Individuality of Colors

“Jo har jagah mojood hai, us mojood ko dhoondoo

(He who is everywhere, find him)

Apnai wajood sai niklo, toh terai wajood ko dhoondoo

(Get out of your ‘self’/presence, then find his presence)

Tu nai jo lagadi hai meri sochoon pai

(What you have put on/in my thoughts)

Main mehdood kahan, la mehdood ko dhoondo”

(I am bound where, find the one who is cannot be bound)

Art is unlimited, unbound by any barriers. An artist’s sight, thoughts, heart, soul and life on the other hand is very limited.

To paint and capture ‘all’ the wonders of this world, even a thousand lifetimes would not be enough. There is so much content present that we cannot even begin to imagine where is begins and where it ends. How Allah, the greatest of all artists, Creator of this world and the universe, made everything in just 6 days and 7 nights is beyond the human comprehension.

If you look around you in your surroundings, you will find many pre-made examples in nature of different versions of art i.e. abstraction, impressionism, surrealism etc.

Different colors have a deep effect on a human’s life. The rhythm and flow of colors goes along with the struggles of life, hand in hand.

In this painting, I am making use of some basic colors Red, Yellow with Black, White and Green in an abstract form. In our world, there are a lot of things which are in abstract form including the “Al-Musawiroo”, Allah the Greatest painter of all: “He is visible to us in some things and He is hidden in other things.”

Every color present in this world has some special meaning. The same is true for all the colors I have used in this painting.

*RED:  This is a color of deep emotions which include love and rage. The blood which runs through our veins is also red in color. The importance of this color can be taken from the fact that if the blood stops running through our veins, life stops. If it changes colors, there is something wrong in our body.

Scientifically, red is seen as a very powerful color. It physically affects our system for instance it stimulates and raises the pulse rate, give the impression of time flying by faster etc. In general it is observed as a stimulating, lively and friendly color and at the same time it can also be perceived as a demanding, aggressive color depending on the settings and mood.

*BLACK: I find this color to be very mysterious and hiding lots of secrets within it-self. The color black is the only shade which absorbs all the other colors inside it e.g. black-hole. It is also the color of night. Another example of checking it practically is mixing all the basic colors together; the end result will be black.

Scientifically, it is described as an absence of light. Psychologically it gives the impression of creating protective barriers and therefore enshrouding the personality. This color reflects security, sophistication, efficiency while on the other hand it is also seen as cold, oppressive etc. Again depending on the settings and mood.

*YELLOW: This is the color of the Sun. It is a color of happiness, energy and gives positive vibes. If there will be no Sun, the survival of things in this world would be very very difficult.

Scientifically yellow is believed to be the strongest color, psychologically.  This color helps in increasing confidence, mood booster and having an optimistic outlook of everything. On the negative side, if too much of this color is used or the wrong tone in this color can bring out anxiety, irrationality and fear in a person in terms of psychology.

*GREEN: This is the color of life. The plants, grass and trees etc. all have this color. It brings freshness in life and gives the proof of life when a small green leaf shoots out from an age old tree or barren ground.

Green is considered to be a color of balance in science. Since it in the center of the spectrum it hits the eye in perfect balance without needing any adjustments which derives it also as a restful color. The green in our environment and surrounding give us the feeling of refreshment, balance, peace, reassurance on a primitive level that there is plenty of water and life around us. Sometimes it is taken negatively giving the impression of boredom, stagnation and blandness.

*WHITE: This color is of peace, innocence, sincerity and spirituality.

Scientifically this color represents the opposite of black i.e. total reflection. It communicates “Touch me not!” and gives the impression of sterility, purity, cleanliness etc. Similar to black, this also gives an effect of sophistication, coldness, barriers etc.

Now just see what these different colors, when combined, give an effect of and how they flow in the painting.

REFERENCE:
For scientific reference: http://www.colour-affects.co.uk/psychological-properties-of-colours

Path Of Life

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  ~Albert Camus

The fall season is a treat to the eye. It blankets the nature with its abstemious colors, which is fascinating for a nature devotee For me autumn has a deep meaning attached to it and gives us a lesson that life is not all about happiness and enjoyment, many obstacles and challenges will come in our path which would make us sad but one should cope with it with a positive spirit because life is all about ups and downs and neither happiness nor grief is everlasting just like the seasons which keep changing and move in a recurring cycle.

When I first encountered this view which you can see in the painting, it left me spell bounded. The mist, foggy effect mesmerized my mind and for a second my soul was wedded to it, lost in its intricate and mystic beauty. The infinite feeling was overwhelming. The color variations, shades, texture of flowers all combined together created a soothing effect. Every season has its own beauty and uniqueness, for me this painting is my depiction of a season full of mist and mellow fruitfulness. The misty figures further connotes to its meaning. Autumn is a montage of all the other seasons and a soft shadow that boasts about the pleasant, stunning and precious things Allah has bestowed in the realm of nature.

MI RAQSAM (my soul is in dance)

While driving past a house, the elongated fresh branches swaying in the wind brushed against my car’s window. The  pristine green branches and its rich tonal textures were conspicuous and awe inspiring.  It arrested my eye provoking me to reverse my car back and capture this enticing nature’s art piece.

I take inspiration from nature when I paint; photographs are just a replica and point of reference of all the nature forms that leave me spellbound at first sight of observation. If time and security factors had not restricted me, I would have certainly started painting on the spot. The images capture my moment of inspiration and I am able to produce the same feeling when I paint,which I had when I first observed nature’s alluring forms.

The title ‘Mi Raqsam” is given because after completing a series of 26 paintings in 2006, this was the last I painted and by this time my journey of rigorous artwork and after observing the composition, colors in the nature had overwhelmed me with HIS Creation, and my soul was in raks (dance), enchanted by the Nature’s beauty. The intricate details and information the branches have from the rhythm in the leaves to color variation, the background textures create an inexplicable feeling.

Paying tribute to The Great Creator puts the admirer’s soul in dance which purifies him. Hence the name MI RAQSAM, explains it all about this painting.

Lively Banyan Tree

 

The Banyan tree follows a pattern of successful life i.e. to live for others. This portrait conveys the same message showing that Banyan tree grows not alone but also some other trees and plants seem to be growing with it. This portrays beautifully the message that life is not to be lived for oneself but also for others. A man’s life has more reason to live than just to live his own life for his ownself.

Tree roots leave a deep impression on me for their profoundness and old traditions where burr is supposed to be the abode of earth goddess.

A human face and figure is depicted whose body is covered by leaves of money plant.

On the left side of the painting there is a tree making a form as if spelling out Allah.

Sheraton Tree

                 This work reflects my connection with nature. Environmental and social concerns are also part of my work and are especially pertinent in these days of ecological crisis.
In this complex painting of roots, I have portrayed face of a woman studded in between spiky roots emphasizing on the fact that woman has always been a target of social attitude and society but still survives with her innocence and chastity.

 

               

Banyan Tree

 

                 This portrait of Banyan tree, possessing a heart and producing fresh leaves from the new heartily roots of the tree, demystifies an aging human figure, showing its light brown skin while gray color shows its maturity. 
         This tree is a time Spam clocks, its symbol of origin, strength and energy portraying the various forms and phases of roots of tree. I have tried to explain that like the old roots of tree, elders who are in the last phase of their life are of paramount significance and value. They guide us on the right track leading us out of the labyrinths of life.
         They should not be frustrated and nagging.  They are like old trees that provide shelter, beauty, and freshness to our society and environment. Leaves along with the heart shaped red color fruits also give a beautiful composition to the tree on canvas.

    

Flowers Rhythm

 

Colors form integral part of life, each color having its significance, playing its own part in beautifying and maintaining balanced rhythm in universe.  Every color has a special message that needs to be deciphered. Shades of pink show love and softness whereas white color is a sacred symbol of mysticism and grace while everlasting yellow represents positive approach from life.
This world is based on a rhythm that can never be disbalanced until the Creator wants it to be. In this painting, I have portrayed rhythm of colors blended in flowers to explain/demystify enigma of colors.

Banyan Tree

Banyan tree reveals many stories. A figure similar to a mummy’s can be craved out by a close look. Many other female figures are indicated. In white space, you can see a mystical bearded man.
This painting covers the era of the pharaoh. The bearded man indicates the Prophet Moses. The mummy of that pharaoh is present even now as the (Iberat ka nishan) for the world to see. For pharaohs there must be a Moses for them. Life ultimately ends at recognition and identification of Allah. This identification is accomplished only by sacrificing our ego for the sake of the love for the human beings.

 

VALLEY OF NARAN(PAKISTAN)

OIL ON CANVAS

Toot Tree

 

 

        This tree trunk is of toot tree, a fruit and from medical point of view, cures of man.
        The composition of this tree impresses me alot. Beautiful balance of brown and gray color in this tree is splendid. The gray color illudes as if a head has hair on it or human veins visible through it. The vardian color has different hues giving leaves the freshness to refresh human soul. Words do not seem to describe my exact feelings for it.
               Various animal forms are visible in it. Some human faces can also be seen through it. The gray and brown combination feels as if two human figures are hanging upside down on it. From many different places, green leaves seem to be shooting which is the symbol of life and hopes.