Eid Bazaar

I recently had a stall at the local Eid Bazaar selling some of my work. It was such a fun event and I had a great time meeting new people, making friends, and seeing people respond to my work. My friend Saba who was my moral support for the evening, along with my mom and my family really helped make the event so amazing and I couldn't have done it without them. I sold Eid cards, paintings, bottles that I painted among other things. Here are some pictures that Saba took from the Bazaar. 

My Business Cards

Circles

I was in Chicago this past weekend visiting my sister and her husband and came across this piece at World Market. I thought it was absolutely awesome. 

The circles, the colors, and the overlapping of color blocks. So, I decided to play with some circles of my own. 

These are both made on Cardstock/ sketchbook paper with pens. Just experimenting with black and white circles and then some colors. Circles with lots of details take forever, but well worth it. 

Mehndi Cards

Here are some cards that I made while trying to come up with a design for my sisters Mehdni (Henna) Party Invitation. The Mehndi is traditionally colorful and vibrant, and in my opinion is one of the most fun events of the wedding. Ours was all girls so there was music, dancing, some really funny skits, great food, and of course everyone got some Henna on them before they left. The colors got a little muted because of the scanning. 


All the cards are 4x6 inches and made on regular computer paper with PrismaColor Markers and PrismaColor Gold and Silver Paint Pens.

This is the one we ended up going with.
 It matched the best with the rest of the event invitations.

2012-2013 Calendar

After my last calendar finished, I decided to try and come up with a concept for my second calendar. I decided to go with the 99 Names of Allah. Throughout the 18 months, I covered all 99 names, in order. According to the Islamic Tradition, the 99 names represent the different attributes of Allah. 

Here is a link with all 99 Names and their meanings
99 Names

There is a phrase in the Qur'aan that repeats itself multiple times, and translates roughly to 
There are signs for those who can see

I wanted to use this idea that if you believe and look for Allah in all things, you will find it. I created this calendar by drawing images from nature and then camouflaging the names within the image itself, symbolizing that the Allah is there, for those who look for it. 

This calendar was made using PrismaColor Markers and PrismaColor Paint Markers (for the metallic gold and silver colors) on 8 1/2 x 11 inch computer paper. 

Cover

1. Solar System

2. Planet Earth

3. Sunset

4. Desert

5. Forest Sunrise

6. Tropical Flower

7. Autumn Leaves

8. Squash and Corn

9. Mountains

10. Winter

11. Northern Lights

12. Caves

13. Glaciers

14. Coral Reef

15. Green Trees

16. Waterfall

17. Fruits and Berries

18.Volcano

2011-2012 Calendar

Every Ramadan, I like to give myself a project to do. It helps to pass the time while doing something productive, and keeps my happy, lack of food tends to make me a little cranky. So in Ramadan of 2011 I had the idea to make a calendar of designs: the first use of my amazing markers for calligraphy. I did most of the designs on plain paper and then pasted it onto colored cardstock. (8 1/2 x 11 inches)

This Calendar, I also started to experiment with my own calligraphy designs, conforming the arabic letters into different shapes, making them abstract, etc. 

Cover
(Bismillah)

Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem

In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

Allahu

The Name of God

Allahu Akbar

God is Great

Alhamdulillah

Thanks be to Allah

Subhanallah

Glory be to Allah

La Illaha Ill Allah Muhammad Rasool Allah

There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah

La Hawla Wala Quwwata Illa Billa Hil Aliyul Azheem

All Power and Might Belongs to Allah, the Most High, The Great

Al Fatiha

The Opening 

The first chapter in the Holy Qur'aan

Ayatul Kursi

Al Baqarah 

2:255

Surah Al-Isra

The Night Journey

17:24

In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

Lower the wing of humility to them [parents] out of mercy, and say

 "My Lord! Have Mercy on them, just as they reared me when I was a small child. 

More Paintings

Here are some more calligraphies that I did about 3 years ago. The first one is a 15x30 inch acrylic on canvas.

Calligraphy Says:

La illaha il Allah Muhammad rasool Allah

Translation:

There is only one God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God

This phrase is also called the shahada, and it represents the basic tenants of the Islamic belief. 

This painting is also acrylic on a 16x20 inch canvas. I decided to try a mosaic pattern on this painting, I thought it would be really neat if the background looked like shattered glass, or an opaque stained glass window. 

Calligraphy Says:

Allahu Akbar

Translation:

God is Great

These calligraphies are based on designs that I found online, but I did alter the writing somewhat in order to make them my own.