Artist Profile: Naima Karim

I’ve been obsessed with Naima’s work since she moved here a few years ago. I don’t remember where, when or even how I saw her paintings, but I was instantly drawn to her dramatic paintings of beautiful red, blue, pink and orange skies.

I remember going to her first solo exhibition in Dhahran. I was struck by the way she used colors, dark, and light tones in her paintings, but more so because of the size of her paintings. They’re big. And appropriately so. It’s so incredibly impactful to see dramatic skies in that size because they draw you in and force you to feel the movement. During our interview, she told me that she’s planning on painting even bigger canvases. I can’t wait.

We had a discussion about Mark Rothko as well during our interview, since her paintings reminded me of my exposure to his. When I was in college, the amazing potter in my life, my mom, took me to the Rothko Chapel in Houston, TX. Before going, I was totally unimpressed by his work and couldn’t really understand why painting 2 solid colors next to each other was such a great accomplishment in artistic expression. But it’s when I saw the size of his paintings with the colors on it that I truly understood what his paintings meant to people. These particular colors on various sizes of canvases actually made me feel different. Maybe not emotional at the time, but it definitely made me feel. Naima’s paintings reminded me so much of that realization, and of how a truly gifted artist can make you feel.

Her interview made me kind of sad at times, emotional, but so hopeful for the beautiful things that can come out of incidents in our lives that make no sense at the time. I’m so grateful that she shared her journey with me, and now that I can share it with you…

Tell me a little bit about yourself… 

I was born in Bangladesh, and completed my BA in Fine Arts there. I had moved to the Netherlands after, and moved to Saudi 6 years ago. I’ve been interested in art since I was a little girl as both my parents are very creative. My father was a Doctor by profession, but used to make our living room furniture, kitchen cabinets and dining table out of wood, wherever we lived. My mother, on the other hand, used to sew our clothes, would knit, embroider, and make our dolls as well.

When did you develop a serious interest in art?

In school we had art classes, and I used to love it. It also helped that I had a proper art teacher who was also very encouraging. But I never really thought I’d go for art as a profession though as it’s very difficult to survive as an artist. I thought I’d be an architect instead as it’s somewhat related. It was actually a very last minute kind of decision that made me an artist…

What changed? How did you come to that realization?

In Bangladesh we take admissions tests for University, and my father had thought that I should take the dental school exam, but the art school and dental school exams were on the same day. He dropped me to the dental school admissions test, and then I decided to hop into a rickshaw and take the art school admissions test instead. I placed 5th nationally. My father actually never found out that both exams were on the same day and that I had to miss the dental exam to take the art exam, but he was extremely proud of my results.

I ended up choosing painting and completed my BA in Oriental Art. The watercolor techniques I learned from there were really great. It was something that other painting students in other programs would never have been able to experience the same way.

Which medium do you prefer as a painter? 

I prefer acrylic and oils. Mostly acrylics.

What does your artwork represent? What inspires you?

I actually came back to art only recently, around 5 years ago, as I had lost my confidence after my illness. I got married in my final year of art school, and after our first anniversary, I came down with a very high fever for about 7 days. After getting a little better, I still felt quite weak and one morning woke up and was paralyzed from head to toe. I found out that I had Guillain–Barré Syndrome, an autoimmune disease, which usually comes out of nowhere. It was only after 5 months that I could even move a small part of my body. It took me around 1.5 years to start walking again…

At the time I was so young and I hated myself for being a burden on my family. I had to ask them to help me eat and I was ashamed of what people had to do for me. I was extremely depressed at first, but after a month or two, I was really motivated to get back. Every day I was encouraging myself to move something. It wasn’t working, but it was the best thing I could do for myself. I had also started dreaming about running across grass fields with huge skies. It was a place where I had no limitations and I could just run. Actually, this is where the skies in my paintings come from. That sky and the horizon were all so big, and it was what I dreamed about when I didn’t want to be in my hospital room.

I actually started with skies and birds. The birds were a huge inspiration because they represented freedom and movement to me when I wasn’t able to move. I love painting birds, but I stopped eventually and just focused on painting skies instead.

Tell me more about your signature style and your skies…

I discovered my signature style over time. When I moved to Saudi, to get my confidence back, I started off by teaching younger children. My husband really encouraged me to get back into it as well, and gave me a 4 month deadline for a solo exhibition. I started off with watercolor and started painting clouds and birds in an oriental style, but I wanted to get back into acrylics and oils. I really wanted to make an impression with my first solo exhibition, so rather than taking 4 months, it took me a year to make 46 paintings of which I sold half.

In the beginning, I was painting more of an impressionistic style, which people were responsive to. My signature style was just beginning and slowly appearing. My confidence was not fully there yet, and I wasn’t sure how people would react to it. Nobody was painting skies like this. I thought people wouldn’t understand it, but luckily people loved it. My daughters and husband were also strong critics, constantly criticizing, encouraging and pressuring me to set a higher standard for myself.

Naima’s Impressionistic Style

Naima’s Signature Style

What is your process like? 

My feelings affect how I paint my skies. I take a lot of photographs and keep a collection, but I use my mood to paint those same skies when I actually start painting. I focus on the composition first, and to be honest, the color rarely has anything to do with it. After focusing on composition, I then start on my real canvas and start playing. It’s all my experiences of looking at the sky – from my memories and from what I saw. Movement is so important to me, and my style is largely dictated by movement. Van Gogh saw things so different from normal people at that time. He would break up the rays of the sunlight and would show you how he saw it. He deconstructed it. I paint how I see movement. I love adding little touches of orange and pink in the sky as well, but I’m very aware of how to limit myself. I won’t overdo it.

Have you participated in any exhibitions? Which ones?

My first solo exhibition was in Dhahran. I then participated in the 1st Dafen International Oil Painting Biennale in Shenzhen. Also in the National Art Museum of China (Beijing) for the 8th Beijing International Beinnale. I’ve participated in the Amsterdam and Louvre Art Fair. I have exhibited in Moscow and Dubai as well.

Any words of wisdom for budding artists?

Have fun. You can get inspired, but never copy others. You won’t be able to find your style by copying successful artists. If you spend your time practicing, you’ll find yourself and your style. There are no rules, but there are no shortcuts either. You have to practice. Everybody naturally has their own style.

How can people get in touch with you for your artwork?

Website: www.naimakarim.com

Facebook 

Instagram

Prices vary from SR 600-15,000. Commission paintings can be done around Naima’s subject (skies), and can be adjusted based on colors.  

I hope you enjoyed my interview with such an incredible artist!

All images have been taken from Naima Karim’s website