edith’s daughter
Posted on March 25, 2016 Leave a Comment
Edith’s Daugher, 2016, watercolor on paper, 30.5 x 22.9 cm
Watch the process below. Music is Lady of my Dreams (silly, silly name for such a beautiful piece) by V.A.S.T.
watercolor sketchbook } edith and the line through her face
Posted on March 24, 2016 2 Comments
Watercolor Sketchbook } Edith and the Line Through Her Face
the morning i got my carbon light boxes back
Posted on March 23, 2016 Leave a Comment
Prognosis Black and Blue
Yesterday I finally got my Secretary carbon light boxes back from the Sultan Gallery, through no fault of theirs but mine, as it was I who was neglectful. So I thought, to give them their due TLC, I’d put them on display one more time before storing them indefinitely. Read More
eve and colette (and lubna and yasmine)
Posted on March 18, 2016 2 Comments
Eve and Colette
I want to tell you the story of how I met Colette. I was having lunch with my dear friend Sarah Alhamad at Momo’s in London, back in September. It was my treat so when I gave the waiter my card he asked me if I was from Kuwait. I said yes. He then told me about a Kuwaiti artist friend of his. I thought I knew all the Kuwaiti artists in Kuwait! He showed me her Instagram gallery and I was immediately curious about her. I followed her on IG and finally met her on the day of my Nuqat Conference talk in November. I knew then and there that I wanted to paint on this statuesque African-Kuwaiti woman.
But our friendship didn’t really blossom until a few weeks ago when I finally asked her over for an Eve on Colette painting session. That afternoon I painted Eve on her front side (tricky, as the terrain isn’t flat but rather mountainous…more mountainous than I expected). After that we had lunch at Gia and she was nice enough to accompany me on an errand I’d been putting off all week. It was a special day and by nighttime we were friends proper. Anyway, we wanted so badly to post the resulting photographs but felt it would be a little too ballsy. We decided to wait (she was scheduled to move to Poland on the 10th of March, about ten days after).
A few days later, Colette came over and I painted Eve on her back. After much deliberation about whether we would/could/should post this or not, Colette decided that she’d post the photo once she was on the plane to Poland. I said fine. But in reality I couldn’t wait for that bittersweet moment. So on March 15 (the ides), she finally posted it on Facebook and hell did not break loose. People seemed to love it. I posted it to Instagram, feeling completely vulnerable and exposed, even though it was Colette’s body. I waited for some sort of backlash from conservative family members and acquaintances but it never came.
Thank you, Colette, for being my muse and my friend. And Eve thanks you too.
new painting } zeri girls
Posted on March 9, 2016 2 Comments
zeri girls, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 180 x 180cm
A week ago I got a call from my dear friend Laila Al-Hamad, letting me know that she was going to put on display, along with her Zeri handicrafts, a painting I did for her a while back, Drinks & Cigarettes. This was for an upcoming event, Kuwait Modern Heritage, to be held at Al Shaheed Park. So I thought, why not create a new painting inspired by the sadu design and have that on display instead? Why uproot hers?
The painting will be on display along with other heritage-related crafts, books and photography until the Ides of March (I can’t help calling it that. After my birthday and my children’s birthdays it’s my favorite date of the year).
three days in nayland } cobblers cottage
Posted on March 8, 2016 3 Comments
Eve relaxes. At night, this is our position of choice.
This is my fourth visit to one of my beloved Grove Cottages. This time: Cobblers Cottage. My companions are my sister-in-law Jana, her baby bump (my nephew) and, of course, Eve. The cottage is breath-taking and as always exceeds my expectations. I still can’t believe how generous people are with sharing these lovely ‘homes’. Read More
new painting } notes float
Posted on March 2, 2016 2 Comments
Notes Float, 2016, acrylic on canvas
Listen to Fuel to Fire by Agnes Obel }
four sketches on this extra day
Posted on February 29, 2016 Leave a Comment
I never understood why a year with an extra day would be called a leap year. You’d think it was the year the frog didn’t leap over the 29th. Read More
woman with blue hair
Posted on February 26, 2016 Leave a Comment
Woman With Blue Hair
Here’s a woman with blue hair. Music is Virveland by Ane Brun:
new painting } d’s message in her hand
Posted on February 18, 2016 5 Comments
D’s Message in Her Hand, acrylic on canvas, 2016
I just got back from London. There, I almost met a man. This man presented me with a beautiful face and an online personality so compatible with mine. And I filled in the rest to create a new muse for myself.
He has no idea how much he has inspired me to paint like a curious child again.
Listen to This Old House by Madrugada}
airplane timelines } british airways flight 156 kuwait to london } february 5, 2016
Posted on February 17, 2016 Leave a Comment
Another trip come and gone. I must go back soon. I must. I need to. Read More
new painting complete } eve the sun
Posted on February 4, 2016 5 Comments
Eve the Sun, 2016, acrylic on canvas, approx. 125 x 275cm (my first painting this year yay)
She’s done and delivered. All she needs now is visitors. She’ll be at Dar.Nur until she finds a home.
See her history here.
Listen to Conjure One’s Center of the Sun featuring Poe:
this point
Posted on January 29, 2016 2 Comments
This Point
I’m not writing this to elicit sympathy or pity or whatever. That would make me extremely uncomfortable. I don’t want it, neither from friends nor from strangers. But especially friends. I’m writing this here because it’s my safe place to express myself. It’s a place people visit to see my work and perhaps understand a little more about me. So right now, at this moment, I need an ear or two to hear this. Just ears, not mouths. Read More
new painting on the table
Posted on January 25, 2016 1 Comment
She cascades from table to bench in my living room on a cloudy day.
I’ve been wanting to paint a large scale piece for a while now. Around two weeks ago I finally started one. I didn’t get it stretched because a. I don’t have much space to work upright on anything of that scale and b. I honestly thought it wouldn’t be the great challenge it’s proven to be. But here it is so far. Read More
good night, mr. jones
Posted on January 12, 2016 Leave a Comment
.
Eve, Che, Jesus and Bowie.
This song makes me go ‘Jesus’.
David Bowie Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide:
four faces for today
Posted on January 11, 2016 Leave a Comment
Face } Thinking Diagonally
Three D’s carried over from December 2015 to January 2016: depression, defeat and disease. Today, the fourth D: death. I’m envisioning a rosier prognosis for the rest of this year. Hoping, really. Fingers crossed. But for now, four faces to tide us all over.
RIP, David Jones.
And thanks for the songs you left behind. Here’s Velvet Goldmine:
xenia and her kettlebells
Posted on December 23, 2015 Leave a Comment
xenia and her kettlebells
Music is Runaway by Jamiroquai.
in triplicate } the creation of unoriginal artwork #82
Posted on December 19, 2015 Leave a Comment
daylight shavings } the original
new painting } lachrymose eve
Posted on December 17, 2015 Leave a Comment
new painting } lachrymose eve, 2015, acrylic on canvas, 100 x 120cm
in triplicate } the creation of unoriginal artwork #81
Posted on December 16, 2015 Leave a Comment
This one is more about the demo than the final product.
prettygreenbullet 