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Zarifi Haidar Marín [ظريفة حيدر] • Illustrator

@justzhm

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🙃 Illustrator & Educator
🎓 Urban Design & Architecture
🖍 Children’s books, everyday magic, thoughts +
🧿 Lebanon

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I was meant to share this months ago.

“Point of View” is a book dear to my heart.
It came out last year. I received my copies in September and was so excited to share it with you, but something very sad happened, and I stepped away for a while.

From the moment I read @abeer.adil18 ‘s beautiful story, I knew I wanted to illustrate it. I was drawn to its small world… the insects, the details, the quiet idea that beauty depends on how we choose to see.

Illustrating this book was challenging, and I learned a lot about my own work in the process. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and to @alyasmine_publishing and @hadilmiqdadi for the trust and creative freedom.

I’m also grateful and glad it was shortlisted for the The International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, @etisalataward. Hamdellah 💜

I’ll share more about the process soon, inshallah. by @justzhm

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8 months ago

Better late than never, right? 🙈 I'm happy to post about this project I worked on some time ago - the beautiful children's book about Lebanon published by @joozoori. As an illustrator, it's always an honor to bring stories to life through art, and this one holds a special place in my heart. I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with such a wonderful and talented team, including @samarbarraj (writer), @mayafidawi (art director) and @hananekai (designer), who brought this book to life in such a beautiful way. Joozoori's mission to promote Arab culture and heritage through storytelling resonates deeply with me, and I couldn't be happier to contribute to that cause. Thank you to everyone who has supported this project, and a special thanks to @joozoori for making it possible. If you're interested in getting a copy for your little ones (or for yourself 😉), head over to @joozoori's page!
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#childrensbookillustration #LebaneseCulture #ArabHeritage #Joozoori #Lebanon by @justzhm

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3 years ago

Join Juha, his donkey, and a clumsily magical genie in a world where old tales intertwine with our day-to-day! ✨ Illustrating my first chapter book was such a joy and I’m so thankful for the amazing team that poured their heart into making this beautiful book happen ✨ if you haven’t got your copy yet, hurry up to @kiwistories_publishing’s website and get one now! (link in my bio). *30% sale today and tomorrow*
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Writer: @samarbarraj
Publisher: @kiwistories_publishing
Graphic designer: @dana92m
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Children’s book, illustrations, illustrators from the Middle East, intangible heritage by @justzhm

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3 years ago

When a ⭐️ Dies

A tiny zine I made today… as one way of processing the sudden passing of someone close to our hearts.

It’s difficult to grasp how things can change so much from one day to another. One day we are here, and suddenly we are not… So why do we live our lives as if we had all the time in the world? And why do we insist on spending so much of it on trivialities, instead of working on what we came here for, or at least trying to figure out what that is?!

I guess this has been another sad yet gentle reminder… ✨ taken in Beirut, Lebanon by @justzhm

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22 days ago

August isn’t officially over yet, so here’s the July recap:

I have a confession to make… I was mostly a couch potato this month! 🫣🤦🏻‍♀️ But somehow, in between all that couch time, I was blessed with time with people I love, work, and many beautiful moments.

I also had the chance to contribute in a small way to my people in Venezuela by creating some coloring pages for creativosxvzla, to bring a little joy to children after the earthquakes. This one came with quite a few tears and a lot of frustration 🇻🇪😭

Also, some of my work was exhibited at @ilustrofest in Serbia! 💜 One of the sweetest parts was receiving a video from @tanjamirkovic , who saw my work there and thought I would love to have a look 🥹 Such a thoughtful gesture that really lit my heart. It was also one of those moments that reminds me of what I still love about social media: getting to connect with beautiful people I might otherwise never have had the chance to meet. Thank you @doro_yo and @tanjamirkovic for the kindness and for being so supportive! 🥹

Hamdellah for all of it 🙏

And Hamdellah I’ve stopped couch potatoing 😅 taken in Beirut, Lebanon by @justzhm

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2 months ago

Before AI could write a story in seconds, we spent years writing one by hand ✍️
An all-Arab team of artists, internationally acclaimed author and art director. And one promise: our kids’ stories would be written by human hearts, not machines.

We questioned every single page: is it kind? is it true to us? is it safe? (no, our characters never chat with strangers 😉) then we localized it for 15 Arab countries, so every child opens a book that sounds like home.

No shortcuts. No algorithms. Just love, craft, and roots 🌱
💌Share this with a parent raising Arab kids far from home.

‎قبل ما يقدر الذكاء الاصطناعي يكتب قصة بثواني، قضّينا سنين نكتب قصة وحدة بإيدينا ✍️
‎فريق عربي بالكامل: رسامين، كاتبة، ومدير فني عالميين… ووعد واحد: قصص أطفالنا بتنكتب بقلوب بشر، مش بآلات.
‎وقفنا عند كل صفحة: هل هي لطيفة؟ هل بتشبهنا؟ هل هي آمنة؟ (لأ، شخصياتنا ما بتحكي مع الغريب 😉)
‎وبعدها خصّصناها لـ15 دولة عربية، ليفتح كل طفل كتاب بيشبه بيته.

‎بلا اختصارات، بلا خوارزميات. بس حب، وشغل إيد، وجذور 🌱

💌 ابعتوا هالريل لأهل عم يربّوا أطفالهم بعيد عن بلدهم.

#PersonalizedBooks #BilingualKids #ArabHeritage #MadeByHumans #ArabDiaspora by @justzhm

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3 months ago

I almost didn’t share a recap this month, but here are a few little notes from a month I’ll remember with a lot of gratitude...

1. June was a month of introspection. Quiet on the outside, but with a lot happening within 💜

2. This month brought a very special visit and much-needed nourishment for our souls. Hamdellah for bringing Mawlana to us and for making everything brighter and lighter 🕊️

3. This month also brought very difficult times to my dear home country, Venezuela. The news have been beyond sad and frustrating, but through it all I’m so grateful that my family is safe. Hamdellah.
Thank you to everyone who reached out to ask about them. It truly meant a lot 🙏

4. A little behind the scenes from a small commissioned piece. A sweet little helper joined me while I was drawing 🥰

5. Continued working on this beautiful project. We are almost done! 🌬️

6. A little happy news that took me a while to share... one of my illustrations was selected for Ilustrofest Serbia for the second year in a row! 🥳

7. Just me. Still here. Breathing, dreaming, learning, growing. Hamdellah taken in Beirut, Lebanon by @justzhm

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3 months ago

I saw this trend on @justnounzie’s feed and got inspired (and curious 😁), so I asked a few friends and family what four things remind them of me.

These are some of the answers I got. Some I expected, some not so much… the last one, however, was completely expected 😆😒

Note: Maracaibo is the city where I was born (Venezuela). And if you’re curious about any of the answers that aren’t clear, feel free to ask 😊

And now I’m curious… what are four things that remind you of me? taken in Beirut, Lebanon by @justzhm

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4 months ago

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4 months ago

Eid Adha Mubarak 🌙
May Allah protect us and bring peace to our hearts, homes, lands, and skies…
🌍☁️💕 taken in Beirut, Lebanon by @justzhm

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5 months ago

Apparently April needed more time before becoming a recap. A lot happened, but I can’t cover it all… so this should do it, as June is almost here! 🫣

1. Antar asking a very valid question.

2. The continuation of the digital journal about the war… I was slowly trying to record and go through fears, absurdity, gratitude, and tiny details through drawing.

3. Going back to the university after the ceasefire announcement… It was good seeing everyone and life slowly returning to the studio.
Most of the smiles in the pictures were sponsored by @toomacooks desserts.

4. The beginning of my Procreate Illustration Course with @majaldesignschool … and teaching it online for the first time.

5. Finally and steadily resuming work on a special book project I hadn’t been able to properly focus on during the war.

6. Happy to see “Point of View” at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair @bolognachildrensbookfair

7. Back to reading for a much needed distraction… and finishing “The Forty Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak.

8. Unexpected encounters… a Golden Jackal? a wolf?

9. Looking up after a day full of heavy contrasts and contradictions… and being thankful for the lessons, and for the lightness that trust and gratitude can bring.

🩷 taken in Beirut, Lebanon by @justzhm

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5 months ago

I want to try doing monthly recaps… but I couldn’t speak about April before mentioning March, which didn’t pass quietly:

1) A little context.

2) Prayer and Zikr were what held me the most... Sometimes they met contemplation and drawing, becoming a quiet and colorful conversation.

3) Small color exercises, just another way to calm the mind.

4) The beginning of a digital journal about the war… full of fears, prayers, frustrations, and appreciation for tiny details.

5) Doodles made during online sessions. Small moments of staying present while listening.

6) Grateful for health, warmth, and sunlight coming through the day...

7) The safety of home, and the beauty of nature surrounding it...

8) Ramadan, fresh, simple meals, and nourishment beyond food...

9) Family, and another birthday celebrated together…

10) Small escapes into nature. A deep breath outside the noise.

March was heavy, but it also held many blessings I don’t want to forget. الحمدلله 💕 taken in Choueifat, Lebanon by @justzhm

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5 months ago