I have been painting and drawing ever since I can remember.

 

My first memory is watching my uncle paint portraits in the studio next to my grandparents' place - on the second floor of a modern building in bustling Lahore. The sun outside was hot, but it was quiet here, there was a veranda with black railings and many plants. My great grandma would be sat there too; even as old and fragile as she was, she was always, always, smoking. I was fascinated with how over time, the blank canvas would transform to bring to life a person on it! The realism and depth that could be created from paint was both confusing and wondrous as a child - and it still is. I thank them for these memories and igniting my own creativity.

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I have been fortunate to have exhibited and sold previous paintings in London, and I include here a selection of recent works, completed from my apartment studio in the Paris. The Marias (3ème arrondissement) is bustling with galleries and artists, so I couldn't have found a more fitting place to take up painting again.

 

In my own practice as an artist, I listen how I feel when starting on a new piece. Confirming a single style or method doesn't align to my day-to-day way of being. Variation is key as the human mind and spirit is not set. My works are painted on canvas, using acrylics, mixed media (like paste), or oil paints.

 

I am inspired by my travels, by other artists, what I am reading or even the scents around me. Often, I will begin my practice by spraying a certain parfum, lighting a candle, or burning some palo santo to set the mood. Silence is a gift, but sometimes music will help set my 'zone'. Each work becomes a personal time capsule for me of the days or weeks spent bringing it to life.

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Ri.