About Us

“ Inspiration?
It’s a feeling..”

- Tahmina

In 2020, the world went through a pandemic, where we were unable to leave our homes . This was a very difficult time, and mental health problems were on the rise. I have always struggled to articulate my thoughts and feelings, many times closing down and isolating myself and shutting down. I needed to protect myself, from myself, during this pandemic, not to allow it to get the better of me.
 The last time I had painted was when I was in college, and hadn’t picked up a brush since, as I pursued a career in the Fashion Industry
 Fast forward 18 years, isolated with my thoughts and alone, I picked up a brush, not really knowing what I wanted to paint. But really and truly, to see if I still had the capability to paint. In the limited shops that were still open, I picked up some acrylic paints. There was a sale on oil paints, I had never used these before, happily purchased these as I love a good bargain! Not knowing that these will open doors for me I did not know existed.

I started with a pallet of basic colours, put my brush into a jar of water, and dipped my brush into some acrylic paints. I drew a smiley face ( I always start my art with a smiley face!) As I started to paint a sense of peace took over me, I visualised being somewhere calm – water always makes me feel calm – a sea.. no .. not just a sea, a waterfall.. allowing my feelings to flow out of me like a waterfall.. the rest is history. There were points where I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, and I probably would have had this piece completed allot sooner if I knew better techniques, but in art, there’s not rules. There’s no right or wrong way, there’s maybe an easier way or a faster way, but it should always be a way that gives you peace. That’s what I felt.

 

I then tried to use oil paints, and have not turned back since. I first tried to use oil paints with my brush dipped into water – the paint wouldn’t spread – disaster! Tried to wash my brushes (again with water!) damaged them completely so turned to online to research. Going through tonnes of sites , hours and hours of research, I eventually taught myself how to use oil paints.

I feel that art is a way to articulate my thoughts a feelings, and it really sets me free. I started with landscapes , and they are till this day , my favourite thing to paint. As I learnt to express myself through my art , I started to explore different avenues. As my spirituality also grew, I found a huge fascination with Dervishes, and based a collection around them. Sometimes it might be a piece of abstract, sometimes just some flowers .

As an empath, I have always been able to feel what others do. This really helps me with my commissions , when a client, needs me to paint their feelings and thoughts . To fully be able to understand what they are hoping to achieve . A client once told me “Do not charge me for the hours it will take you to make, but for the hours I will spend staring at it”.

What inspires me? Anything that I see, or visualise,  that may trigger an emotion, memory or desire . Whether it is the happiness in sunflowers that make my day seem brighter, or through raindrops on a window that help me express my grief. A tiger that I call a self portrait to portray strength power and courage. Its in the spirituality of a dervish when I feel I need spiritual elevation, to desiring to be sat in a beautiful sunset where I feel at peace. This is why, my art is so diverse.

I had throughout my life been seeking a way to express my thoughts and feelings, it is in painting that I have found my true freedom...