![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5MIZ6GVAOHDDHTVMO3XAW3VHAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5f37f08f9619210fe50f31c2ab84838bafd013a2b91b47e155b6b03a1dd14d4&width=400&height=225)
Her creativity has earned her more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and many fans on YouTube
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I7SQCQJRFJH5YU6QYTOU6ORMGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=583b4ddaae934b47d773a98d60a6d7800871b8284c79559a55e90f068ca59a1a&width=400&height=225)
Fiona Afshar, 54, taught herself how to make pasta and began adding an artistic twist with colours and patterns. All images courtesy Fiona Afshar
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IVSHJ6SWKO2JP447YNGNLY7Y5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3537b553cbbf852a8cac80249f3a997490eb1684453a60fdbb5fd65450e967b7&width=400&height=225)
'I always eat with my eyes first,' says Afshar, a home cook who has gained a social media following thanks to her colourful pasta. All images courtesy Fiona Afshar
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VZRUB36ES3QSORZ3AQNDKOVBEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a929774c68862aa499c320548e0f579409f95326ac7bbbea49529269244ad5b&width=400&height=225)
Afshar's patterns and shapes are made with cookie cutters or other household items. She has also taken to adding herbs and edible flowers to her creations
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFRPMEXB6LSRLVCFQOHELI5VNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e7d9e7c2738d30e277d4d838b3c3bd78a69ad150afd6c4f58c138975620b294&width=400&height=225)
She achieves her vivid colours through natural ingredients, adding fruits, vegetables or dried vegetable powders to the dough
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3ZY46JETISG54KERUUWO3PRCCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8e316065544b47aa91af9ae24e2231653f9f8b90903743cfb2c9a2c4db59451b&width=400&height=225)
Afshar’s palette is inspired by the sights at her local farmer’s market in Malibu, California, where she lives
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XO4C76DVCZUQ6W553DQ3Q5ZO2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=2ed925f6228f61f7a92a177b3a700b902c2633def2ba6c9c42dfdea702fbc13f&width=400&height=225)
Afshar started posting videos on her YouTube channel in 2019, sharing tips on pasta-making
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5MIZ6GVAOHDDHTVMO3XAW3VHAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5f37f08f9619210fe50f31c2ab84838bafd013a2b91b47e155b6b03a1dd14d4&width=400&height=225)
Her creativity has earned her more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and many fans on YouTube
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I7SQCQJRFJH5YU6QYTOU6ORMGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=583b4ddaae934b47d773a98d60a6d7800871b8284c79559a55e90f068ca59a1a&width=400&height=225)
Fiona Afshar, 54, taught herself how to make pasta and began adding an artistic twist with colours and patterns. All images courtesy Fiona Afshar
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IVSHJ6SWKO2JP447YNGNLY7Y5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3537b553cbbf852a8cac80249f3a997490eb1684453a60fdbb5fd65450e967b7&width=400&height=225)
'I always eat with my eyes first,' says Afshar, a home cook who has gained a social media following thanks to her colourful pasta. All images courtesy Fiona Afshar
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VZRUB36ES3QSORZ3AQNDKOVBEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8a929774c68862aa499c320548e0f579409f95326ac7bbbea49529269244ad5b&width=400&height=225)
Afshar's patterns and shapes are made with cookie cutters or other household items. She has also taken to adding herbs and edible flowers to her creations
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFRPMEXB6LSRLVCFQOHELI5VNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3e7d9e7c2738d30e277d4d838b3c3bd78a69ad150afd6c4f58c138975620b294&width=400&height=225)
She achieves her vivid colours through natural ingredients, adding fruits, vegetables or dried vegetable powders to the dough
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3ZY46JETISG54KERUUWO3PRCCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8e316065544b47aa91af9ae24e2231653f9f8b90903743cfb2c9a2c4db59451b&width=400&height=225)
Afshar’s palette is inspired by the sights at her local farmer’s market in Malibu, California, where she lives
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XO4C76DVCZUQ6W553DQ3Q5ZO2Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=2ed925f6228f61f7a92a177b3a700b902c2633def2ba6c9c42dfdea702fbc13f&width=400&height=225)
Afshar started posting videos on her YouTube channel in 2019, sharing tips on pasta-making
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5MIZ6GVAOHDDHTVMO3XAW3VHAI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e5f37f08f9619210fe50f31c2ab84838bafd013a2b91b47e155b6b03a1dd14d4&width=400&height=225)
Her creativity has earned her more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and many fans on YouTube
Meet Fiona Afshar, the home cook whose artistic pasta has made her an Instagram star
She has gained a large online following thanks to her eye-catching and vividly coloured pasta
![Alexandra Chaves](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fbdf74649-e581-430d-bebb-05a009adb530.png?smart=true&auth=1aaef0ec554b632723f2f63cf60bfb8380f8e1ec18ca35283e642f53cc0bac8e&width=70&height=70)
Alexandra Chaves
03 September, 2020
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- Listen In Arabic