gamboo3a

gamboo3a . 2011

quick sketch of the week - i had a great conversation/dialogue with a friend on culture and was asked to create a visual based on our discussion. here's what i came up with; making a relationship with the modern high-rise buildings of dubai, and the funny, tower-like hairdos alot of emirati girls have. i guess what i tried to express in this illustration was how a change in the city's visual landscape can impact the people in a community in the strangest ways. you can make visual relationships between a city & its people, even if its as random as saying people have towers growing on the top of their heads!

london baby!

english currency . 2008

big ben . 2007

lovebox people . 2008

piccadilly circus . 2007

i just came back from a short but sweet trip to my favorite city in the world, london. if there was anywhere in the world i can live in other then dubai, it would probably be london. regardless of the weather, i find london fun, inspiring and alive. i try to go there as much as i can, and whenever i do, i am never disappointed. 

over the years i have sketched moments of my travels around the world, never wanting to forget the cherished memories i have at these special places. here are some sketches i have drawn over the years during my trips to london town! doing a quick and spontaneous sketch is a process i thoroughly enjoy...

uh-oh-oh...

uh-oh b/w . 2011

uh-oh . 2011

uh-oh card . 2011

i had a moment of randomness yesterday, having the urge to produce something fast & effective, and totally random! i pulled out my sketchbook (while listening to beyonce's hit 'single ladies') and started sketching what is now some of the most iconic choreography in a music video. using that as my source of inspiration, i moved on to create something that looked more like a mark, or a printing error, combining figurative, gestural and graphic forms to create a minimal style visual. the final drawing was then photocopied on sugar paper, to give the final print a hand-crafted look and make each one unique from the next. the final prints/cards are a5 in size, signed, and an edition of 40. let me know if you'd like one...

3 keez of illustration

3 keez of illustration exhibition . 2011

american university in dubai (aud), visual communication department . 2011

3 keez exhibition poster . 2011

3 keez exhibition poster (detail) . 2011

'what hurts the most' in 3 keez exhibition . 2011

'what hurts the most' in 3 keez exhibition . 2011

earlier this month, i participated in a group show that consisted of works by some of the best illustrators in town! on the 1st of march 2011, the american university of dubai (aud) visual communication department opened it's gallery doors for the opening of '3 keez of illustration'. the exhibition included works by 25 illustrators of varied styles. i was happy to be a part of the show, exhibiting my latest illustration 'what hurts the most'. 

if you haven't had a chance to check it out, make sure you do, as the exhibition runs until the 31st of march. during the duration of the show, there will also be a series of workshops and skectchbook sessions, where you can meet and interact with some of the artists and see how they work. for more info, head to aud's website - http://www.aud.edu/

new krossbreed tees coming soon...

'khalid says relax' male tshirt sketch . 2011

'khalid says relax' female tshirt sketch . 2011

here's a little teaser of things to come...! by popular demand, krossbreed is releasing a new tee design to add to its growing collection, in conjunction with the opening of artdubai. whoever wants to get their hands on these special edition tees, make sure to come to artdubai during the 16th-19th March 2011, and pop by their awesome store. for more details on artdubai ,check out their website www.artdubai.ae

stay tuned for more updates coming your way...

what hurts the most

what hurts the most sketch . 2011

what hurts the most b/w . 2011

what hurts the most . 2011

what hurts the most was created for an upcoming show (fingers crossed for getting selected!). the artwork is inspired by a traditional arabic proverb which translates to 'you won’t know my true value until you try someone else'.

the proverb spoke to me, as it reminded me of personal experiences i've been through. over the years, lasting relationships with friends & loved ones have been challenging to keep. i’ve been replaced for individuals that were considered better companions then me, never understanding why, & always, never took it well. the only thing i ever did in these situations was tell myself people realize their mistakes in the long run, & karma will always prevail

my artwork reflects my personal response, in relation to the proverb, with an illustration that highly references Arabian wildlife in a fantasy/mythical context. i was heavily inspired by comic book artists like moebius & mike mignola. it illustrates how ‘relationships gone wrong’ can be savage, reminding oneself to always watch their back before you get hurt by the people closest to you.

for the love of lyla...

lyla sketch . 2011

lyla banner . 2011

lyla banner final . 2011

birthday's are always a special moment in a person's life. they bring happiness, lots of presents, & for some, a sense of acheivement. this can be said about my friend zahra 'lyla' pedram, who is celebrating her one year anniversary of her amazing fashion blog 'lyla loves fashion' (www.lylalovesfashion.com). in honor of 'lyla loves fashion' turning one, i was asked to create a revampped banner for her website. it was a very stressful process, making sure the final artwork suits the feel & vision of the site. but in the end, we put both our heads together, & came up with what i think is a successful, elegant solution. i hope i made lyla proud...