2023 July
Hello from the Sultanate of Oman! It’s been a while I know; I hope you still remember me. It’s been a while too since the last time I traveled solo. Life has been truly awesome, imagine having to escape the family and work. I never thought I could do this again. Speaking of being mobile again, I bought a new car!! Yeyy. After all the drama of being trapped in life last year I’m slowly regaining my independence. And being truly happy once again.
And you may ask what am I doing in Oman? What are the goals here. Well, I brought my acrylic paints and work laptop so its not really all about adventure. I came here to think, to plan, envision and imagine. I came here to research and brainstorm ideas. Artists create original work that reflects what they feel, their opinions, what their statements about social and political thoughts, what are important to them. They question and they find answers, they collaborate and do business, they teach and inspire, they paint to have a narrative of their memories and experiences, they paint their love life, their fears and their dreams. They have fun and give others happiness. If you are an artist and have stopped being one. Why? It is a beautiful thing to do. It will give you answers to why there is something missing, why your soul is not happy. Little by little… colors after colors… your muse will give you the answers.
I am in a journey of finding my style. I desire to explore different artistic styles and find my own signature. It's a journey that many artists go through, and it's important to experiment and see what resonates with my personally.
Surrealism can be a fascinating style to explore, but if it doesn't feel right at the moment, that's okay. Now, I am thinking I might as well add an animal or a cartoon character to my paintings could be a unique and recognizable touch that will set my work apart. Maybe an elephant. Not because you are dealing with "the elephant in the room" or a tribute to all those who have been body shamed. If you google, “bestseller animal art painting” and “rich cartoon character” the elephant and Scrooge McDuck tops it. Just be mindful of copyright issues when using characters.
I decided to attend a Fine Arts online class to improve my workmanship. The Milan Institute sounds like an exciting opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of art and develop my technical skills. Self-expression and discovering yourself are essential aspects of the artistic journey, and a program that emphasizes those elements can be very beneficial. It’s basically Fine Arts course and art business compressed into a year. It is more self-expression and discovering yourself than the rigid education system of the normal University. I am going to be better at this and I am going to be technical and learn it all.
I am putting here this recent painting made for the Kalayaan 2023 Exhibition in Dubai World Trade Center. This is the “before” painting, to compare with the “after” after a year of studying. This is a very special painting; it is made with love. Something to recreate later.
Let us keep exploring, experimenting, and following our muse. Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy my time in Oman and you too have a fantastic journey of self-discovery and artistic growth!
Xoxo,
Nel