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There is a dearth of budding entrepreneurs as artists in Pakistan from Generation Y who have taken their creativity professionally. Many have settled abroad after high school or graduation while many others are lining up in search of better jobs, better spouses. Several have achieved the dreams they announced, several have lost the hopes they did not say out loud.
In it, something delicate is lost. Something that speaks for them and of them. It is something so elegantly poised within them; one cant shake it out. It can only mature like a blossom: a strong wind might blow it away.

We got in conversation with Anum Naseer, a similar budding artist from Lahore, who has already taken her talent on a professional level as she teaches “Sketching and Drawing” to nearly 40 fellow and senior students at Kinnaird College’s Summer Camp 2018, a short-course which is open to public.

Though only 19 years of age and an English Literature final year student at Kinnaird College for Women, she has allowed her to “bee” herself, at least during her college days.

“What makes teaching art so different from teaching any other subject is that you never impose any one idea or lesson to the students. Individuality and creativity in art, for me is more important than anything else. Each student needs to be encouraged and helped in their own personal way and that is why I love doing it so much. It’s an absolute privilege to be able to help other art enthusiasts to channel their thoughts and ideas onto a canvas“.

Kinnaird Centre for Learning and Cultural Development 2018

She is a self taught artist who believed that there was a “need and desire to recreate the beautiful things” around her. She prefers using water colors because “you can work with them more freely and spontaneously. Also it makes the work process a very relaxing one“.

“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction” 
🌌🎨

She clearly comes off as a peace-loving, soul-enriching person. Nothing short of that.

A memorable moment in her short, yet worthwhile journey since she acknowledged her potential:

“I made a small little painting of a scene I saw while sitting among some trees in the northern areas. In that moment there was no one around me and I felt as if I had all the time in the world to just sit there and connect with the natural world around me“.
How naturally must it come to her, I wonder!
And she does not disappoint when she says,
“I tend to stare and observe a lot. There’s immense beauty in most human beings – in little things they do. Simple things like tilting their heads back, smiling or squinting their eyes when they look afar … Also music. Good music is enough to get the creativity going“.
Music. If music be the food of love, play on.
And what more can a person love than to find a talent that loves them back!
Her inspiration came from the people around her “especially my friends and family“. She admires countless artists, and one can see that in the diversity of her work.

Cara Delevingne – Charcoal on Paper.

Another in Bn’W, but a different medium

A “rough” attempt – Oil on Paper

When asked what can we expect from her work in the upcoming years, she sounded patient and clear-headed:
“I’ll just have to wait and see where my personality and my interests take me. One thing’s for sure is that I won’t ever stop making art and I am sure there’ll be a constant change and growth in the style I paint in“.

 

On a digital medium, she clearly excels like no other:

“Modeling credits to the wonderful trees at Kinnaird and my friend”

Just the type of approach and determination we need to create our ingenuity alive and thriving!

Her message for upcoming artists:

“Always put a little a little bit of yourself in what you make. Don’t try to make art just to please people or get their approval. You will never be happy that way“.

Couldn’t have said it better myself!

Bonus Questions:
Do you agree or disagree with the idea: Accept art for art’s sake. Is it a part of your work ethic?
“That is too subjective and everyone will have an opinion on what art should be like. For me personally, I do follow that idea to a large extent. However, in the future I hope to incorporate more of the real world into my paintings and have them be as impact and meaningful as possible, which might include compromising on aesthetics and focusing more on the themes and subject matter“.
Your opinion on Lear’s,
“The art of our necessities is strange that can make vile things precious”. 
Oil on Canvas. 24 x 30 inches

“Oh Ophelia, Heaven help a fool who falls in love”

“I think the major reason why art is special is because of its ability to be special to such a wide range of people in such a multitude of ways. What I see in art might not be exactly the same as what another person sees appealing in art. But that doesn’t make it any less special to either of us. For me personally the ability of art to connect with your emotions and to give you a visual representation of what you’re thinking and feeling is a powerful tool that can be used both in a constructive way as well as in a very self-destructive way. Art can impact us in ways that we don’t consciously realize. And my aim will always be to spread positive emotions and healthy ideas to the people who are interested in looking at my art“.

Follow her art page on Instagram here. And fire away with your queries!

Bonus Fact about Anum: She’s an equally good photographer – self taught at that too! Come back soon for more updates on her!

Now that you have got your #WednesdayWisdom find your pen or brush, and get at it right away!