Amman — Visual artist Nour Sarhan begins her work from reality, from the scenes and details she sees around her, but she doesn't transfer them to the canvas as they are. She selects from the scene what serves her idea, then rearranges and redistributes the elements to present a new image, one that carries the features of reality while also opening up room for imagination.
اضافة اعلان
Sarhan earned a double-major degree in Japanese language and anthropology from Massey University in New Zealand, a course of study combining an interest in language and culture with the study of humans and societies.
This diversity is reflected in her artistic practice, which approaches a scene and its details from more than one angle, alongside the variety of media she uses in her work, from pencil, oil, watercolor, pastel, and colored pencil drawing, to digital art using "Photoshop" and "Clip Studio."
Throughout her artistic journey, Sarhan has taken part in numerous group exhibitions and art symposiums, which allowed her to engage with different practices and styles, and continue developing her own approach and searching for new ways to present her ideas visually.
In her practice, the idea comes first, and from there the process of building the painting begins. She may start from a familiar scene, but she studies it and identifies the elements that can help her express what she wants, then rearranges them within the composition. As a result, the painting isn't a copy of the original scene, but a new vision of it.
Sarhan told Al Ghad: "For me, realism begins with observing details, but it doesn't end there. What matters to me is capturing the light that creates the scene, the shadow that gives it depth, and the relationship between elements, then reshaping all of that through the painting."
She explained that the work doesn't always proceed in the same way the idea began, as some details may change during the painting process, and a need may arise to adjust certain areas or rearrange elements.
She said: "Sometimes I start with a clear idea, then I discover while working that the painting needs adjustment or a change in certain areas, so I let the work itself guide me toward the result."
The technique of oil painting helps her make these adjustments, as it allows her to work on the painting more than once, adding layers or thinning others, until she reaches the composition she feels suits the idea.
Sarhan doesn't see "fantasy" as meaning a departure from reality, but rather finds it in the way a scene can be reconstructed. She may start from realistic, familiar elements, but change their positions and relationships within the painting, giving them new visual meaning.
Light and shadow are among the elements she uses in building the work, and in determining the presence of shapes and details.
She said: "I'm always searching for the light source within the painting, because light is what reveals details and determines the presence of things. Sometimes a small touch of a light color is enough to highlight an entire area, while a dark tone can give a form its weight and depth."
She treats shadow as part of the scene's composition, not merely a dark area, explaining: "For me, shadow is another color, not a black space. I try to search within it for different shades, because real shadows carry colors and effects resulting from the surrounding environment."
Building the painting requires continuous review, as Sarhan returns to areas and elements more than once, watching their relationships to one another before settling on the final form.
She said: "I return to an area more than once, adding a layer, thinning another, and watching how the relationship between elements changes until I feel the composition has become balanced."
Sarhan makes sure that every detail within the painting serves the idea; she doesn't add an element just to fill space, but looks for the relationship that ties it to the other elements. Through this approach, the realistic scene becomes the starting point from which she moves toward a freer composition.
Her vision isn't limited to developing her own practice; she sees art as a means of influencing others, and giving them room for hope and creativity.
She said in this regard that she hopes, through her art, to spark creativity in others, and to give them a feeling of hope that lifts their spirits, just as many artists whose work left a mark on her own character did, and she sees her role now as passing that light on to others.
Sarhan closed by saying: "I always try to start with a clear idea, then look for the way I can present it visually. I don't want to convey reality as it is, but to reshape it in a way that gives the viewer a chance to see it from a different angle. For me, 'fantasy' doesn't mean moving away from reality, but discovering new possibilities within it."
Resource: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Ahmad Al-Shawabkeh
