I’m a self-taught artist based in Surrey, British Columbia and lived here all my life.

Ever since I was a young boy I’ve always had a passion for art. I remember fondly gazing at all the different signs for shops, billboards on street corners, and local advertisements when I went for drives with my parents. I grew up with an appreciation for all kinds of art. Even when I would watch cartoons I focused on the artwork of the characters and each scene’s setup more than the show’s plotline.

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I grew up with a stutter and that had a big impact on my love affair with art. The fact that you could convey emotions, ideas, memories, and even inspire people without saying a word intrigued me. I started discovering different ways to express my thoughts and ideas which blew me away. Instead of struggling to explain something, I could just show someone what was going on in my head. Communication was hard at times, however, through art, my stutter was now less of an obstacle.

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There were periods in my life where I preferred not to talk to anyone and all I wanted to do is bury myself in my sketchbook. I struggled with my stutter for years and still have issues with it today. However, I’ve learned to accept it and not let it be the reason why I keep to myself. Those memories of growing up will never fade and I continue to use them as inspiration to push myself to grow and develop. In some ways I see my stutter as a gift as without it, I would never have found my love for art.

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Over the years, I have been exposed to many different types of artwork. In elementary school I was often exposed to Arabic calligraphy.  There was a hall which was ornamented with calligraphy and when I first saw it displayed I was amazed. I asked my elementary school Vice-principal, Imam Zijad Delic, how the display was done and he explained to me that he had done the work himself by hand. From that point on, I have spent time learning the craft of Arabic calligraphy.

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The real beauty of art is that you can combine two or more cultures into one piece of artwork. Learning to find balance in my work is something that I work at everyday and is something I hope to master.  Obtaining the perfect harmony in a piece can only be done with time.

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I’ve tried to experiment with as many different types of art media as possible. As you get to use different types of platforms you slowly start to understand what works best for you. I’ve experimented with clay, wood, pencils, paints, pastels, and various other mediums. More recently, I have been drawn to acrylic and spray paint.

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My values root from my faith. Without them I don’t think I could stand apart from other artists. Some say that my faith restricts me with a shackled point of view. However, I don’t feel like my faith limits in any way. I feel that my faith has helped me become stronger as a person and I’ve grown as an artist because of my experiences. For me, my faith provides discipline for my skills and it challenges my creativity. Our roots help us find our way back home which is important, as home, is where our inspiration is first sparked. If I lose my way back home then we’ve lost what inspired me in the first place.