For an artist whose tryst with oil paintings, or any paintings for that matter, began only three months ago, al-Maadheed’s work is surprisingly mature in its effect and execution. “I have grown up with art. I have been a caricaturist since my teen years,” the Qatari artist says, while keeping himself busy with the brush strokes, “However, I had never tried my hand at paintings.”
A glimpse into al-Maadheed’s caricatures.
A proficient caricaturist, al-Maadheed’s work has been sought after as much in Arabic newspapers as in the social media circles. “I am very active on social media,” he says, thumbing through his Instagram account that takes us through his fine caricatures, newfound passion for paintings, and some recent works on the Katara walls, too. “Since I know that I’m good with my caricatures, I often challenge people from other countries over such sketches and keep myself occupied.”
A work by al-Maadheed.
Al-Maadheed is a self-taught artist, having learnt everything he knows about caricatures and sketching from YouTube and various online resources. “When I was studying Business Administration in the UK, I had developed art into a proper hobby. I had a lot of free time there as the lifestyle there was different, with no family and not many friends around either.”
Since oil paintings fascinated al-Maadheed no end, he tried adopting a similar approach to acing it. “Obviously, I didn’t know the technique. So I tried and I tried on my own and I failed each time,” he recalls, “I didn’t give up though. Each time I failed, I knew why I failed and learnt something from it. But still, the actual technique and nuances remained elusive.”
That’s when al-Maadheed, towards the latter half of last year, began meeting artists at Souq Waqif Art Centre and started learning bit by bit from them. “I simply had to,” he says, “Every artist I encountered showed me something that I was, until then, unable to express in my paintings. There are various shades and tones in oil painting, for instance, and nothing is ever completely black or completely white. I wasn’t aware of this before. Every colour that the canvas catches carries some mix. Even black hair of the subject might have a tiny tinge of brown in it. Such insights enriched my perspective.”
One of al-Maadheed’s works that adorns the new walls in Katara.
Al-Maadheed is among the handful of artists who kept themselves immersed in their art at the Souq Waqif Spring Festival, which went on from January 22 until February 5. The 15-day festival dedicated most of the stage shows for cultural performances to highlight Qatar’s rich history and heritage. Among the highlights of the festival were the Giant Fountain Circus which thrilled the crowd with stunts, the Souq Waqif Dome which screened short animated films such as Pangea, The Alchemist’s Letter, Tuurngait and Ruin, mostly for children, and the bustling park, which saw a number of whackily-dressed Harlequin stilts, LED stilt walkers and Stilt Butterflies entertain passersby.
All the three paintings that al-Maadheed has made during the festival are about classic, old cars in the outskirts of Qatar. “Since the occasion was the Spring Festival, I thought it’s important to showcase what the people of Qatar do in these times,” he says.
“While other artists drew tea jugs and coffee pots and other such cultural symbols, I tried to recall something different and deep about what we used to do. When we were young, we would have a great time in these cars at our farm houses in spring time,” al-Maadheed explains.
“There are various shades and tones in oil painting and nothing is ever completely black or completely white”
Just as planned, al-Maadheed’s paintings featuring a rugged Suzuki jeep or a time-honoured Land Rover in the faraway pockets of Qatar evoke a sense of nostalgia and a longing for vintage goodness. “We still drive these cars, but not in Doha,” he says, adding that they keep it in their farm in Shahaniya, “Like most Qatari families, our family too has a farm house in the outskirts. So, I think elderly Qataris will definitely identify with these paintings.”
Even though painting demands long hours from al-Maadheed, who is busy at his government job in the daytime, he willingly yields to its pull. “A painting takes me around six days to complete. But I prefer doing this than frequenting the usual haunts or going too many times to the Majlis and having coffee and conversations,” he says, smiling, “Deep down, I feel the need to keep doing something. That’s why I am majorly into sport, cycling, exercising – anything that actively involves my body, mind, or both.”
That perhaps offers some answers to why at 40, al-Maadheed looks like someone in his early or mid-30s. “I have never smoked in my life. I work out, eat healthy, and play a lot of sport,” he says.
Although caricatures have taken a back seat for now, he knows he can’t neglect it. “That’s my strong point. I know I am great at it,” he says, sounding just as humble as he does when he talks about being an “amateur painter”. He pauses for a quick moment and says, “Becoming good at painting is a lot about hand movement, freeness, you know, how you move the brush and how well you manage to mix colours. I am facing difficulties just as a beginner would. But I am finding my way around and I am happy that I am finally doing this.”
Through art, al-Maadheed is gauging his inner voice. “When I draw something, I feel that I am able to put the thoughts in my head and the feelings in my heart into the canvas before me. That’s the same purpose and intention I have with my photography or caricatures. When people look at my caricatures, they sense a distinct style and they know it’s my work. I am trying to achieve the same signature look and feel for my paintings. And I have only begun,” he says.
