We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ismat Shahid a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ismat, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I have always been a creative person and it is something that comes naturally to me. But everyone has days where your creative instincts or energy can get quite low. For me this usually can happen due to any daily life factor. I could be in the middle of an extremely creative episode where my brain would constantly come up with something and I would be highly focused on creating an artwork but then something like my daughter falling sick would throw me off. As an artist for me it is then very difficult to get that focus and creative energy back to where I would want to create something. On such days I try to do something art related even though it may be small. I do not start a new and fully fleshed out project but rather get involved in short duration art making with no goals. That takes away the pressure of creating a finished and worthwhile art piece that can be shared with the world and listed up for sale.
I also go read art books and browse art of all kinds. That usually rekindles ideas nd drive to create more art.
In a nutshell creating more art keeps my creative energy alive to create even more art.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an artist , originally from India but have been living in San Diego for more than twenty years. I have a degree in Finance but my passion is making art. Two years ago I took a leap of faith and left my finance job to focus fully on my art . I recently turned fifty and it is quite daunting to start a new path at this stage of but exciting nonetheless to learn new things everyday and trying to keep up with technological advances and using them for the benefit of marketing my art work. I love to paint in oils, acrylics and watercolors. I have also started experimenting with resin in some of my art work. The most special thing about my art practice is that it gives me immense joy and calmness. Other than helping me channel my creative energies, it has been my constant source of support while dealing with any tough or stressful times. I t had helped me for years when I was dealing with the ups and downs of secondary infertility and art was what I turned to to deal with sudden loss of my mother to Covid.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I feel for one to be successful in any field, passion , skill and knowledge are all very important. Talent leads you nowhere unless you put it to use and gain expertise by practicing your skills. I have learned over past years on my own through books and videos as I did not have any formal art school training. With so many master artists sharing their knowledge online, these are the best times to acquire a new skill or hone on the existing ones. Having said that once you are armed with technical knowledge , the best way to learn is making art on your own as much as you can. I make two to three paintings everyday for the sole purpose of learning and experimenting without any pressure of social media, selling or marketing expectation. This tends to clear my mind and helps me decide which painting to make in order to share with the world.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Although I have read and referenced many books i order to learn practice of different art media I feel the book that has helped me the most is Composition of Outdoor Painting. It has helped me immensely while composing designing my paintings . Design is an integral part of making art and a good composition can lead to good painting most of the times. I really love how all the advice and guidance is given in great detail in a simple way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ismatshahidart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ismatshahidart/?igsh=YzVkODRmOTdmMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
