22 | VIPDestinMagazine.com
story by
Courtney Murray
P
olli Youngbeck was destined
to be an artist, beginning
to draw at the young
age of four. “I recall my mother
showing our neighbor my drawings,
and our neighbor insisting that no
4 year old could draw that well…
she said it must have been traced!
That’s when my mother pulled out
stacks of my drawings,” remembers
Polli. Graduating with a degree in
design from Auburn University, Polli
continued her art training in Europe
at the Universität Salzburg and also
Heidelberg University. After working
in advertising in Milwaukee for a brief
period she knew in her heart that
her true passion was painting; which
soon led to henna. She moved on
to spread her love of art with others
by teaching painting and general art
classes in the Atlanta area, as well
as here on the Emerald Coast. Polli
discovered Henna by accident and was
instantly intrigued. No one was hand
drawing henna tattoos nine years ago
anywhere on the beaches between
Destin and Tampa or Pensacola. “I
had no idea what I was doing and
tried to find someone to give me
guidance, but I couldn’t find anyone
on the panhandle,” remembers Polli,
“I think I was the first and only hand
drawn henna artist within a hundred
or more miles. I had to learn the hard
way--jump in and just DO IT!” Henna
was associated with tattoos by many
and wasn’t widely accepted at the
time, so this beautiful new art form
had to be explained to tourists and
those interested in getting henna.
It is now so popular and has such a
following that Polli teaches classes in
the summer.
Henna is an art form rich in tradition
and for the past five years Polli
has been doing henna tattoos for
weddings. Henna is a plant, so it’s all
organic. Polli mixes her own henna,
using two different types from Pakistan
and India that leave a rich reddish
orange stain on your skin. Using a
small bottle with tiny metal tip, Polli
can draw effectively and shade, just
like a painting. Henna lasts up to a
month if you leave it on your skin for
about 24 hours; the longer the henna
remains against the skin the darker the
stain. After the drawing is complete,
Polli taps the drawing with a traditional
mixture of sugar and lemon juice that
helps the dye release and also helps
the henna adhere to the skin. It’s a
process that requires time, a lot of
patience, and planning.
Hennas are becoming a unique
form of expression for one of the
most important days of your life - your
wedding day. Polli describes, “As I am
a professional artist, I’m not limited
in what I can draw or paint and can
turn a bride’s henna into a beautiful
painting and an original expression of
her special day. I’ve had bridesmaids
each tell a story on their hands about
the bride and groom. I think that is a
wonderful way to incorporate hennas
into a wedding.” Polli spends a lot
Wedding
Henna
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