‘Diversity in Portrait’ a delight for art connoisseurs

DUBAI: When walking in room Z of Four Points by Sheraton, Dubai, visitors are inclined to the works of art that adorn the walls of the room. Each and every one of the works of art fascinates you and makes your stay pleasant. While observing, loving and going through these paintings and works of art, the curiosity to know more about the artist grows a lot and she feels the desire to find the mind behind these wonderful works to appreciate the artist and her works of art.

But you will be surprised and surprised to learn that these works of art are created by an Indian artist, Afshan Quraishi, whose journey is also very attractive and inspiring. She began her professional journey only after her children grew up and settled in their lives.

Afshan can be considered an artist born. Without having any formal education in the subject, she does magic with her hands. When did you realize that she has an art in her?

She said: "It was my father who noticed that I was a good artist, I was doing one of my science projects during my college days and he looked at my finished work and thanked him." Only my dad decided to find an art coach.

"My father, who comes from a royal family of Kurnool, Hyderabad, India, was very involved in art."

My father introduced me to a very famous artist, Azeez Azmi Saheb, who was my mentor for the fine arts. Azeez Azmi was the founder of the Fine Arts Society in Kurnool, my hometown, he added.

Afshan feels privileged to be guided by him. She said: "He was a harsh critic and encouraged us to be self-critical of our work, he was a master of oil portraits."

Remembering her teacher's words, she said: "He always said: 'Everyone can paint, but it takes a lot of patience and you do not expect instant gratification, be your own judge and critic'.

He came to his house every day to train his sister and her until he graduated and married.

A graduate in science, Afshan's training with the capable teacher ended shortly after his marriage.

Shortly after their marriage, he landed in the UAE leaving behind his passion for the arts to begin a new journey of life.

Sharing his experience of arriving in the United Arab Emirates in the early 1980s, he said: "I have been here for four decades and I continued to travel back and forth to India."

Meanwhile, Afshan devoted himself completely to his family. She was in charge of making her house a beautiful place. He considered that his house was a canvas where he wanted to see the dream of his son and his daughter painted and made. And she managed to do it.