Discovering A Passion For Art

When Nazmin's little brother scribbled on a wall, her mother didn't stop it. She let Nazmin take over and continue the drawing. "I took my crayons and turned that wall into my own imaginary world," she said. Years later, the 12-year-old Ajman schoolgirl achieved something truly remarkable. She stood beside a massive calligraphy portrait of Sheikh Zayed. She created the artwork live at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. It was her very first time performing calligraphy in public. Nazmin's first big artistic moment occurred when she was only five years old.

Learning The Intricate Arabic Letters

She won an art competition against much older children. Painting became her comfort zone, and Islamic architecture became her favorite subject. "When I started painting Islamic architecture, I became really interested in the patterns," she explained. She wanted to learn calligraphy properly and started from the absolute basics. She joined classes with Liyakh Sir, a professional Arabic calligraphy artist. She is currently drawn to the beautiful curves of Diwani-inspired forms. She brings fine art and calligraphy together on large canvases. She uses acrylic paints, textured paint markers, fine brushes, and gold leaf.

Finding Peace In The Process

The hardest part of the process, she says, is maintaining absolute consistency. Among the phrases she returns to most is "Alhamdulillah". She says the meanings of the phrases give her a profound feeling of peace. The book fair gave her an incredible public stage to showcase her talent. "The first thing that came into my mind was doing a live calligraphy artwork," she said. She wanted to create a tribute to Sheikh Zayed, the Father of the UAE. Standing beside the finished artwork filled her with a special feeling of pride. She is now working on an eight-painting series inspired by UAE species. Explore the rich culture and creative talents emerging from the Emirates. Read more inspiring lifestyle and arts features at The WAU.

Share This Post