Pakistani native Sana has been in Bahrain four years having moved here with her doctor husband’s job. Back home she ran a fashion design business but, arriving in the Middle East, initially going to Saudi Arabia, she decided make more of her artistic skills.
Once in Bahrain, she began teaching classes saying: “Initially it was a community effort and, still drawing on my fashion skills, I teach fashion illustration and skills such as silk printing and painting. I had a big exhibition with my students last year and it was a huge success. So I thought I had better register Wild About Art as a business and it has grown from there.”
As well as teaching others, she is a prolific artist herself. She says: “I always wanted to do art, something I was interested in, but due to family pressure I never got a proper art education. When we were first married, I concentrated on being a wife for the first five or six years and then went into fashion.
“When we went to Saudi, I started teaching and that’s where the inspiration for my own works has come from because I am constantly studying and learning about new techniques and other artists — knowledge that I pass on to my students.
“Inspiration also comes from my own moods and from my family. I have done a whole series of paintings which I consider show my life from childhood to middle age.”
Drawing on her faith, and in a complete departure from her usual style, she created a stunning, almost abstract image of the Hajj in Mecca which is entered into the Global Art Award in Dubai.
She explains: “I had previously been involved in Art Dubai, doing live painting sessions, which was quite nerve-wracking. From there I was given the contacts for the Global Art Award but I didn’t really expect my first attempt to be chosen as an entrant.
“The Hajj picture took only a few hours, because I was feeling inspired – sometimes pieces can take days because I am painting in layers and letting each dry before progressing to the next. This one was completed very quickly — and I actually have another, in the same series, in progress.”
Voting for the award begins by public participation, on the Global Art Award, website then the final winner will be chosen from the shortlist by a panel of experts.
However, though Sana is very happy to be considered, she says: “My main focus is on art education. When I participated in my first exhibition and awards, I had no training in art or even how to write an artist’s statement [which accompanies the painting]. After that I started teaching my students about presenting their works, so they won’t feel the confusion I did. I had some students participate in this year’s Nakhool Tent and that was a great feeling.”
