Loving Oman!
finishing with vibrant colours.”
The ‘World Map’ series, through which she aims to go global, will be her first-ever attempt at making large piece quilling. She is used to making small pieces between 15 cm x15 cm up to A4 sizes. It will be her impression of the world map rather than an accurate map showing each country.
Anyone can learn quilling for fun, she says, but however, in order to create excellent quality artwork, it requires patience, precision and persistence.
Quilling as a hobby overcomes depression and makes one focus while playing with colourful paper strips, she mentions. Papers used are easily accessible materials and are affordable but not intimidating.
She is busy trying to re-create World Map using quilling techniques but using different shapes, lines and series. Calling it a ‘dream project,’ and the largest in terms of size (about 45 cm x 60 cm). The World Map uses will involve different perspectives on the world map.
“It is my hope that in future, this will be featured in major galleries in the Sultanate,” she gleefully wishes.
Fairus is also enthusiastic about the 36-days of type challenge run by a group of graphic artists based in Barcelona, Spain. It is an open call inviting designers, illustrators and visual artists to share their views on letters and numbers. Run once a year, for 36 days (one letter per number each day), it is now in its fifth year running.
The participants have increased over the years and have helped upcoming and inspiring artists of all medium to build their reputation online.
The most creative works will be re-posted on their Instagram handle (36 Days of Type) which becomes source of ‘reference’ for other designers. Her work on letter ‘R’ was selected during this year’s challenge.
Her next big step is to commercialise her artwork and actively seeks an agency which understands this niche looking out for opportunities and collaboration. She aims to gain recognition as a handmade illustration artist for commercial purposes.
‘An amazing piece of art will never fail to imprint a lasting memory,’ she adds as now all images or illustrations are done digitally. ‘While digital illustration is all about limitless imagination, tactile illustration is gaining interests as it can evoke our senses,’ which is a powerful tool in delivering messages.
Presently, Fairus is busy working on corporate projects on a series of botanical plants and installation arts involving jumbo size paper flowers. A reinsurance professional turned entrepreneur, she moved to the Sultanate from Bahrain two years back.