Azul

Hafsa Idrees, Germany

My name is Hafsa Idrees and I was born in 1992 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Art has always been close to my heart and even though I have not received a formal education in any particular genre, drawing/painting is an important part of my life. Since school, I have been experimenting with and enjoying different styles, media and techniques. I started with Arabic calligraphy at the age of 10 but I soon realized that I enjoyed painting and drawing too. My subjects then were things and people from my immediate surroundings but with time I started to explore different kinds of paints, pencils, materials and subjects. I am a writer too, but through art I express myself more freely. Impressionists like Van Gogh, Monet, and Iris have inspired me so much that I recently dared to explore this genre mainly with finger painting. Picasso said “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up” and I realized that finger painting is the answer to this. Our fingertips are designed in a perfect way to manipulate paint, create magical pieces of art and unique textures. I often use brushes too, depending on the size, subject and desired composition. I enjoy applying and developing my skills through the exploration of different subjects such as landscapes, figures, animals, and other aspects of nature. My work is predominantly in oils, but I enjoy creating works in acrylic, pastel and charcoal as well. I would call my current style modern impressionist, semi-abstract and in some cases my work has post-impressionist and expressionist influences. I do not have a fixed creative process; the main idea can be an emotional impulse, a tender moment I experienced, a place that touched me profoundly or simply a dream. Colours are very important for my composition when I plan a painting. There is a beauty in the colourful splatter of rainbow therefore I try to use a rich palette. Among all colours, blue is my favourite. Formal art education is important for an artist to develop and succeed as a professional, but one can express, enjoy, and create art and get accepted by the art world without one. It maybe a long journey, full of struggle but the rewards are rich.