Fauzia Shabnam came to us live from Bangladesh on Friday, February 18th via Zoom to talk about her watercolor style and favorite palette.

Here’s a quick Q&A with Fauzia:

Why do you paint?
Painting is the only truth for me. I paint for my soul and to gain clarity in all that I do.

How long have you been painting?
I have been associated with art for almost 35 years – after having had long pauses and breaks, I have been enjoying a full-fledged painter’s career for the last 4 years.

Have you had formal training?
Yes – in fine arts at home and abroad. 

Are you a working artist or do you have another job?
I’m a painter by passion and profession, an influencer, as well as a gallerist.

Who inspires you?
I have been blessed with several. They are my role models, whom I seek to emulate in order to enhance myself.

Have you had a mentor?
I find mentors in people I can learn from, whatever it may be.  

Do you paint every day?
I wish I painted every day, but I don’t. Painting is the most beautiful of all arts and, as per my mood, I take it on with strokes and colour.

Do you paint in plein air or in studio?
A bit of both. En plein air resonates the most, as I want the viewer to feel what I felt, to have this sense that there is so much more to our existence. Studio art also comes easy.

What music do you listen to while painting?
Music and painting are entwined for me. It’s like a painting is the music I see and music is the painting I can hear. Both classical and instrumental inspire me, while the great Indian maestro, Jagjit Singh is my motivation.

Do you paint from memory or reference photos?
I find it easy to capture my own photography and then make subject of it. My expression and storyline fits its best self when I do my own reference.

Do you begin with a sketch or concept piece?
Yes, I do refer to a concept piece for guidance most of the time. 

Do you work on one piece at a time or several?
I do several because I also paint with oil, which takes time to dry. 

Do you paint vertically or flat?
I mostly paint vertically. It’s more comfortable for me. 

What core colors do you work with?
Earthy tones speak to me the most – colours that breathe and flow into nature’s greenery and light, allowing me to express my love for the breathing creation that exists in silence.

Tubes, pans or sticks?
I prefer the 15 ml tubes, but I’m waiting for my sticks to arrive!  

How long does it take you to finish a piece?
Depending on the subject and size, I usually attempt a half-imperial study in an hour, then the painting takes about a day. 

How do you know when your artwork is complete?
An expression of myself – what I stand for and what I believe in – defines the moment that my artwork is done.  

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Join us online each week for an Up Close and Personal Conversation with Daniel Smith CEO and Owner, John Cogley and guest artists from around the world. On Thursdays (2:00pm Pacific), John highlights various features of our products and answers your questions. On Fridays (10:30am Pacific), a guest artist follows up to share how they incorporate those features into their art. Click here for the upcoming week’s Zoom links.

Check our Facebook page for news about upcoming guest artists or to watch past replays. Each Zoom meeting is also recorded and shared on our YouTube channel. La traducción al español está disponible – selecciona el canal en español en Zoom.