PESHAWAR: Ismail Khan, a young truck artist from Shahqabool Colony in Peshawar, has come up with innovative paintings on crockery and other household items to counter Covid-19 lockdown to earn living for his extended family.

Although he holds a government job in Peshawar Museum from where he draws a meagre salary, yet he also used to do truck art in second time to support his large family. However, a year ago Covid-19 lockdown forced him to find other source of income.

“This is the first ever miniature truck art work on household things. I have learnt truck art from my uncle. I want to transfer this wonderful art to youth, who are interested. I have done a lot of work for youth affairs department and wish to do more,” Ismail Khan told this scribe.

He said that one day he thought to himself how could he transfer his truck art to household things and the idea proved to be an instant success as took up brush and colours and decorated a dinner set with truck art paintings and gifted it to his sister where her in-laws and other relatives appreciated him a lot.

“The news of truck art paintings travelled up to the top class officials of provincial archaeology, youth affairs and culture department. They uploaded photos of my paintings and even gifted my art pieces to the Canadian and Chinese ambassadors. It is a matter of pride for me. Presently I am working on an art piece in fact a circular shield showing 70 years of Pak-China friendship. I would love to present it to China Embassy in Islamabad,” the young artist said.

He said that earlier he used to gift his artworks to his friends and relatives but then he started selling it out to support his family. Truck paintings on tea and dinner set fetched him Rs1,500 to Rs3,000 depending on the quality stuff being used and it took him several hours to decorate a single piece, he added.

Ismail Khan said that he completed artwork on 500 cups, plates, kettles, bread ports and bowls that could be displayed in drawing rooms and offices. Most paintings were reflective of local landscapes, flora and fauna, he said. Also he used simple kitchen pots and cupboards and even cauldrons and tables and car wheels for truck art paintings.

“I want culture department to help me in marking my art on social media and setting up an outlet in the city so that art lovers could place their orders as my art is getting popular even abroad with the passing of time. I have miniature trucks and auto-rickshaws done with truck art paintings,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2021