The notepad: Sara Abid

Self-taught artist Sara Abid, who started Artistry jots down creations of her own, that are most dear to her

Sara Abid is a self-taught artist who started painting in 2012 and started Artistry a year later, a brand through which she donates 100% of her earnings to charity. Here she jots down creations of her own, that are most dear to her

‘Reflection’ series in Florence, Italy



Umbrellas, rain and vibrant colours are dominant features in my work. For me, an umbrella symbolises shelter, protection and security for an individual, whereas rain and the vibrant colours in the background reflect the different phases and experiences of life. I love how bold colours bring a plain canvas to life, the use of which projects positivity in my paintings. Positive energy brings joy, and this is exactly what I want my audience to experience.

‘Pak Meets Turkey’ series in Washington DC, USA



Bold, bright and colourful, Pakistani truck art is always a celebration on wheels. I took it as my subject since I call my journey ‘a roller coaster ride’ — full of madness, joy and positivity. While painting this, I felt all these energies colliding and spilling onto the canvas. The cloudy effect in the background reflects the spiritual connection I feel while painting.

‘Illusion’ in Budapest, Hungary



‘Illusion’ found a beautiful home in Budapest, Hungary. This piece is very close to my heart as it got me the most recognition as an artist. Many international art pages shared this painting, I won an international competition, and I received ample appreciation in the form of likes, shares and comments. And of course, how adorable is the little angel of an owner?

‘Freedom’ in Hermosillo, Mexico



Gustav Klimt is one of my favourite artists and I took inspiration from his work to create this piece. The lovely owner, Claudia Barcelo, said to me upon purchasing the painting: “Freedom means a lot to me and your painting reflects the beauty of women and the rights of every individual to be free. The colours and the structure of your painting tell the observer a story of the simplicity and the complexity of life.”

‘Street of Hope’ in Seoul, South Korea



I had an exhibition in South Korea held at ES Gallery, in 2014. My favourite work from that exhibition was ‘Street of Hope’ for which I wrote a poem as well. The last lines read: ‘Why not walk into the street of hope, Hope is a rainbow of positivity, Hope is free of cost, and it is surely the last thing ever lost...’

‘In Her Shoes’ in Kuwait City, Kuwait



I shipped this piece to a Lebanese couple living in Kuwait back in 2013. I feel it’s needless to explain why is this my favourite piece, just look at it...

‘In Search’ in Dubai, UAE



It was a particularly proud moment for me when a retired Pakistan air force officer became the owner of one of my favourite works.