Excited, did not paint that night but did a workshop with visitors. Was nice to display some of the paintings that came about due to this experience. Thankful to those who came to the workshop to support my journey.

Sunrise in the city

(Exhibit date: Feb 25, 2021, Leaf Plaza)

I want to show this painting in person and get feedback.

For those who are seeing my work for the first time:

Oil paint is a very slow drying medium which requires years of practice to master. Often the smaller the painting, the more time it takes to paint it and the more vigorous effort it takes to complete the process. It can take up to 1-3 month for an oil painting to dry.

I am a self taught artist, I have been teaching my self how to paint since a very young age. I have found that if I want to paint from imagination, I prefer to paint with oils as this medium allows me to develop my thoughts without being rushed. I do however enjoy painting with lots of other mediums.

This particular painting has won the International Artist Award at the Swiss Art Expo 2020, which was an exhibit competition held in Switzerland. I have been blessed to be able to exhibit my work in many interesting places. The highlight of my artistic journey was an invitation to exhibit some of my work at the Musee du Louvre for a temporary contemporary art exhibit in October 2017. I was honoured and humbled by the experience.

I continue to learn and exhibit my paintings, which are recently getting to be known, since I do not use any technology like digital art to paint. I like the process of painting. My palette knives I use or brushes are my extensions to my fingers and I find it very satisfying to simply paint.

Melting Ice

Bedroom light

Plant Care

Historic Blur - (Exhibit Date: Feb 28, Leaf Plaza)

I have been looking into NFT’s and digital art sales for crypto currency. I would like to turn this painting into a digital and make it available for exchange for crypto currency.

Wonderlust child

Due to the high winds, I could not exhibit this larger piece at the Garden Gallery.

Sunflowers growing wild

(Exhibit date: Feb 25, 2021 Leaf Plaza)

I have been thinking a lot about nature and the role it plays in our lives these days and recently curated a group exhibit called the bloom but what caught my attention was this new unusual quietness found in the city. This painting is about a vague memory of a part of the city and the wild sunflowers growing in a corner are just my expression of the quiet and wild.

A convicted smuggler,[2] Henday joined the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1750 as a net-maker and labourer.

From the 1600s to the late 1800s the HBC had the exclusive fur trade for the land within what was considered Hudson Bay's watershed. This region was known as Rupert's Land. For the furs that HBC was after they wanted to trade commodities such as tobacco, kettles, axes, mirrors, beads, and alcohol.

Because of the HBC's concern with La Vérendrye and the other western commanders who were funnelling fur trade from the northwest to their forts, Eventually, James Isham, chief at York Fort, suggested someone go to western Rupert's Land to encourage trade with the region's First Nations tribes.[3]

The Hudson Bay Company authorized and funded Henday to lead explorations into the interior of Rupert's Land, using York Factory as his base. On June 26, 1754, he set out with a group of Cree First nations on foot to travel from York Factory to present-day Red Deer, Alberta. It is documented they passed the French Fort Paskoya where he may have met La Corne, the western commander. Problematic as The Cree and other tribes in the area didn’t necessary get along with each other and didn’t necessary want to trade.

Although his journal cannot always be put in a modern context, he brought much trade to York Factory. Records show some of the trade also went to the French at Fort Saint-Louis (Fort de la Corne) and Fort Paskoya which were on the route to Hudson Bay.

Anthony Henday Drive, a large ring road in Edmonton, is named in his honour, as is Henday Hall, one of the residence towers in the main student residence complex at the University of Alberta in that city.

In 2010, I read this history and had wanted to go make my mark on it with art. This event allowed me to meet another check point on my bucket list! :) I love where art takes me! Thank you for following and supporting this journey.

Abandoned Gas Stations

Abandoned Coal fields

The purple sky and the twisted Highway 60 and the Anthony Henday. I want to finish this one but waiting for the darker parts to dry a lill more and add a few hay stacks and a lill more purple in the darker bush areas. I don’t know if i will though.

On my way to the garden was a very meadow-ish drive. Some construction on the Henday always confuses me and I tend to get lost even with the GPS but it’s a pretty drive when you go towards Devon, with ups and downs and purple sunsets.

I love to hike in beautiful areas, this is definitely a pretty spot. Though I wasn’t feeling 100%, I got to watch the sunset and paint this night and am very grateful for this. So happy that botanical garden invited me to do so, big thanks to the team that works there. They keep that place so pretty and healthy.

Groundhog day

(Exhibit date: Feb 25, 2021)

I wanted to learn how to paint a wild bush of roses with light shining on them. This came about after 3 days of adding paint to canvas. I really enjoyed it.

acrylic practice of shadows and perspectives at the botanical garden.

Wild rose factory

(Exhibit date: Feb 25, 2021) I had started this one at home, but got to finish it in the open sky at the botanical garden.

It has a bit of that 3D chrome effect. If you are interested in my 3D chrome paintings, please visit that exhibit.

Thoughts of plants, nature. It’s funny how spontaneous life can be if you stay open minded, you could have gone with certain intentions but new things inspire you in other paths. I always have trouble with embarking on new paths but I can never resist!

A great place to meditate, do yoga or just relax. It was nice to stay warm by the pit and see how the light added shades to these trees.

I was trying to paint the shadow on the tree made by the fire pit’s light, It was kinda dark, I guess I picked up lime green to add to the painting. It was not intentional, just what looked bright in the dark, but I like the out come.

Painted this at the garden, I feel like it’s a visual memory of what I have been seeing on Instagram (a lot of lemons) lol

Ella Hartt is a local song writer and musician and I have been going live with her on instagram and one night I painted this while she played her guitar and sang songs live on social media. It has been nice to connect with other people during covid-19 even if it’s been through screens.

A little commission for my sister.

“When there is a decline in safe spaces where people can be romantic or find love and at the same time, a rise in sexual or domestic abuse; It’s time we think outside the box and work on art that will help create space for LOVE and ROMANCE. I have always been a strong believer in creating rather than talking about ideas. I hope this helps!” _Mariam Qureshi

Schedule:

~ Garden Gallery Dates: Thursdays Feb 25, Sunday Feb.28 & Thursdays in March 2021 till March 14, 2021 (Held at the LeafPlaza 5-7pm)

~ “Prickly Pair, Cactus Art” Workshop Dates: March 11-12-13-14 (5-8pm).

To Register please Click HERE