birthday giggles

portrait . 2022

it's that time again – i'm a year older, a year wiser. i decided to take a break from posting about ongoing projects to share with you an illustration of myself laughing hysterically on the verge of passing out! for those who know me, this is a very common state to find me in after hearing or watching something i find hilarious. i am easily humoured, and i'm truly blessed for all the laughter in my life, finding the brighter side to this sometimes sad and heavy world. i hope i continue to be this way, and have the right people surrounding me to join in on the laughs!

on this birthday, i'd like to give thanks to all the blessings that have come my way through the years. i'm really grateful for everything this life has given me so far, and count my blessings all the time. my only birthday wish this year is that whoever reads this takes the opportunity to offer a lending hand and provide some joy to others. whether it's through charities, donations, or however you see fit, i hope you can offer some sort of help to individuals and communities that are in need...

happy birthday to me! hope it'll be a good one inshallah...

fun to the finish

sun and sand sports illustration . 2022

taking a break from sharing 2021 projects to sharing my first project of 2022! i was approached by sun and sand sports to work on an illustration inspired by their new retail store in dubai mall. sun and sand sports is probably the oldest sports/active wear store in the emirates. growing up in dubai, i've made multiple stops to their stores with family to buy brand new sneakers for school or funky tees to include in my young boy wardrobe! it's amazing that it is still standing strong after 40+ years – an achievement in a place that's constantly changing, and things close as they are unable to keep up with the times. 

i'm really proud to be a part of this journey in some small, illustrative way. the final illustration appropriates the vibrant feel and branding of the new store, but also riffs off my memories and interactions with the store in the '90s. another observation is how it also resembles their original logo from the 1980s which i wasn't even referencing (see here)! i must've opened some dormant memory in my brain while working on this...

i'm really happy with the end result. congratulations sun and sand sports on the new store and on 4 decades of success #funtothefinish

sun and sand sports dubai mall store (visual mood board) . 2022