The artist Rabia Dawood has been drawing and painting since childhood. She used to participate in school projects and interschool art competitions.
In art school, she studied anatomy and the skeletal system, and learned to draw from memory the origin, insertion and action of every surfacing muscle in the human body.
For her, working directly from life was the basis for all the classes in painting, drawing and sculpture. It gave her a strong foundation that allowed her to fully express her ideas later on.
“I have been visiting art galleries, meeting artists, and discussing their works and techniques, which helps me to improve and develop my own skills,” Rabia told me in an interview.
Once out of college, she took a short course in painting. Thereafter, she continued developing her artistic skills with passion.
She said she was admired and praised for her work. “Art has always been a part of my soul. I believe it’s a gift from God,” she added.
When asked why she decided to become an artist, she said, “I didn’t really decide to be an artist. There were probably other things that I could do and be happy, but I really think that making art is the most interesting thing, because to some extent it incorporates everything else that I’m interested in.”
She started studying fine arts at the North City School of Art. In the final year, she transferred to the Karachi School of Art and was awarded the VM Art Education Scholarship in 2007 to complete her thesis.
Talking about her working style, she said her paintings consist of oil or acrylic paints on canvas with dark dripping textures.
She said the subject is mainly human form in contours and lines. “The technique in sculpting my human form is that I start with clay moulding, dye in Plaster of Paris and pouring gel coat, resin and casting my sculptures in fibreglass. I have also started working in watercolours miniature detailed portraits,” she said.
Rabia said art is more than just lines and colours. “It’s the visual emotion which comes from within the artist. This attachment brings a whole new meaning to the piece. It gives the picture character, gives the story animation and brings the dimension to life,” she added.
Growing up, she tried to develop her art from simple sketches to complex shading. Her work tends to focus on human emotions and individual growth as consequences faced through different acts in life.
She is very sensitive about her art, as she puts a part of her in every piece of artwork she creates. “It’s like a little piece of my soul is fused into every project. My mission is to create works that provoke thought and emotion,” she explained.
When she started learning art, the works of Vincent van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci, and the sculptures of Auguste Rodin really inspired her.
Talking about her hobbies and other interests, she said she has always loved drawing and doodling, and “creating fun things when I was younger.”
She was fond of playing cricket, reading poetry, studying about astrological signs and playing computer games.
She likes soft, melodious songs, especially ghazals. She often reads books by Ashfaq Ahmed, Mumtaz Mufti, Qudratullah Shahab, Bano Qudsia and Mustansar Hussain Tarar. She has also been doing portraits from live sittings.
When asked where her ideas and inspirations come from, Rabia said she finds her subjects within herself and from her surroundings.
Books, news and the internet help define her thought process. As a shy person, she is not very communicative. “Art is how I communicate and express myself. It’s like self-medication for me,” she said.
Rabia said that of all her artworks, her personal favourite is one of her thesis paintings titled ‘Mending of the Souls’. “It gives me a feeling of spiritual connection between the human soul and God,” she added.
