WRINKLED OLD SOUL: Portrait of a Pakistani beggar by Abeera Atique.

As part of its art festival during Autumn 2009, Desert Designs in Alkhobar is hosting a solo show by artist Abeera Atique (www.abeeraatique.com). The exhibition opens tonight at 6:30 p.m. and runs through Nov. 10 at the Desert Designs Gallery (www.desertdesigns.com). All are welcome and entrance is free.

Atique is well known in the Eastern Province as she is the chairman of the Fine Arts Department of the International Schools Group (ISG). She is also the organizer of the annual charity art show sponsored by ISG to benefit Habitat for Humanity. A Pakistani National, Atique’s work is a combination of the Asian and Arab influences she has encountered in her daily life. She has worked for the last year to prepare for this exhibition and will be showing some unusual techniques in the hope of inspiring others in the community.

“I have made a series on the Mughal Empire. It is eight paintings done on wooden panels. Tea treated paper and semi-precious jewels are used in the series to give an ancient, rich feel to the paintings,” Atique explained. “I have also done about a dozen copper etchings. These are metal plates treated with Nitric Acid to get a two dimensional carving. Once completed, the metal sheets are welded to acrylic sheets to provide stability. The method used is very difficult but produces excellent results.”

Atique has painted a selection of portraits, many of elderly subjects. She enjoys painting older people because, “They have so many wrinkles on their faces and each wrinkle tells you a story. There is a lifetime of experience and wisdom in each portrait.” The last grouping in the show is made up of large paintings created with printing inks. “These have some great textures,” said Atique. “Each painting was done within four hours on an acrylic sheet. Then a printer rolling machine was used in order to get the print out before the ink dried.”

In addition to her paintings, Atique has been the illustrator for several books published by Barnes and Noble. Tonight, for the show opening, the books will be on display and the book authors will be available to discuss the process of bringing a book into print.

For those who are on the lookout for art at an excellent value, it should be noted that the prices for the paintings in the Atique’s show are very reasonable, starting at SR300.

“I keep my prices low because I don’t want my house to be piled up with works as I produce more paintings each year with new ideas,”

Atique said. “Art keeps me going. It takes away my stress and reduces the anxieties that are a normal part of life. I thank Allah for giving me this love for art as had it not been for it, I would have often felt lonely. But thanks to this talent, I know I will always have a way to share myself with others.”