Meet An Artist - Fahima Fattah

The artist for this month is a known name particularly in U.A.E art scenario with respect to colourfully attired working women, showcasing an entire clan of them who she says are the "backbone" of the entire family and thereby for an entire society. Her works, I feel whether it's faceless or with a face, imparts a richness and vigour, to the beholder. An artist who feels the sense of loss and brave it all, who tries to fill those spasms through her colorful art trying to heal those scars left back in her country and fellow-citizens. I hope you enjoy her art and please check out her social media platforms to know her more.

So Friends...Let me introduce, the gifted artist...

Fahima Fattah

Deepa: To begin with, tell us something about yourself…your family, background, education etc.

Fahima: I was born in Baghdad, Iraq and graduated from the University of Baghdad. Married and have two girls and a boy. I immigrated with my family to Canada in 1996.

Deepa: How did your journey as an artist begin? Who is your inspiration? Who taught or inspired you to indulge in art?

Fahima: Since childhood, my school teachers and family members started noticing my talent in paintings. It is at this point where I started paying more attention to developing my painting skills.  Through the years I have attended numerous art courses and workshops further developing my skills, and I started exhibiting my art work at numerous galleries in Canada and UAE. 

I was taught by one of the Iraqi artist pioneers, Nazeeha Salim, who encouraged me to take my talent further. I was mainly inspired by the surrounding environment in Iraq (Tribe women, villagers, palm trees etc.).

Deepa: Have you had any formal art education or are you self-taught? What do you have say about it?

Fahima: I have painted all my life, and took it further by studying it seriously in the past ten years.  My art is a mix of self-taught and art education.

Deepa: Your art is rich, vibrant and colourful. Most often you depict your characters faceless or with vague features…What is its significance? Why do you do that? What are your thoughts on it?

Fahima: I have always loved using my imagination and my senses which are expressed, through my colourful paintings. Sometimes I depict my characters faceless or with vague features because I believe that everyone is a closed book and there is a hidden side in each person which can not been seen by others until exposed, which I leave its interpretation to the viewer. 

Deepa: I somehow feel that your art that features so many women in bright attires are somewhere a plea, a prayer to tend to the matters of your beloved country. Is that so? Also your characters are all women…often at work? Is that a conscious one?

Fahima: Yes, because I believe women are half the community and they should be represented in every part of life. In Iraq women have gone through a lot in the past and I view them as the backbone for every Iraqi family, that’s why in many instances I paint them as tall as a palm tree to indicate their glory and generosity.  

Deepa: You have exhibited around U.A.E…You are also a member of ARTE and usually display there too. What is ARTE’s share in helping you to evolve? How has the different exhibitions helped you to enrich your experience? Any memorable incident that you would like to share with us?

Fahima: I exhibited my art work in many Galleries within UAE since 2007. I am also a member of ARTE since 2006 and presented numerous art works through them and made contact with art lovers. ARTE gave me the opportunity to exhibit my work to a vast number of people, and it is a great way to assess crowd response to my paintings and the thoughts behind them. In many cases, I am surprised to see people interpret my paintings in many different ways which gives me even more ideas to paint and express my thoughts in different ways. 

Deepa: Which is your favourite medium both in paints and surface?

Fahima: I prefer to paint using Acrylic, as it dries quickly and changes can be made quickly.

Deepa: Who is your favourite artist(s) and why? Whose work hangs in your living room/studio space?

Fahima: Leonardo da Vinci as he was the jack of all trades, an artist, an inventor amongst other things that inspires many people throughout the past, present and the future.

I have a number of paintings from various artists, but one that I cherish the most, is a painting from Mr. Rafa Al Nasiri, a pioneer artist from Iraq.

Deepa: Is marketing important along with artistic skills? How well do you think that you can market yourself (are you good in marketing your art)? 

Fahima: I think marketing is immensely important as you need a venue to show your work to the world. I try to be very active in social media, and attending various art events where time permits.

Deepa: What are other interests/likes and/or hobbies?

Fahima: I like to travel and explore different cultures. Also I like to swim. 

Deepa: What would be your advice to aspiring artists? Any tip or technique to help them develop?

Fahima: My main advice to new aspiring artists is to always express one’s self, and keep in mind every person has his own taste in art and always be positive and always seek improvement. 

Deepa: Where can my readers reach you? (Blog, website, Twitter, Facebook)

Fahima: I am very active in social media where I have a Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts under my name (Fahima Fattah) that I check on regular basis.

Thank you Fahima for taking out your time and sharing your art and thoughts with us in Hues n Shades :)
Wish you the very Best in all your future endeavours!


Pic courtesy: Fahima Fattah

Please do not use/reproduce the content (words as well as images) without the written consent of the artist.

Follow Your Heart

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness 

and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross 

I received this quote in my mail from Robin Sharma and it meant so much to me. It's true to the core... some times, rarely though, we do come across such beautiful souls. Wyanne who was a Meet An Artist in Hues n Shades is one such amazing soul. She gifted me an online class, You and Me 2015, and these are my attempts after going through her videos.

This is definitely different what I had been doing and I have always enjoyed her videos more than anything. Love her style and techniques and now I am learning it too :)

I have tried Wyanne's(FB page) techniques on handmade paper and I think it's fun, cheery, bright and relaxing :) 

'Follow Your Heart' is for my daughter. She loves puppies, dogs and so this one is specially for her. It's  a sign for everyone too...just make your own path by following your heart :)

 Make Your Own Path

Follow Your Heart

I am really thankful to the internet for getting to know many lovely friends (artists-bloggers), with some of whom we really get along so well that we could become 'Besties'...they are extreme inspirations and one of them could even turn out to be a confidante', unexpectedly :)

Has that ever happened to you???

It could also be because they are perfect strangers who don't have a pre-conceived notion about you. They are not going to judge you and they don't expect you to behave in a certain way. There is also the 'X Factor' as we don't make everyone our confidantes, right? Have you ever had somebody to whom you could say anything and everything with out them raising an eyebrow or the brows knitted or eyes droopy at some point or the other?! Lucky, if you have!

Linking it to PPF.

Please do not use/reproduce the content (words as well as images) without the written consent of the artist.

Love is in the Box!

People through generations have spoken, sang, discussed, debated, argued and even killed for (and about) love. Each one of us have a view/opinion on the subject. If it's an occasion such as Valentine's Day, then Love is really in the air...everywhere. It's a way to stir up, invoke and rejuvenate love. Here's something I have done for you...packed 'tiny-teeny bit of loves' in packs...small boxes. You could spread love in such cute little boxes too...just check this DIY...especially for you...

Happy Valentine's Day!

O Love!Thou Makest All Things Even

O Love! Thou makest all things even

In earth and in heaven;

Finding the way through prison-bars

Up to the stars;

Or, true to the Almighty plan,

That out of dust created man,

Thou lookest in a grave, --to see

Thine immortality!

~Sarah Fuller Flower Adams

Aren't these cute???

If yes, you can do it too...

Here's How:

Materials Needed:

Matchbox

A4 White papers 

~(or white paint to color the matchbox. I have used white papers and decoupaged it to the surface of the matchbox)

Pattern papers (can also be used to cover the matchbox)

Glue

Scissors

3D liner(white)

Red acrylic ink

Red sketch pen

Gel texture bead

Red Felt 

White stone

Bronze pearl metallic paint.

Brush

Pencil

Heart shaped mould

Picture Instructions:

1. Cut the white paper according to the size of the match box.

2. Pasted it around the box with mod podge.

3. Outline the heart mould with pencil and then with 3D liner.

4. Let dry or use a hair dryer.

5. Fill it with red acrylic ink.

6. Outlined the other side of the white liner with red sketch.

7. Let dry and then fill it with designs using the liner.

8. Now write a short sweet poem or choose one from any of the sites (do not forget to give credit).

9. Write it on to a strip of paper that fits inside the box making it into an accordion.

10. Stick the end of the last line inside the box.

11. Close it and surprise your beloved one!

1. Repeat the first two steps (1 & 2)

2. Take pearl bronze metallic paint on a palette.

3. Place the heart mould on the paint and stamp it on the top of  the box.

4. Fill it with red acrylic ink.

5. Let dry or use a dryer.

6. Place bead gel texture on top of it.

7. Let dry and the glass bead effect will be visible.

8. Now follow the steps to add the poem as mentioned above (8,9 & 10).

9. Close it and surprise your beloved one!

1. Repeat the first two steps (1 & 2)

2. Outline the heart mould with pencil on the felt and scissor it :)

3. Add a masking tape or a double-ended sticker tape on the back of the felt heart.

4. Add a heart with a white liner.

5. Let dry or use a dryer.

6. Place white stone on top of it.

7. Now follow the steps to add the poem as mentioned above (8,9 & 10).

8. Close it and surprise your beloved one!

The first two short poems written in Malayalam (my mother-tongue) is my own and the third one in English is the poem by Sarah Fuller Flower Adams is typed on top.

Have fun, surprise beloved ones and make everyday a Valentine's Day!

Hope you enjoyed this special post. Please do leave your comments and suggestions in the comment section or you can mail me at mail.huesnshades@gmail.com.

Linking it to Eva and Kristin's PPF

You can also read one of my popular Valentine's Day posts here & here.

All the images and content is copyright of Deepa Gopal Sunil. Please do not use it without prior permission/consent from the artist.

Devan Madangarly - Meet An Artist

To think of Ahalia Heritage Village and not associate it with Varma Sir or Devan Sir is impossible. This week, Devan Sir is joining us to share his thoughts and experiences and above all his art which is magnanimous in itself. He is a self-taught contemporary artist who easily fuses folklore and folk style into his art with such ease and grace that it's so interlaced into an effective narrative style. He is not only an amazing artist but a fabulous and generous human being too. I am super glad to introduce Devan Sir to my dear friends and readers in my space, Hues n Shades.

{For those who are new here and have not read my Ahalia posts, you can read it here and here.}

Devan Madangarly (DM)

Deepa: Firstly, as the tradition goes, please give us a brief about yourself.

DM: I was born and brought up in a Namboodiri (Brahmin) family in Ottapalam, Kerala. I studied up to Pre-degree and soon after started to work in sales and marketing for a living. I remember my childhood days as difficult periods.

Art was always in my veins. My great grandfather and one of his brothers were artists. I think of it as a continuation of their gifts in me. From childhood days, I drew. But during my ‘salesman period’ I did nothing important.  After 15 years of working as a salesman, I resigned and got into the world of arts and that was in 1990. I am basically a self-taught artist; I went to Kanoria Centre for Arts, in Ahmedabad and took a foundation course of drawing and painting though.

Deepa: Tell us something about your work and association with Ahalia Heritage Village. What is the one thing that you enjoy the most in Ahalia and why? You organize various workshops with artists all over the country. What is it that you relish and learn from these memorable events? 

DM: In Ahalia Heritage Village, in Palakkad, I am experiencing a new kind of work. We, the Team, together are recreating and converting a barren land to an art village. Ahalia organizes various workshops with artists all over the country. I am learning from these memorable events on how to develop as an organizer and studying on their working methods. Actually the mural I did in Ahalia is based on the tribal life and culture.

Ahalia Heritage Village

Deepa: The mural art that you have worked on in Ahalia is one of a kind with elements of nature in it. It portrays a serene and harmonious existence that we so wish in today’s wild world. What was your intention behind that creation?

DM: Since Ahalia is a heritage village where we wanted to preserve folk elements of art, we decided to go with that kind of theme. It has folk art and nature which is inseparable.

Deepa: You are an extremely talented artist yourself. What inspires you the most and stirs your creative juices?

DM: I don’t think I am ‘an extremely talented artist.’ But talented, yes. What inspires me is Nature. Books and my journeys are my other inspirations.

Deepa: Folk art has found a new direction in your art, if I may say so. There are also the vast green landscapes and cool blue water bodies, what inspired you to merge all these elements together to bring about an art tale of your own?

DM: In my childhood days, I felt lonely. That loneliness gave me a friend - Nature. Nature inspired me to draw. My experiences and some motifs from nature became part of my paintings. My paintings are my stories. My narrative style is created with the mural tradition and miniature styles of India.

Devan Sir's mural in Ahalia Heritage Village

Deepa: There is a sort of simplicity and yet an enticing depth to it…as if there are layers to your paintings... Your signature! May we know your thoughts on it?

DM: Almost every painting and drawing I did is simple but in the depth they lead to a mood of sadness. This is because my thoughts lead me to contemplate on my memories. Actually memories are a great influence in my works.

Deepa: Monochromes seem to be a recurring process…is that deliberate?

DM: My drawings, especially pencil, and some paintings are always monochromatic. That is not deliberate. My childhood days were colourless. So the memories are the reasons behind the style. Colour came to my life after many years. Then I began to experiment with colour.

Deepa: You work with different mediums…which is your preferred medium though?

DM: My preferred medium is Pencil.

Doll in a Basket

Deepa: It is difficult to point to one and say “I just loved it!”…there are a lot of personal favourites for me in your collection. The diptych and triptych are lovely works, while ‘Rain and the Boats’ suggests nostalgia, ‘The Antique Collector’, ‘Death of a Salesman’ is an intriguing piece, ‘The Birds have no Reflection’ has a childish charm with an interesting edge to it, ‘The Smoker and the Crows’ has an eerie touch to it, while ‘Jobs of an Elephant’ points out a satirical element…there are lot of personal nuances in your paintings. Which is your personal favourite and why?

DM: In my works, many are my personal favourites. You mentioned some of them. Every work is my memory. In one way or other, they are attached to me. ‘Rain and the Boats’ was a childhood memory. In ‘Antique Collector’, I am the protagonist. ‘The death of a Salesman’ is based on my salesman period. ‘The Birds have no reflection’ is simply a childish dream. In ‘Smoker and the Crows’, the smoker is one of my friends. He was sitting quietly in Cholamandal Artists Village and smoking, at the same moment the crows came to his side and befriended him. ‘Jobs of an Elephant’ are from my journeys; what I saw.

Deepa: Who is/are your personal favourite(s)? Also, whose work(s) hang in your living room? 

DM: My personal favourites are many, from Europe to India. There are no works in my living room though because I don’t have a living room as I reside in an ancestral home which doesn’t have that concept of a living room.

Deepa: What would be your most important advice to aspiring artists? Any tip or technique that you would like to share with the readers?

DM: My advice is to aspiring artists is to draw, draw, draw, and study different techniques of usage of pencil.

Deepa: Where can my readers reach you? (Website/Blog, FB, Twitter, Email address…)

DM: http://madangarly.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madangarly

Email: madangarly@yahoo.com, madangarly@gmail.com

Picture from an artists' camp held in Lakshadweep

Thank you Devan Sir for your time. It was an immense honour to have you here and share your art and thoughts. Wishing you the very best in all your future endeavours and years of happiness!

Friends, hope you all enjoyed the first of MAA (Meet An Artist) of 2015. Do keep visiting and leave your thoughts... appreciate it a lot!

Good Day!

pic courtesy: Devan Madangarly

Note: Do not use these images without the written consent of the artist. Please honour the rights of the artists'.

Please do not use/reproduce the content (words as well as images) without the written consent of the author.