Joud

My theme is the universality of spirituality; Specifically, Enlightenment and Transcendence in all their forms, whether through meditation, prayer or other sacred practices. In essence, I attempt to express the unseen and the sublime, which precipitated my exploration of abstract forms of art.

A number of artists, mostly from the modern period, influenced me, such as Vasilly Kandinsky, who engendered through abstract elements a supreme expressivity, which was heightened through minimal elements by Mark Rothko. Older forms of art from around the world, such as Australian Aboriginal art, Persian Miniatures and European Impressionism, also had a profound impact on my style of art, which leans towards expressionistic, experimental and abstract use of color and shapes.

I feel that in order to truly create such a sensation of the mystical, a strong emotional impression to the viewer rather than simply a representation of a subject. Initially, I used either flat color in swirls and lines, leading to a subtle blending of colors through long, repeated drags across the canvas. From there, I evolved into a virtually post-impressionist technique of rhythmic application of colors, effectively the dragging of the brush on a smaller scale, creating movement, evoking mystic sensations.

My only real problem was my lack of formal training/experience, which meant my technical skills were not at ideal levels. However, rather than simply avoiding ideas where I was weak in, I did the opposite. What I did to solve was frequent sketching and painting, which led to a vast improvement in my ability, understanding and confidence their use. As a result, acrylic paints, pastels and sketching became my cardinal mediums. Recently, I have begun to explore digital mediums, such as photo manipulation and computer-aided illustration.

Digital Art 4" x 7" || Digital Art 4" x 7" || Mixed Media (pastel and pencil) on Paper 24" x 32" || Mixed Media (Pastel and Ink) on paper 24" x 32" || Mixed Media (Ink and Acrylic) on Paper 24" x 32" || Mixed Media (Acrylic and Pastel) on Paper 30" x 40" || Acrylic on Canvas 32" x 44" || Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 32" || Acrylic on Canvas 35" x 50" || Acrylic on Canvas 32" x 40" || Acrylic on Canvas 32" x 40" || Digital Art 4" x 7" ||
 * [[image:Buddha_II.jpg width="252" height="286"]] || Silent Knower
 * [[image:Diffuse_Glow_&_Dust_and_Scratches.jpg width="253" height="374"]] || Rising Breath
 * [[image:IMG_2031.JPG width="342" height="270"]] || Ghandi's Spinning Wheel
 * [[image:IMG_2033.JPG width="256" height="327"]] || The Hand of the Divine
 * [[image:IMG_2034.JPG width="262" height="345"]] || Path of the Buraq
 * [[image:IMG_2035.JPG width="336" height="269"]] || Israfel
 * [[image:IMG_2038.JPG width="292" height="292"]] || Om
 * [[image:IMG_2039.JPG width="268" height="350"]] || Swirling Dervishes
 * [[image:IMG_2042.JPG width="356" height="274"]] || Buraq Dreaming
 * [[image:IMG_2043.JPG width="254" height="374"]] || Ascended Reverie
 * [[image:IMG_2044.JPG width="260" height="367"]] || Gabriel
 * [[image:Uzbek.jpg width="345" height="261"]] || Recitations