Category: Art

Holiday Art Sale: Affordable Art!

This year I finally made up my mind to overcome my ar(t)ch nemesis, (get it? “art” nemesis? Yeah I crack myself up!) watercolour.

Watercolour and I never got along, partly because I have control issues and watercolour is an independent, free-spirited medium. But I love the whimsical, dreamy look it gives and so this year I forced myself to try and get along with watercolour. There was much frustration, many tears and several bad words on my part. Watercolour remained indifferent and set in her ways. In the end I let her have her way. Life lesson: you can’t control everything, sometimes you just have to go with the flow. I am glad I did.

I ended up with some gorgeous pieces-if I do say so myself! I do feel I have earned those bragging rights! I have sold several pieces and all are on sale for holiday shopping, they make a beautiful gift! Unique and made with lots of love, each piece is on Canson watercolour paper (cold press 140 lbs).

I reopened my Etsy shop and put them up. You can find them here.

Adding some images here, if one of these aren’t on the Etsy shop and you would like it, just email me! “Check Contact” in the menu bar above!

Advertisement
by Categories: Art, UncategorizedTags: , , , 1 Comment

Hope: A Mural

Mississauga Street Art and Murals.

At some point this year, not sure when. Time has become a big ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff (shout out to all my fellow Dr. Who nerds out there!) so I can’t be sure, in any case there was a call for an awesome mural project. Being the optimist I am or is it actually just the desperately fingers crossed artist? Either way, I applied and then… kept my fingers crossed but as time progressed I told myself to forget about it. 2020 was proving to be nobody’s year and I gave up on hearing back about the project. Then the email came. THE email. If you have received THE email you will understand my joy. My design was one of the fourteen that was selected to become a reality and I was wondering if I had mistakenly received THE email and I would shortly receive the Oops Sorry email. But I didn’t!

Just want to say a huge thank you to Artscape and Lakeview Village for the opportunity they provided artists to bring art to the community, especially during this strange time when it was hard to find work as an artist. The stories behind the murals have been covered beautifully in these great videos courtesy of Artscape and Lakeview Village, here is mine themed around Black Lives Matter, the environment and Covid :

I also had a bit of fun creating a timelapse, for someone who hated the camera so much I certainly am having the time of my life making these process videos!! 2020 is certainly the year we all pushed ourselves out of our comfort zones. Also the year we stopped to smell the flowers. Silver linings. Hope.

by Categories: Art, CanadaTags: , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Tip of the Iceberg

Turquoise Spray. 10 X 14 Acrylic.

As I sit here trying to write this blog, I’d just like you to know I have wasted quite a bit of time procrastinating and I really should be cooking dinner right now. And that is basically the theme of this post. We only see the tip of the iceberg. You will only read the blog and hopefully like it, not knowing that I am sitting here in the most unflattering sweat pants and a worn-out shirt that I didn’t bother to change out of this morning because if I am at home, then I believe in spending the day in my PJs. I am not sitting at some aesthetically pleasing desk on a fancy laptop. I am sprawled on my little sofa covered in sesame seed brittle crumbs and surrounded by their wrappers. I am also talking to my cat because he agrees with most of what I have to say and contrary to popular belief cats really are non-judgmental.  The point is, that stuff you see posted on Social Media is just the nice stuff. The painting I sold, the mural I completed, the workshop I conducted. The smile on my face. But I like being honest, and that is not even half of the story. The truth is I have dozens of rejection letters for every project I did get, and poured blood, sweat, and tears into every painting I made-not all of them sell. As an introvert, I have had to battle with myself to overcome my dread of talking to people even if I know them, I never know what to say, I never quite fit it. I’m blunt and don’t have the tact of a politician, so I will say something that maybe I shouldn’t have-and often do.  Don’t even get me started on how hard it is to introduce myself to new people. But I do all this and eventually, over time, it pays off. But it doesn’t happen overnight, no one hands it to you on a silver platter. You have to put it in the time, effort, have thick skin, fall, get up and dust yourself off, wipe your tears, suppress your ego, your anger, your frustration. You have to suck it up.

I felt the need to say all this because I have been getting questions from many artists just starting out. The answer to many of your questions is above. There is no overnight magic. The tip of the iceberg is what you see on social media, the truth is there are tonnes of ice below the surface that I built up over the past years to get that little bit above the water. I have practiced, I have pursued learning, I have done endless amounts of research and reading. I have put in ridiculous amounts of time looking for opportunities and spent equal amounts of time writing up proposals, artist statements, artist bios, and taking and editing pictures of my work. I have saved up to invest money towards art supplies,  entering exhibitions and applying for memberships. Half of which replied with polite but ice-cold “no thank yous”.

If I stop and the ice below melts away eventually the tip of the iceberg will disappear as well. You don’t really stop, you have to keep working at it. So if this is your passion be prepared for hard work and failure (or as I like to think of it “lessons on what not to do next time”) for as long as you want to continue on this journey. It is a long ride, but I don’t plan to get off this train. I’m having too much fun.

by Categories: Art, Blogging, UncategorizedTags: , , 7 Comments

Street Art Mississauga

Street Art
Street Art

This summer was super busy but no complaints! A busy artist is an extremely happy artist. If you are driving around Mississauga then be sure to watch out for our growing number of public murals!

In May I completed two Bell Boxes for the Mississauga Arts Council’s Banners and Boxes Project, integrating heritage buildings along with some fun stuff. Who doesn’t love sheep and foxes? The Culture Department had arranged for nine artists, including myself, to repaint the Sculpture Court and Skate park murals.

If you pass by them take a selfie and tag me! Another big mural is coming up soon, if you see me painting a wall in a park then come say hi. Also please bring coffee and a bagel for me!

by Categories: Art, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

From Frumpy to Fashionista

Okay maybe not fashionista, but this is as close as I am going to get. Life is short, this may be my only chance to be cool. Or at least convince a couple friends I’m cool. So I am owning it. Excuse me a second while I cut off a really bad hangnail…aah that feels so much better. I couldn’t find the nail cutter so I just used my teeth, you’ve all done it too so don’t judge me.

Anyways. I was that frumpy kid in the class. The brown girl. The one whose immigrant parents went shopping to the equivalent of what is now …um…actually I don’t think they have anything that bad anymore. Oops never mind, God bless the internet, Google has informed me that Bi-Way is going to be resurrected. I am so sorry all you children of immigrant parents, I feel for you. I was there. I got through it. You too will survive. Maybe even become a fashionista. I was the brown girl with the bad haircut in dark green nylon bellbottoms. With shirts that can’t even be described.  It was traumatic. I still get nightmares. To top it off it was the 80’s. Even the fashionable fashion was something you never want to remember. Those awful white short shorts that George Michael wore ugh I bet he’s rolling over in his grave right now. RIP George, I will speak of it no more.

So back to the point, yes I do get distracted, because life is short so I’m cramming, gotta get all my thoughts and memories out there. Don’t want to miss anything. I am now a fashionista. I know this because I go to a lot of events. I mean like there are some weeks where every night is spent out. That’s a lot of events for the lame brown girl turned fashionista. At these events, ladies will come right up to me and tell me they love what I am wearing. Then they will happily listen to the story behind where this incredible said outfit came from. That makes me a legitimate fashionista. So I have started reading up on fellow fashionistas. I don’t understand the language, or I do but don’t want to admit that I don’t exactly fit into those categories. For example, Queen of Fierce Outfit Inspiration, um no I need way more clothes than that, that is something that most people don’t even dare to wear at the beach. Also me+hijab. Total Boss Girls With Badass Style. I guess not. Not boss girl, even my cats don’t take me seriously.  Bold Prints, Graphics and Cuts. I don’t even know what that means. Monochromatic Street Style. I am too old to get on a skateboard and I don’t know if insurance will cover all the damage.  So where are the women my age? The ones who wear normal stuff and still look nice but all the cool people refuse to acknowledge? Is there a name for us? I will be fashionista to the underrepresented and marginalized. I have made my own category and I am going to own it. #fashionistatotheunderrepresented because that sounds better than #fashionistatothelame

My fashionista outfit for today’s event, the Arts on the Credit Tour. It got many compliments, thank you very much. I also wore it to an Opening Reception at Artworld Fine Art. Yes, I repeat outfits. So does Kate Middleton. I bought this gorgeous blue printed silk dupatta (long fabric draped over shoulders) in Lahore once. I have had it for years ( I will not admit to how many) when I recently went to Karachi I took it with me and bugged a tailor till he caved and sewed it to my specifications. He doubted my fashion sense at every step. I wish I could go tell him I was right and he was wrong. Whatever. I wore it with a neutral coloured tee shirt and creme coloured cotton trousers because it is still summer. I don’t care that pumpkin spice everything is now available.

This long cardigan style thingy can be worn over anything and make it look super elegant. I could wear it with ratty old jeans and a dirty tee-shirt and still look decent to go to a party. Also dangly earings help. When all else fails pull out the dangly earrings and wear them. Plus to all my fellow hijabis, turban style hijabs are life. Wrap that scarf around your head like a queen and no one will know you haven’t ironed it ever. Do wash them sometimes though. Please. No one wants to smell that unwashed hair aroma.

How gorgeous do my paintings look on those walls?

by Categories: Art, Blogging, Events, fashion, Lifestyle, UncategorizedTags: , , , 6 Comments

Spring Exhibitions Opening Reception at the Art Gallery of Mississauga

Haven’t been to an exhibition in quite some time, so I was more than happy to go to the opening of the Spring Exhibitions at the AGM (no not Annual General Meeting- the Art Gallery of Mississauga, we all get that in our heads too!). There are two exhibitions up for the Spring, ” niigaanikwewag” which means “leader women” or “they who lead ahead/ in the future” in Anishinaabemowin. It refers to the female artists as leaders in Indigenous Arts. The theme embodies the fact that  Indigenous women have always been present, nurturing art, culture, family, and community and that they are tied to one another and the earth.  There is beautiful (and haunting) work by Joi T. Arcand, Shuvinai Ashoona, Catherine Blackburn, Aylan Couchie, Ruth Cuthand, Thirza Cuthand, Dayna Danger, Raven Davis, Bonnie Devine, Maria Hupfield, Nadya Kwandibens, Amy Malbeuf, Jane Ash Poitras, Ningiukulu Teevee, and Arielle Twist. We were lucky to attend the Opening and witness a powerful and heart-wrenching performance by Raven Davis. It was a much-needed reminder of the past cruelties endured and more sadly the fact that even today countless Indigenous Sisters are missing and still being abused. I can’t put into words what a tragedy this is or how beautifully this artist portrayed that tragedy. You just had to be there. I will post about the second exhibition in another post as niigaanikwewag needs its own special place. It is a must-see exhibition,  and you can still catch the Curator’s Tour on Saturday, April 6 at 1 PM. Don’t miss it, the exhibition is up till June 16, 2019.

For more information: Facebook Event Page

With Mandy Salter (Left) the Director/Curator of the AGM and fellow artist Nisreen Askar (right)
Artist Raven Davis

 

by Categories: Art, Canada, Culture, UncategorizedTags: , , , , 1 Comment

Exhibiting at Queen’s Park Legislative Building

 

October is Islamic Heritage month and I was really honored (and just a bit over the moon!) when I got a call from Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath’s office to exhibit my work at a reception they were hosting at the Legislative Building. Would I like to share my art at the Reception? Um…yeah!! My Rumi inspired pieces were the perfect fit and they were all ready to go. I am also happy to say that they have since been sold and have a loving new home.

The evening was great, the reception was well organized, met plenty of old friends, made some new ones and got to chat with Ms. Horwath (bonus!), she also gave an inspiring little speech.  There was also a delicious dinner (what can be better than good food?!) An evening of art, friends, good food and meaningful conversations, yes it was a perfect night!

 

 

by Categories: Art, CanadaTags: , , , , , Leave a comment

Art Battle

Just participated in my fourth Art Battle, this time in Toronto at the Great Hall. It is 100% pure excitement just to watch and even more so to participate. I have been lucky so far to always reach the final round, keep your fingers crossed that I win it sometime soon!

Have to thank the Art Battle team (and founders) for providing artists with such a great opportunity to push ourselves to higher levels, share our work (and yes even sell!!) as well as get some great exposure. If you haven’t attended a battle yet check out their Facebook page or Website to find an event near you, you will not regret it!

Art Battle March 2018
Art Battle March 2018

 

by Categories: Art, Entertainment, Events, Family, UncategorizedTags: , , , , Leave a comment

Boxes and Banners by Mississauga Arts Council

I have always admired the street art that adorns Toronto so I was overjoyed when the Mississauga Arts Council started their Boxes and Banners Project to beautify (artify!) Mississauga streets. I am humbled to be one of the lucky artists who painted a Bell box.

Here is my box’s transformation!

It was unveiled amidst a bit of fanfare with the Mississauga Arts Council and some of its board members, the local Councillor and singer Arlene Paculan to serenade us. There was ice cream for everyone who attended the unveiling, and yes it was one hot day!

by Categories: Art, Culture, UncategorizedTags: , , , , 2 Comments

Art Exhibit

Screenshot_2016-01-06-12-14-16

So I got this in the first week of January. A really nice way to start the year! You can see my piece here : All Women Art Exhibition

In between the art nights that I am doing I hope to put in some more time for exhibitions. Had an art night yesterday, and the paintings all turned out awesome ( so proud of my participants! You all did an incredible job!) Check out the paintings…

20160114_213057

CN Tower and a summer sunset.

by Categories: Art, UncategorizedTags: , , , , , , 4 Comments