Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia Zeeshan.
Hi Nadia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Hey! My name is Nadia Zeeshan and I am an artist and owner of my Islamic art business “Nadiazartistry.” I started painting and drawing as a child and it was the only hobby I enjoyed. It was always more of a pastime back then and I eventually gave it up once I started College. Fast forward years later after getting married and having kids, I randomly picked up that dusty paintbrush again and started painting once more. I loved the feeling of being able to pen my thoughts visually again, so this time I didn’t stop.
My art business really took off during the pandemic. It was an isolating and scary time, and I decided to channel those feelings through art. I made six paintings and sold all of them one after the other. They were acquired by art collectors all over the world. Needless to say I was shocked at the response. I didn’t even know how to ship art internationally at the time and had to learn the ropes pretty fast. I have created and sold several collections over the last few years and will continue to do so (God willing!).
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I never really knew how many things needed to be done and done efficiently to run a business smoothly. Just the marketing and advertising alone take multiple hours of research every week. Handling social media is another huge part of running a business. Creating meaningful content, taking high-quality pictures and videos, and staying on top of the ever-changing algorithm are also something that must be done.
I am routinely jolting down ideas, replying to emails, and corresponding with clients. Also, as I ship my paintings to a variety of locations all over the world, I am always trying to stay up to date with customs requirements, declarations, invoices, etc. The last thing you want as an artist is to sell a beautiful piece and have it held up in a foreign country due to incorrect paperwork.
Packaging art is also an art in itself. I have had to teach myself the most effective way to pack a painting so that it wouldn’t get damaged on the way. It is an expensive and time-consuming process, but I am happy to say that I have never had a painting damaged. *Knock on wood.*
No matter their talent, anyone can succeed if they are highly motivated and organized on a daily basis . While painting my actual paintings, I hang on to ideas for months, if not years, because the end product has to be perfect. I wish I was more prolific and could produce paintings more frequently, but I can’t. I wouldn’t be able to do justice to my work if I rushed the process.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an Islamic abstract artist specializing in making spiritual, religious, and feel-good art. I usually pick a theme and paint an entire series on it. I love reading about Prophetic stories and visualizing performed miracles on canvas. Some other themes I focus on frequently are “patience” and “afterlife” and how being mindful of both concepts can get us through life. I paint many abstract landscapes, sunsets, and oceans and tie them in with beautiful scripture verses. I believe in water therapy and spend a lot of time at the beach. It has become part of my creative process to collect beach sand, beach glass, and sea shells from all the beaches I have visited and incorporate them as textures in my paintings. I like the idea of taking a little bit of something everywhere I go and bringing it back with me. Most recently, on my trip to Myrtle Beach, I collected some beautiful relics such as oyster shells, sand, and coral and brought them back. I can’t wait to incorporate them into my next project. I’m most proud of how I’ve conveyed subtle messages through my paintings and found like-minded people who instantly connect with my work. What sets me apart from other artists is studying religion from a slightly different perspective and incorporating multiple religions and teachings in my art. Interfaith unity, diversity, and inclusion are prominent themes in my work.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned throughout this amazing journey as an artist is that art has the power to heal, excite, influence, and provide comfort and healing to those looking for it. When you study another artist’s work, you see the world through their eyes. But when you create something, you let the world see what you see, which is beautiful. Every painting has made a timestamp of my life in some particular moment and sharing that moment with the world is beautiful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nadiazeeshan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadiazartistry/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100032787356385&_rdr
- Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nadia-zaki-ab753321
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NadiaDecor?t=4ZkWj4YUtg9kbNqKmIOz2A&s=03
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRw0YP1MvwEv-_l7fhgtx3g
- Other: https://www.pinterest.ca/nadiazartistry/
