For my birthday, I was treated to a lovely surprise: a mixed-media class with Zainab Dhoon and a few special friends.
Mixed media has always been one of my favorite ways to create. There is a freedom in bringing different materials together and simply seeing where they lead. That day, we worked with acrylic paint on canvas and added touches of rubber-stamp art. I had originally planned to make coasters, but somewhere along the way, the idea changed. I decided to frame the pieces instead and used the leftover canvas to create a small mosaic to add to the finished work. Waste not, want not.
This came during a particularly trying time in my life. Spending those few hours with friends, playing with paint, patterns, and scraps of canvas, helped more than I could have imagined. Sometimes creativity does not solve what we are going through, but it gives us a little breathing room. It allows the mind to rest and reminds us of the comfort found in friendship, laughter, and making something with our hands.
Many thanks to Zainab Dhoon, Nisrin Shahmalak, The Cake Stop ZB, and Ammu for making the day so special.