PESHAWAR: A promising teenage artist believes that art can serve as the best way of human expression as different colours represent various human faculties.

Born with a flair for art, Hasnain Anwar, a resident of Bannu district, is a student of 10th grade at a school in Peshawar. He has recently won a prize for his artwork in an art competition.

He has a tight study routine but still he takes out time to pick up brush, colours and begin painting the image of a person he likes the most or draws out a beautiful natural scene on his small canvas while his roommates are out to play sports.

Hasnain Anwar regrets art is not being taught as compulsory subject in schools

Talking to this scribe, Anwar regretted that art was not being taught as compulsory subject at school level that was tantamount to blocking the creativity of students.

He said that at times it became difficult for him to give proper time to his artwork amidst hectic assignments, tests and class presentations.

“My teachers call me a careless learner and even scold me for being a sleepy guy but in fact I critically analyse everything the teachers teach and unless I am sure of what its meaning, I don’t give the false impression that I understand it,” he added.

Anwar said that he believed that things should not be taken for granted. “I think art has given me this feeling,” he added.

The teenage artist said that he had drawn inspiration from his art teacher while in first grade and had since then great interest in landscape, natural scenes and human portraits using charcoal, pencil and even pen.

He said that his uncle encouraged him to continue drawing images on simple canvas and also used internet to study how artists made use of different mediums to portray nature, human feelings and landscapes on a medium size canvas.

Anwar said that across much of the world, autumn or fall remained the most beautiful time of the year with trees glistening with gold, red, yellow and orange. He said that turning of the season had inspired artists for centuries with many painters also using it as an opportunity to contemplate the themes of change and decay.

He said that great artists had always come up with some of the finest and most unique portrayals of autumn in the history of art.

Noted artist Pir Hamid said that Anwar was a promising young artist but required training. He said he had been through his artworks recently and found it wonderful and fresh.

“The most unfortunate thing is that in the entire academic session, not a single art display or exhibition is ever organised at any school in the province except a few ones. Most even are unaware of the significance of the world of colours and brush,” said the artist.

About his future plans, the teenage artist said he would opt for architectural engineering as career in future because he liked mathematics the most compared to other subjects.

“I am of the opinion that art is the best way for expressing human feelings. When I sit down for painting an image, my tension gets released. I love autumn season and give close attention to minute detail of its various colours sprinkled through falling leaves and decay,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2018