DAY IN THE LIFE: Artistic expressions

Fatema Qureish, a paper quilling artist and the founder Amathus Arts in Karen in a Picturer taken on April 18,2016. PHOTO| EVANS HABIL

What you need to know:

  • Cards are my easiest sells. “Art is a medium of expression and anything I make is usually a reflection of my thoughts, perceptions and my inner self. Each of my workdays depends on where I am in life at that moment.

  • Sometimes I am inspired and others I am not. “Passion is one thing that an artist needs. The other is self-discipline. It is easy to learn various types of paper art like 3D origami, punch craft or tea bag art.

“Art was my first love. It is both a form of expression and a way of life. I was exposed to many forms of art while growing up in Mombasa, but I fell in love with paper quilling because of its unique elegance and delicacy.

My job involves coiling manila paper and using these coils to make three-dimensional artwork.

I have been paper quilling for the last decade. “I am up every morning at 5 to do some art before the rest of the family gets up.  After seeing my children off to school, I get on with my day.

Other than the artwork that I create and sell, I teach paper quilling to children. I currently have students at four schools. Unlike adults, I have observed that children catch on pretty fast. All is not lost though, I have older students. My oldest is 56.

“While Kenyans are slowly catching onto paper art, my biggest challenges as a paper quilling artist is justifying my pricing. I sell my miniature three-dimensional items for up to Sh5, 000 and my customers do not understand why. After all, it is just manila paper

to them. A lot of people do not appreciate the time nor the effort it takes to make the intricate coils which are then glued together to make particular shapes. Some designs take up to two weeks to complete.

Cards are my easiest sells. “Art is a medium of expression and anything I make is usually a reflection of my thoughts, perceptions and my inner self. Each of my workdays depends on where I am in life at that moment.

Sometimes I am inspired and others I am not. “Passion is one thing that an artist needs. The other is self-discipline. It is easy to learn various types of paper art like 3D origami, punch craft or tea bag art.

To become good at it such that you are able to sell your artwork, on the other hand, requires constant practice.  “My workday usually ends in the late afternoon when I take off the artist hat and put on the mother one.

After tucking my little ones in bed, I have another hour or two of paper quilling. To bring out the creativity in me, I have to keep trying new techniques. I have to keep challenging myself.

“In addition to wood, bone and steel which are the main raw materials for Kenyan artists today, I hope for a time when more artists will use paper as a raw material.

Owing to our liberal adoption of new types of art and adaption to contemporary art dynamics, I believe that this dream will come true. I live for the day that the world will acknowledge and accept paper for its artistic expression.”