Yasmeen Portfolio

Portfolio

Almutawa

Nothing but blue

I collaborated with a friend of mine on this painting, during the Covid19 pandemic. As she was the one who gave me the idea behind this piece. She asked me during the extensive lockdown we had in kuwait, “If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?”

All I could think of at the time was Santorini, because my the entirety of my explore page was filled with image after image of resorts in Greece. I experimented with blending different shades of blue and worked it in with the stark white to make it a bit more soft. After I was done with the piece, I decided to gift it to her, as she was the brains behind it.

Kodak

This piece was inspired by my facisnation for all things film and photography. I googled an image of a kodak film package and immediately started to sketch out the drawing. I matched the colors with the packaging and wanted to play around with the dark tones. I left the edges of the packaging white and plain as it was on the canvas,to bring out the depth of colors. Then proceeded to outline everything using a sharpie. I made this painting at one of my favorite art studios here in kuwait, not knowing that it would become one of my favorite pieces, and it truly matches my personality.

Still image

This was another painting I had made at an art studio right after just starting my senior year at high school. It was a time where I had a major art block, so I needed a lot of new ideas and needed to get back into my groove. I then again went to my special spot, the art studio. My father sent me this image of two of his coworkers to give them as a thank you gift, and I eagerly got to work. I love gift giving and I needed inspiration to get me out of the long art block I was in, so I would say it came at the perfect time. It had taken me a few days to finish this piece as I hadn’t painted in quite a while, but once I got started I was determined to complete it.

Camp instructor

During my time off from school, I volunteered at a very popular children’s camp here in kuwait. During my winter breaks and summer holidays, I would go to this camp and teach ages three to thirteen pottery, arts and crafts, and painting. I got to connect with these children through my favorite way of self expression, and in return they got to express themselves through art. The course usually lasted three to four weeks. On their first week they’d learn basics with clay and how to shape and mold it, and on their second week when they were more comfortable they got to choose what they wanted to make and eventually they got to the best part, painting their creations. In arts and crafts, depending on the age they got to make origami, jellyfish, or paper mache. It as a time I will forever treasure and hold deep in my heart, as I got to connect and meet so many incredible people and create everlasting memories.

Sketching

Painting is by far my favorite art medium, and every good painting starts with a sketch. Sketching is the skeleton and foundation of all my paintings. Sketches to me aren’t just doodles and shading, but to me they’re so much more. Still trying to perfect my skills at drawing eyes but with a pencil, pad, and a lot of time; I know I’ll come out with something great, though I am not the greatest at drawing. We use our imagination when we draw, and this not only releases endorphins, but helps build new connections and pathways, and helps develop a number of areas in our brains.

Mirror ball

This was my first time going completely out of my comfort zone and not starting out my painting with a rough sketch, considering it was also a rounded canvas and not rectangular. Instead I opted to try to make small square and rectangular brush strokes with my paintbrush, until it started to resemble a disco ball. I imagined a source of light coming from above and how the dark colors would be opposite to it and the lighter shades would shine. To my surprise, my experiment came out great. Using variations of one color may seem boring but, it truly came out beautiful. I will definitely be continuing to paint mirror-balls in my future.

Bob Ross

This as all the way back in 2020 when everyone was following Bob Ross tutorials on hour to paint stills from nature. I decided not to completely follow the tutorial but to give my own twist to it. I used his method to “scrape” the mountains on instead of using a paint brush, and by doing so it creates a sharp mor angular edge. Of corse he paints the sky with a Phthalo blue color, but I chose to use a rich, raging red color. I like the speed of which he paints, which makes me eager to follow more of his videos. I love how his tutorials don’t make me feel like I’m doing a lot of work, but brings me into a calm meditative state.

Photography

I love being able to capture an image, a moment in time if you will,and then looking back at them and getting a taste of all those memories as if they aren’t from the past. The pictures I chose to include are all photos with deep sentimental value to me, they are all photos of my favorite locations, activities, and things in general. I enjoy photography as a hobby, whether its on film, or digitally, it never fails to excite me. Photography is also a mode of self expression and art to me, and I wish to pursue it further in my life.

Museum of The Future, Dubai

Killa Design Architecture

Photography credits: Yasmeen

Al Hamra, Kuwait

SOM architects

Photography credits: Yasmeen

Tent House, Kuwait

TAEP+AAP architects

Photography credits: Yasmeen

Dubai Frame, Dubai

Hyder Consulting

Photography credits: Yasmeen

Chrysler Building

This is a painting of one of my most beloved buildings in New York City. It is a painting of the iconic Chrysler building. I quickly sketched out this piece onto the canvas, and started to fill it in with black paint, and I was still trying to figure out what the color of the background should be. I then decided on something bold and rich. I went with the color red, to make the building stand out and pop, then I continued to work with the shadow a bit more and highlighted the dark spots of the building. This is definitely my favorite piece as it is the only one hung in my bedroom wall, and not given away to someone.

Pottery

During my time off in the summer, and when I wasn’t in summer camp. I would take pottery classes. They were a major stress reliever for me, considering that I had just graduated highschool, and needed to enhance my skills and gain a new stress relieving outlet. I learned ho to use my hangs and control the pressure I was adding on to the clay. I had learned how to form, shape, cut, and carve into clay. I worked with a personal tutor to learn how to create cylindrical shapes. As we first started out with cubing the clay to create a smoother surface, and then went on to throw it with force onto the wheel, ensuring that all the sides stick onto it. Then I learned how to always keep the clay went, as that will prevent from further cracking and will eventually make the clay smooth and easy to work with. It was something I had always wanted to try and I am currently working on the japanese method of potter otherwise known as Kuri Nuki, and when my pieces are done glazing and drying out Ill be able to paint them.

Furniture design sketching

Throughout my life i’ve never really been great at technicalities, as I have always let my imagination run free and it would often get in the way. I was taught to always see the “color” in things and no that doesn’t mean to look at the positive side of the situation but to me it meant seeing the concept in a different and more vibrant light. My father would always highlight how much of a creative spirit I am, as he would say “you’re just like me, except you have that vibrant bone in your body”. That’s why pursuing interior design is my way. I am able to use my imagination and my “vibrant bone” to visualize and express my emotions in ways only art can fill. Growing up, I was consistently very emotional and sensitive, and I only felt like I could express my emotions, heartbreaks and tantrums through journaling or sometimes using painting as my coping mechanism of choice. My grandfather occasionally would take me out on little “dates” and he’d get me little fashion design sketchbooks, a pack of crayola markers, oil pastels and of of course a sketchbook, which in other words meant that was my diary of choice.

Yasmeen Almutawa