Recently Ejaz Galleries, Lahore, presented distinguished artist Saeed Akhtar’s solo exhibition of drawings and sketches encompassing over 150 works on paper in graphite, pastel and charcoal. For Akhtar, drawing from life has been an essential tool of exploration in preparation for his oil paintings. This show, a comprehensive collection of his work spanning the last five years, has also been suitably documented in a volume simply titled, Sketchbook: Saeed Akhtar. The book launch accompanied the inauguration of the exhibition.

The pages of artists’ sketchbooks are often thought to be the artist’s most original work, reflective of their creative genius. Sketches, needing little surface preparation, enable artists to quickly visualise their ethereal thoughts through the direct application of drawing media. Revealing feelings, influences and interests—the artist's inner emotional state and development, the resulting drawings are often very lively and expressive.

The uncanny ability to capture the models emotive expression through nuances in facial contours and features, especially the eyes as well as body language, is a hallmark of Akhtar’s portrayals. Intuitive, fluid and appropriate, his linear synchronisation speaks of an experienced observer deeply in communion with his subject and his personal skills of rendering the seen image in his specific mannerism. Having a penchant for melodramatic effects the artist often indulges in linear sweeps and flourishes to amplify or overstate his imagery. Here he traverses from the real towards the surreal, which is yet another distinct dimension of his oeuvre. A holder of Presidents Award for Pride of Performance and fellow of the National College of Arts, Akhtar is among our master artists.

In the foreword penned by Zahra Khalid Mirza for Akhtar’s Sketchbook, we gain some revealing insights about the artist—she writes:

“Poised, treacherous, alluring and flowing; Saeed Akhtar’s recent sketches seem to have been meditatively drawn. The energy in these works screams that the pencil in his hand is like a warrior’s sword.

“The subjects are engaging; piercing through the eyes looking right at you or turned away blackened into oblivion. The pencil has moved with part guidance and part intention. It pulls you in with an intrusive stare of the fiercely drawn turban of the bearded man (a deliberate inner-self rendition of a portrait…) questioning whatever secrets one may have guarded well. The technique is authoritative and free…

Answering interview questions, iconic artist Akhtar comments briefly on the Sketchbook and the nature of his art practice.

Can you describe the contents of Saeed Akhtar: Sketchbook? How did the idea of compiling sketches into a formal volume evolve?

I wanted to show the process through which a painter goes from a scribble to the final product. No painter has shown this early stage of his work. I wanted to guide the viewer into my thought process from a small sketch to the final painting.

Your oeuvre has centralised on portraiture (formal, informal and self-imaging) and a vast reservoir of fantasy art. Which of the two genres have you found the most rewarding?

Portraiture is not the total image; it is just one small portion of the image. People work from models or photographs, whereas I don’t. I use myself sometimes as reference for my paintings. Then I design and compose my paintings and it is a part of the whole.

I started my career from the figure, not portraiture. That is only a part of the whole picture. I love to exaggerate the contours of the body and facial expression.

How does a consummate draftsman and an accomplished painter like you view the current new generation art?

The youth of today are evolving their own techniques in miniature painting and sculpture. They experiment and express themselves in new ways and dimensions. They are creating which is a process of learning. You must go through the basics to grow from a beginner into a master artist.

What advice would you like to pass onto the young painters of today?

My whole process is my message for the youth of today.