Finding inspiration in nature's wonders

Dubai: Asma Al Ghurair formed an early attachment to the colours of nature, enjoying water and the sky, trees and flowers - not to mention differences in light, particularly at dawn and sunset.

This obsession encouraged her to authenticate her talent academically by studying art after high school.

Later, she joined courses studying Ikebana - Japanese flower arrangement. Her restless passion made her trace other cultures' knowledge and read extensively about world art to build a fundamental art base, to enable her to translate her art visions professionally.

Her perspective in painting can be seen through her use of a wide range of colours that she uses in soft and thick brush strokes.

Asma feels a great link to music and photography as well.

Her paintings focus on women's faces.

Her interest can also be seen in translucent painting with water colours, inks and other materials. This inspires her with the romantic power of expression, which goes hand-in-hand with her fruitful imagination.

"My work is a kind of restless storm of colours; nature is excessively attracting my artistic attention and greatly enriches my imagination through its marvellous aspects. The rebellion of colours is an indicator of a positive energy.

"To me such colours point to optimism ... and such radiant reflection is certainly enhancing the level of positive energy.

"Using a great amount of colours makes me free my inner self from any psychological tension and [gives] me the motivation to express my vision perfectly. Blue in particular relaxes me in both times of happiness and sadness," she says.

Asma talks of dawn being her inspiration - that experiencing the birth of a new day brings new hope and ambition.

"I like to [do] my paintings at night and at the break of dawn: It's the indescribably peaceful hours that take me to the pure side, beyond the real world and invade my imagination with tremendous vision.

"This dreamy peace allows me to effortlessly make my mental images come true," she says.

"I like to read extensively about arts of all kinds - paintings, photography and music, as they enrich my imagination. [Reading] also authenticates my love of art scientifically as well as expanding the circle of my knowledge. Not to mention the crucial impact that [is] reflected in the philosophical and spiritual sides within me," Asma says.

The artist says that she admires the work of the scholar and poet Mohi Al Deen Bin Arabi, "despite his physical absence. However, his legendary and talisman works still engage and attract many true art lovers. Until today, people - and I'm one of them - still tirelessly attempt to figure out more about his ambiguous character, as well as his immortal outcome of art," she said.

"I prefer to paint faces as well as nature: My paintings are called Wajh Al Mattar (Face of the rain), Lail Wa Fajir (Night and dawn). I have a new collection called Tajaliat Al Azraq (The visions of blue). Blue is psychologically proven to be the best relief for the mood."

Asma adds: "I do like to concentrate on facial expressions; I like to show their cheerfulness and sadness.

"A viewer might look at the painting and see a side not normally seen by others, because every one of us analyses, builds and makes a conclusion of his/her perspective based on the psychological status of the painted character, which clearly appears on the painting's features. Therefore, the impression is not the same and that is the philosophy of life.

"Everything is seen with a subjective view," she says.