About Me
I have done a four year bachelor degree specializing in Miniature Painting; from the world’s renowned institute National College of Arts, Lahore, Pakistan (NCA). It is one of the few institutions in the region that offers specialized training in Miniature Painting, preserving and promoting this intricate craft at its original form.
The technique of making the paints by ourselves by purifying them as they were introduced as Gouache in Mughal era but now it is more likely to be as opaque water colours after some amendments to it, As well as making the wasli paper by layering up 4-5 water based sheets by binding them with glue called “Laeey”; made with flour and copper sulphate. So the paper gets a longer life. After making the wasli paper I burnish that with a tiger cowrie ie a seashell
Technique
I use Opaque water colours and Gadrung; which is water colours, the most. However, I recently added Acrylic paints also to explore other mediums as well.
Influence Of My Parents
The creative process behind my work is by my parents, whose lives and dreams have shaped my artistic vision. My father being an industrial designer; instilled in me a fascination with structural forms and architectural plans. The love for designing the houses and dreaming of getting one for ourselves left a lasting impression on me, leading to incorporate scaffolding structures into my art. These representation of skeletal foundation of dreams and ambitions ever present yet incomplete.
On the other hand, my mother brought the beauty of nature and domestic warmth into it. As a lover of plants, my mother filled our houses; wherever we lived, with vibrant greenery, creating a sanctuary of peace. This element symbolizes in the work as growth and the delicacy of balance in life.
Apart from miniature painting, a huge impact of Quranic verses can be also be seen in my works where I enjoy writing them, this again was taught in NCA as a minor subject during the degree program.
Current Roles
Besides working in my studio in Garden Town, Lahore, Pakistan; I am actively engaged in various roles that enrich my artistic journey. As a marketing communicator, I can skillfully blend creativity with strategic thinking to craft compelling narratives for brands and organizations. My expertise in content creation allows me to weave stories that resonate with diverse audiences, showcasing my ability to bridge the worlds of art and communication.
In addition to this, my experience in miniature painting and knowledge about the art can be beneficial for the students and the young artists to explore and innovate within the rich tapestry of the heritage.