be present in her life. Although she is interested in pursuing other career paths, she knows that this love for painting will remain.

"As much as I want to try something else or have a 9-5 desk job career, I will never be able to stop painting.”

For more of Abigail Babaz’s art and to contact her for commissions, follow her on Instagram @abigailbabazart. Also, visit Daisy Gift Company (@daisygiftcompany) on the Square to purchase her work.

Photos by: Olivia Laws and via @abigailbabazart