5th August 2024
Interview with Rimsha Atif
We love interviewing artists around the world and this month we sat down with Rimsha Atif, a semi-realism artist from Pakistan.
Rimsha Atif is a self-taught artist from Pakistan, specialising in semi-realistic oil paintings. Art has been her passion since childhood, she used to draw a lot and wanted to go to art school, but life took her on a different path and she got an MBBS degree. Now after completing her education, she is a full-time professional artist.
She started her professional career back in 2020 and started posting on social media, she painted with acrylics first and then switched to oil paints. She started selling and doing commissions in 2021, and since then she has been selling her paintings worldwide.
What inspired you to pick up a brush and start painting?
I have been an artsy person since always when I was a kid I used to draw a lot, as I grew up I got inspired by the famous artists we all admire, i used to search art and artists and see the work of living artists. I always wanted to paint to express my feelings, to create something I can call my own. The beauty of life and nature inspires me and I wanted to capture this beauty in my paintings.
When did your love of art start? Did you always want to be an artist?
Yes, I always wanted to be a full-time artist. My love of art was born with me but the person behind starting my real art journey and reaching the point where I am now is my best friend Rimsha Nasir, who really saw the artist in me and not only supported my art with just words but actions. When you have a person like this in your life, everything is possible.
What would be your advice for new artists just starting up?
I would advise them that always start from the basics, and have a strong grasp on all the basic elements of drawing, painting and colour theory. It will help a lot in your improvement. Don’t rush yourself into making the perfect art, embrace your mistakes, learn from them, and believe in yourself. And most importantly, don’t compare your journey to any other artist. You are unique.
What is the best tip you were told early in your career?
“Your focus should be to improve your skills, all other things are secondary, paint what YOU love, and you will find your people who resonate with you”
How has social media helped your career?
Actually, it helped a lot. Social media helped me to grow my community, to show my art to the world and to find people who love similar ideas as mine. Most of my art has found its new home through social media.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
The emotions we feel in different events of life that help us grow, influence me. My art depicts these emotions as beautiful figures or landscapes.
What is your favourite Daler-Rowney product and why?
Daler-Rowney artist oil paints and Georgian oil brushes are my favorite. These oils are so pigmented, rich in colour and intensity, I love to paint with these and it’s combination with Georgian oil brushes feels like therapy, the brushes leave beautiful brush marks and strokes and are so high quality. I love the texture it gives to my art. These are my go-to materials whenever I need to paint a high-quality art piece.
What is a technique that you haven't tried yet that you would love to try & why?
Impasto. The beautiful paintings of Van Gogh fascinate me. I love those thick textures solely using oil paints, would love to try this technique and create a unique original of my own.
Explore Rimsha's work further here.
