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Rubab, robab or rabab is a lute-like musical instrument originating from central Afghanistan. The rubab is mainly used by Pashtun, Tajik, Turkish, Kashmiri, Baluch, Azerbaijani, and Iranian Kurdish classical musicians. Rubab is one of the national musical instruments of Afghanistan. It has proliferated throughout West, Central, South and Southeast Asia.

A Brief History of Rubab

The rubab is known as "the lion of instruments" and is one of the two national instruments of Afghanistan. Classical Afghan music often features this instrument as a key component. Elsewhere it is known as the Kabuli rebab. In appearance, the Kabuli rubab looks slightly different from the Indian rubab. It is the ancestor of the South Asian sarod, though — unlike the sarod — it is a fretted instrument.

How Does A Rubab Work?

Rubab is a string instrument with three main strings which are made of goat intestine or nylon. As shown in the video the body is made of a single piece of wood carved hollow to make the sound chamber which is covered with a membrane. It also has 13 metal strings which are rarely used in playing songs. These extra strings help in producing the unique sound of the three main strings.

CATF’s depiction of Rubab

CATF has managed to recreate the majestic aura of this historic musical instrument in its artworks. Visit our gallery on Pashtun/Afghan culture today and get acquainted with the remarkable rubab.

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What is Attan?
Attan is a form of dance that originated in Afghanistan. Attan began as a folk dance conducted by Pashtuns in times of war or during weddings or other celebrations (engagements, new year, and informal gatherings). It is now considered the national dance of Afghanistan.
Attan as part of the Pashtun Culture
The performance of Attan dance in the open air has long been customary in the Pashtun culture and is carried by all Pashtuns, of all ethnic groups.Attan is a special type of dance performed by a troupe of 50 to 100 dancers who wave red scarves in the air while musicians beat drums. This dance is common among the Pashtuns and is promoted as the national dance of Afghanistan.
What is the attire for Attan?
Performers often wear traditional regalia when participating in the lively dance. For men, the pakol (a thick wool hat) is usually worn, as well as a waskata (thick wool vest).Usually during the celebratory occasions, men can also be seen wearing suits and ties for a more formal look. The women can be found wearing bright, colorful dresses. These dresses can be accompanied with tiny mirrors on them which are said to symbolize light. The tiny mirrors add great detail and shine under the lights as the women move and dance.
What are the different types and styles of Attan?
The Attan is performed differently in many of the different Pashtun tribes. Some styles of Attan portray themes of war while others portray celebration, especially for events such as marriage, engagements, family gatherings and also as a prelude to the arrival of spring.
All different kinds of Attan are danced with the beats of the drums. However they all differ in style. The beater of the drum known as "Dum", who instantaneously change the rhythm, is circled by the performers.
CATF’s depiction of Attan
Visit our Pashtun gallery today and check out our � Attan Artworks’ depicting the wholesome glory and vibrancy of this lively, traditional dance.

CATF is noted for its diverse range of art styles and techniques which it embodies in its rich and aesthetically diverse gamut of art. From expressionism to impressionism, our strokes appeal to the tastes of all art connoisseurs.

Many art lovers out there may be well acquainted with expressionism and impressionism, however post-impressionism is still a novelty for those newbies who have just stepped into the world of colors and hues. This article would be elaborating upon the movement of post-impressionism, its nuances and everything that it entails.

What Is Post- Impressionism?

Post-impressionism wasn’t a formal art style or a movement. Rather, the Post Impressionists were a few independent artists at the end of the 19th century who rebelled against the limitations of Impressionism. They developed a range of personal styles that focused on the emotional, structural, symbolic and spiritual elements that they felt were missing from Impressionism. Their combined contributions form the artistic roots of modern art for the next eighty years.

What is “Post” in Post- Impressionism?

Impressionism was the first movement in the canon of modern art. Like most revolutionary styles it was gradually absorbed into the mainstream and its limitations became frustrating to the succeeding generation. Artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Paul CĂ©zanne, Paul Gauguin and Georges Seurat, although steeped in the traditions of Impressionism, pushed the boundaries of the style in different creative directions and in doing so laid the foundations for the art of the 20th century. Their name was derived from the title of the exhibition 'Manet and the Post-Impressionists' which was organized in London by the English artist and critic Roger Fry in the winter of 1910-11. For historical convenience these artists have been labeled as Post Impressionists but, apart from their Impressionist influence, they don't have that much in common.

CATF and Post- Impressionism

CATF encompasses both impressionist and post-impressionist strokes in its artworks. Our post-impressionist artworks are a manifestation of the artists’ free and creative exploration of his/her mind. These artworks openly evoke emotions and their realistic bent is considerably limited.

Visit our gallery today to check out these multiple and varied post-impressionist symbolic motifs, unnatural colors and painterly brush strokes.

What is Contemporary Art?

Strictly speaking, the term "contemporary art" refers to art made and produced by artists living today. Today's artists work in and respond to a global environment that is culturally diverse, technologically advancing, and multifaceted.

What are the themes of contemporary art?

Working in a wide range of mediums, contemporary artists often reflect and comment on modern-day society. When engaging with contemporary art, viewers are challenged to set aside questions such as, "Is a work of art good?" or "Is the work aesthetically pleasing?" Instead, viewers consider whether art is "challenging" or "interesting." Contemporary artists may question traditional ideas of how art is defined, what constitutes art, and how art is made, while creating a dialogue with—and in some cases rejecting—the styles and movements that came before them.

Contemporary Art And Its Tendency For Abstraction

Since the early 20th century, some artists have turned away from realistic representation and the depiction of the human figure, and have moved increasingly towards abstraction. In New York City after World War II, the art world coined the term "abstract expressionism" to characterize an art movement that was neither completely abstract, nor expressionistic. Nevertheless, the movement challenged artists to place more emphasis on the process of making art rather than the final product. Artists like Jackson Pollock brought art-making to choreographic heights by dripping paint in grand yet spontaneous gestures. As one critic noted, the canvas was an arena in which to act—"what was going on in the canvas was not a picture but an event." This notion of art as an event emerged out of the movement called abstract expressionism, which greatly influenced the art movements that followed, and continues to inspire artists living today.

Contemporary Art and Artistic Minimalism

Contemporary artists working within the postmodern movement reject the concept of mainstream art and embrace the notion of "artistic pluralism," the acceptance of a variety of artistic intentions and styles. Whether influenced by or grounded in performance art, pop art, Minimalism, conceptual art, or video, contemporary artists pull from an infinite variety of materials, sources, and styles to create art.

CATF and Contemporary Art

CATF and its panel of incredibly talented artists work hard to bring forth the best of contemporary art in multiple mediums, styles, strokes and hues.
Visit our website today to check out our artworks.
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Dubai’s Tallest Skyline

All you have to do is approach Dubai from the desert and you’ll come across the mightily photogenic skyline of Dubai with its gleaming skyscrapers shimmering like a mirage. Dubai’s architectural achievements symbolize the emirate’s arrival as a great commercial center and a modern city.

Dubai now has the world’s tallest building (the Burj Khalifa at 828m); the tallest hotel (the JW Marriott Marquis at 355m) and the tallest residential building (the Princess Tower at 413m).

It also has the greatest number of buildings standing at over 300m—18 in all, with 10 in construction—and that makes its skyline taller than Manhattan’s or Hong Kong’s or Chicago’s.

The Aesthetic Appeal of Dubai’s Skyline

However, Dubai doesn’t merely stand tall in the height contest. The design and appearance of its skyline provide an aesthetic aura that conjures up something quite distinctive to Dubai and exciting about the Arabian Gulf.

Many of Dubai’s skyscrapers are adorned with variants of traditional Arabic design, such as the mashrabiya, a screen for shade and for privacy, while others have distinctive geometric properties.

CATF and Dubai Skyline

CATF has captured this distinctively aesthetic aura of Dubai’s skyline in its various artworks. Our artworks portray one of the world’s architectural wonders in all its majestic glory in a splurge of colors and strokes.

Visit our gallery today to check these out.

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What is a Zellige?

Zellige is mosaic tilework made from individually chiseled geometric tiles set into a plaster base. This form of Islamic art is one of the main characteristics of Moroccan architecture. It consists of geometrically patterned mosaics, used to ornament walls, ceilings, fountains, floors, pools and tables.

Where did Zellige originate from?

The Moorish art of zellige flourished during the Hispano-Moresque period of the Maghreb and the area known as Al-Andalus (modern day Spain) between 711-1492. The technique was highly developed during the Nasrid dynasty and Merinid dynasty who gave it more importance around the 14th century and introduced blue, green and yellow colours. Red was added in the 17th century. The old enamels with the natural colours were used until the beginning of the 20th century and the colours had probably not evolved much since the period of Merinids. The cities of Fes and Meknes in Morocco, remain the centers of this art.

Zellige and Islamic history

Patrons of the art used zellige historically to decorate their homes as a statement of luxury and the sophistication of the inhabitants. Zellige is typically a series of patterns utilizing colourful geometric patterns. This framework of expression arose from the need of Islamic artists to create spatial decorations that avoided depictions of living things, consistent with the teachings of Islamic law.

Evolution of Zellige

As the colour palette of the zellige tiles increased over the centuries, it became possible to multiply the compositions ad infinitum. The most current form of the zellige is a square. Other forms are possible: the octagon combined with a cabochon, a star, a cross, etc. It is then moulded with a thickness of approximately 2 centimetres. There are simple squares of 10 by 10 centimeters or with the corners cut to be combined with a coloured cabochon. To pave an area, bejmat, a paving stone of 15 by 5 centimetres approximately and 2 centimetres thick, can also be used.

Zellige and CATF

CATF has depicted this ancient and rich form of Islamic art in its deluxe paintings. Check out zellige in all its magnificence today at 1-catf.pixels.com

Many people have a love/hate relationship with the ever-bustling (Istiklal Street or Istiklal Avenue – İstiklal Caddesi in Turkish) that runs from Taksim Square nearly all the way to the landmark Galata Tower. Although it is the beating heart of the city, the three million people that pass it every day, can make it rather challenging to traverse. Yet it serves as a microcosm of Istanbul itself and although chains and fast food joints are starting to edge out the more old fashioned shops, there’s still traces of old Istanbul here.

Why is Istiklal Street So Popular?

Aside from the obvious Istiklal Street shopping opportunities, there are many other Istiklal Street attractions. For instance, its historic cinemas (like Atlas, Beyoglu), historical passages (like Hazzopulo, Suriye and Çiçek), churches (St Antoine, Santa Maria), consulate buildings, and innovative art galleries (SALT Beyoğlu, ARTER and the Mısır Apartments), as well as stunning examples of 19th century Neo Classical and Art Nouveau architecture to admire.

Istiklal Street- From the Caliphate to the Republic

Known as the Cadde-i Kebir (Grand Avenue) during the Ottoman period, when it attracted an intellectual crowd, it later became the place to stroll for the French Levantines, who knew it as the Grand Rue de Pera. It became Ä°stiklal Caddesi (Independence Street) following the creation of the Republic of Turkey.

CATF and Istiklal Street

CATF has portrayed Istiklal Avenue in all its bustling glory in multiple artworks. These paintings depict the avenue’s historical significance as well as its contemporary vitality in a fresh concoction of colors and strokes.

Visit our gallery today to revivify your appetite for aestheticism with these astounding artworks.

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( Bibliographic Source: Peter Somer Travels)


From shadow puppetry to wandering minstrels, village dances to Ottoman military music, folk traditions pervade all areas and levels of Turkish life. Here’s a very brief introduction to a rich cultural legacy that stretches back hundreds of years.

Folk Dances

Each region in Turkey has its own special folk dances and costumes. Here are some of the most popular.
“Horon” – This Black Sea dance is performed by men only, dressed in black with silver trimmings. The dancers link arms and quiver to the vibrations of the “kemence” (a primitive kind of violin).

“Kasik Oyunu” – The Spoon Dance is performed from Konya to Silifke and consists of gaily dressed male and female dancers �clicking’ out the dance rhythm with a pair of wooden spoons in each hand.

�’Kilic Kalkan” – The Sword and Shield Dance of Bursa represents the Ottoman conquest of the city. It is performed by men only, in Ottoman battle-dress, who dance to the sound of clashing swords and shields, without music.

“ Zeybek” – In this Aegean dance colourful male dancers, called “efe”, symbolize courage and heroism.

Folk Music

Lively Turkish folk music, which originated on the steppes of Central Asia, marks a complete contrast to the refined Turkish classical music of the Ottoman court. Until recently folk music was generally not written down, instead the traditions have been kept alive for generations by “asiklar” (troubadours and storyteller poets – in the same way that many ancient Greek myths survived until written up by Homer etc.)

Distinct from folk music is the old Ottoman military music, now performed by the “mehter takimi’’ (Janissary Band) in Istanbul, which beats out the rhythm of war, and is played with kettle drums, clarinets, cymbals, and bells. The mystical music of the Whirling Dervishes (“Mevleviler”) is dominated by the haunting reed pipe or “ney”, and can be heard in Konya during the Mevlana Festival in December.

CATF and Turkish Folk Culture

CATF has portrayed Turkey’s folk culture in all its vibrant colors in multiple artworks. These artworks stand out owing to their fresh assemblage of colors, strokes and hues conjugated with their traditional ambiance.

Visit our gallery today to check out Turkish Folk Culture as depicted in CATF’s paintings.

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Seen from a distance you might think that it’s just a tower, a little tower at that. Located 35 meters above sea level with its nine floors, the tower is 67 metres high. Built in 1348 It was destroyed, rebuilt, restored, decorated with a dome and here it stands a magnificent vantage point across the city and Bosphorus. There are thousands of stories about the tower. The legend goes that a man named Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi built himself golden eagle wings and sprang from the tower, gliding all the way to Üsküdar on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. According to the legend his brother did the trip in reverse in a rocket filled with gunpowder. Eminent university researchers have tried to demonstrate the
impossibility of these flights but the legend lives on.


After the Republic, Galata Tower was restored and opened to the public in 1967. The tower houses a cafeteria on top, there was also a night club which is closed down after the last restoration in 2013. A couple of elevators will take you up but there are still three more floors to climb by stairs to get on the panoramic terrace which is 52 meters above the ground. A small souvenir shop is located inside the tower just across the ticket office at the entrance level.

CATF has revoked the majestic splendor of this tower in its paintings with incarnate the intricate history associated with the tower as well as its stately architecture.


Visit our gallery today to check out these paintings at
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As man-made monuments go, the Hagia Sophia is one of the world’s most distinguished. The imposing, 1,480-year-old building in the heart of Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district stood for almost 1,000 years as an ornate cathedral, a place where Byzantine emperors came to be crowned.
After Mehmed the Conqueror’s Muslim army breached the city walls in 1453, it was converted into an imperial mosque, and served as pride of place under Ottoman rule for almost five centuries thereafter.

The building was later secularized and opened as a museum on 1 February 1935. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have "changed the history of architecture". It remained the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.


CATF has depicted the exterior of Hagia Sophia in all its glory in its artworks. The awestruck magnanimity of its architecture is portrayed in these paintings which give the onlooker a glimpse of its rich splendor.
Visit our gallery today at
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Our weekly contest winner, Miro Gradinscak, shares his story of art.

We asked Miro where he hailed from and what triggered his interest in art.
Here is what Miro said,

Hey, My name is Miro Gradinscak and I come from Croatia, a small country in Europe. I'm a textile designer and drawing is my hobby. I'm a self-taught artist and I have been drawing from an early age. However, for various reasons I haven’t been able to draw since last few years, but I'm glad that I started again.

We then asked him what served as his inspiration and muse.

My father loved to paint. I would sit next to him and watch him work all day long. Gradually, I realized I had fallen in love with art as well. As I stated earlier, I had started to draw very early, when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I was drawing all sorts of things particularly cowboys and Indians. In high school, I saw a great drawing of some famous singer and that played a significant role in my decision to do portraits. I love animals and lately I have been drawing them quite often.

When asked about the particular areas and media that he liked to work upon and with, Miro replied that,

I'm obsessed with graphite and this is the medium with which I love to work most. Of course, I like painting too. A few years ago I tried to do something in this medium, but I wasn't satisfied. It didn't look realistic enough and that's why I gave up. I'm very self-critical.

We asked Miro where he saw himself after a couple of years down this road. This is what he said,

I will certainly continue to draw and I want to show it. My wish is that more people get to see my artwork and I hope I will have a solo exhibition soon.

Finally, we asked Miro if he wanted to leave a message for other aspiring artists out there,

Well, I don't have any particular message...or maybe...a few days ago I saw an interesting post on Facebook...'Don't compare your work to others, compare your new work to the old'.

To find more about our contests and Miro, check out our website today.
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Our weekly contest winner, Jim Schultz , shares his journey of art

• Jim, when and why did you get interested in art?

I am a part-time artist who has always loved drawing. I also work as an engineer for NASA. Several of my drawings are selfies of astronauts out on space walks. I love to draw realistic graphite pencil drawings of people, animals, and scenery. My goal is to make my drawings look like photographs. I am self-taught and most of my drawing techniques have come through trial and error. You can see my work at https://1-james-schultz.pixels.com/

• What triggered your interest in art or served as your inspiration?

I have loved drawing as long as I can remember. I have always been awed by the great artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and others and love their realistic art. To me, that takes real talent.
My family, friends, and teachers have always encouraged me to draw and one of my coworkers convinced me to put my artwork out on art websites so others could see it.
The world is full of awesome beauty and I try to capture a snap shot of that on paper using graphite pencils. Being an engineer, I always want to understand how things work which I believe helps me create more realistic drawings.

• Jim, are there any particular areas that you like to work upon?

I’m always looking for new techniques to make my drawings look like photographs. Over the years I have learned a lot of techniques for drawing different things such as hair, fur, skin, eyes, etc. to make them look more realistic. I’m always looking for ways to improve and welcome any suggestions or techniques others have learned.

• Where do you see yourself in future as an artist?

I plan to keep on drawing in my free time. I always look for new challenging things to draw and bring to life. My passion is to be a full-time artist.

• If you had to give a message to all aspiring artists out there, what would that be?

Art is like the seed of a fruit tree. If the seed is nurtured and tended it will produce beautiful blossoms and fruit for the world to see, enjoy, and cherish. If it is put in a box and ignored, the world will ever know what beauty they have never seen.

To get to know more about our contests and more about Jim, check out our website today at
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Arab culture and passion for horses go hand in hand. According to ancient legend, the Arabian horse was born of a handful of the south wind and virtue is bound into the hair of its forelock, its master is its friend and he has been given the power of flight without wings.
The preoccupation with the horse is a thread traceable through the fabric of Arab society for five millennia. Once high profile in the social landscape of nomadic tribes in the Fertile Crescent, the horse has become far less a part of daily life but is nonetheless nurtured and loved in stables throughout the Kingdom.

Characteristics of Arabian Horse

* There are several characteristics that set the Arabian horse apart from other breeds, the most noticeable being the face. The Arabian’s head has a characteristic dished profile with a prominent eye, large nostrils and small muzzle.
*There is also religious significance in the Arabian’s features; the large forehead is said to hold the blessings of Allah; the high tail carriage was symbolic of pride and the arched neck and high crest signified courage.
* The Arabian’s broad chest, short, but strong back, and sloped shoulders give him power and �floaty’ gaits. Arabians have also become the breed of choice in the endurance racing world because of their stamina and agility.
* They are well-known for being affectionate and bonding well with humans and it is this particular characteristic that supports a discreet but invaluable therapeutic use for the ancient breed.

Arab Culture and Horse Racing

This love for horses is also reflected in Middle East’s fervent patronage for horse racing. Interest in horse racing may wax and wane in other parts of the world, but no place can match the racy and sustained passion for the sport which is found in the Middle East.

CATF and Horse Races

CATF has portrayed this very ardor in its artworks which stand out because of their impressionistic yet simultaneously realistic depictions of this sport. Check out our gallery today to savor Arabian horses in all their glory.

https://1-catf.pixels.com/collections/arab+culture+and+horses

Arab culture and passion for horses go hand in hand. According to ancient legend, the Arabian horse was born of a handful of the south wind and virtue is bound into the hair of its forelock, its master is its friend and he has been given the power of flight without wings.
The preoccupation with the horse is a thread traceable through the fabric of Arab society for five millennia. Once high profile in the social landscape of nomadic tribes in the Fertile Crescent, the horse has become far less a part of daily life but is nonetheless nurtured and loved in stables throughout the Kingdom.

Characteristics of Arabian Horse

* There are several characteristics that set the Arabian horse apart from other breeds, the most noticeable being the face. The Arabian’s head has a characteristic dished profile with a prominent eye, large nostrils and small muzzle.
*There is also religious significance in the Arabian’s features; the large forehead is said to hold the blessings of Allah; the high tail carriage was symbolic of pride and the arched neck and high crest signified courage.
* The Arabian’s broad chest, short, but strong back, and sloped shoulders give him power and �floaty’ gaits. Arabians have also become the breed of choice in the endurance racing world because of their stamina and agility.
* They are well-known for being affectionate and bonding well with humans and it is this particular characteristic that supports a discreet but invaluable therapeutic use for the ancient breed.

Arab Culture and Horse Racing

This love for horses is also reflected in Middle East’s fervent patronage for horse racing. Interest in horse racing may wax and wane in other parts of the world, but no place can match the racy and sustained passion for the sport which is found in the Middle East.

CATF and Horse Races

CATF has portrayed this very ardor in its artworks which stand out because of their impressionistic yet simultaneously realistic depictions of this sport. Check out our gallery today to savor Arabian horses in all their glory.

https://1-catf.pixels.com/collections/arab+culture+and+horses

Handling edges is a skill that all fine artists will need to learn sooner or later. Edges that are out of focus are vital in paintings in order to create the 3D illusion of making things look like they recede in a landscape painting, for example. Edges that are blurred make things appear they are moving.
The handling of edges is to be applied in all mediums, although some are more cooperative than others. For example, with pastels all you need to do is massage the dust with your finger and you can achieve any degree of softness, whereas in acrylics the paint dries too fast and it’s impossible to blur, like with oils. Watercolor requires experience to know exactly when to apply the pigment to the wet paper.

Painting Tips for Artists

There are three kinds of edges in all mediums:

Diffused Edges
The contour of forms can become completely lost, leaving little or no definition. Use diffused edges for the following to:
• Indicate foliage in the last plane in your background
• Create ethereal cumulous clouds
• Create realistic waterfalls that appear to be moving
• Indicate crashing waves in seascapes
Soft Edges
The edge is recognizable, but blurry.
• Distant trees and evergreens in backgrounds
• Distant hills
• Things in the peripheral areas of a painting
• Water reflections
Hard Edges
Clearly defined with no sense of being out of focus.
• Rocks
• Buildings
• Rocky mountains
Advice on how to achieve soft or diffused edges:
Oil and Pastel:
Massage the paint to the degree of blurriness desired. These two mediums are very easy.
Watercolor:
1) Apply water to the paper.
2) Wait about 5 minutes for the water to be absorbed and/or until the paper is no longer glossy.
3) Add just enough water to create pasty (not runny) pigment. If necessary suck the excess water out of the brush by squeezing the bristles where they meet the ferrule while holding the brush vertically to the paper. Note: Rough paper is more cooperative than cold-pressed paper when it comes to controlling soft edges.
Acrylic:
Scumble the adjacent color (such as the sky on the edges of trees) and lightly feather it in until the transition creates the blurred contour.


Visit our gallery today to find out how CATF artists have these techniques in their artworks.

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What is “sufi dance”?
This dance is a spiritual practice (known as Samâ) and is related to “spiritual hearing” in sufism. This whirling or spinning style dance is sometimes referred to as the dance of the “Whirling Dervishes” but there is an important difference.



What is the difference between the dances?
The whirling dervishes dance is part of the Mevlevi Sufi order and is highly codified and choreographed. The essence of the Sufi Dance however is a „communion with the divine“ and not just a blind imitation of the familiar whirling and spinning movements.

The Sufi Dance creates a personal space in which the dancer is free to explore a more intimate journey experienced using the whirling and spinning technique.



What does Sufi dance represent?
The dancer is destined to whirl as the earth around the sun and so achieve harmony with the Universe itself. As the planets themselves rotate so the dance is performed spinning from the left side, the heart side!

So why does the dancer whirl and spin ?
The answer to this question is to be found in the Sama (spiritual hearing) and truly it is only the one who spins who holds the key ! Like a journey that cannot be taken without departure, the one who desires the mystery and secret of the danse must feel the will to embark upon the journey !



Does the movement induce nausea or dizziness?
It is quite normal to feel disorientated or „dizzy“ and indeed it is said to be an essential part of learning the dance and preparing the dancer to enter the state of ecstasy known as „mystical intoxication“ which varies in intensity from person to person. Perseverance and self discipline are the pathway to enlightenment where spirit and body fall by the wayside in the liberation of the soul.

Over time the dancer will learn how to embrace feelings of nausea and dizziness and indeed learn to ignore these sensations and give way to a feeling of fullfilment.



Why do the dancers wear long skirts?
The long skirt, most often white as a symbol of purity, enhances the circular motion of the dance. Naturally the long flowing skirt begins to spread and fan out as the movement increases in momentum.

The sufi dance créâtes an invisible energy, colourless, pure and transparent as light reflected from a Mirror.

The swirling skirt begins to move in endless waves and an aura envelopes the body in the same way as the sun bathes the earth in its light.



What kind of music accompanies the dance?
Sufi music is repetitive and often built around the Zekr (or Zikr) which is concerned with the memory and the practice which rekindles the memory. It’s powerful rhythm reminds us of the heartbeat and leads us to the mystical intoxication of the Sama.



Can I perform and experience the Sufi Dance?
Yes but you must be a believer!! A believer in �love’!!
To love yourself and to love others.
To believe in each one of us.



Do I have to be experienced in dance?
No, anyone of us can learn the Sufi Dance and master the whirling, spinning techniques whilst respecting one’s own limitations! With time and practice the dancer will improve in power and speed and embark on the journey to mystical intoxication and the liberation of one’s own soul.

Sufi Whirling and Art
While anyone can appreciate Sufi art, understanding it requires study. Each dance posture symbolises a different meaning, for example, the raised arm of the dervish means taking from God and the lowered arm connotes giving to the world. Similarly each colour has a different story to tell.

CATF’s has illustrated this mystical connection to infinity in its artworks which depict this very form of dance adopted by Rumi’s followers.

Check out our gallery today and relish the ambiance and aura of sufi art.

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Our collection of paintings on Sufis and mystics primarily feature Sufis and their dances.
In order to understand the depth of these paintings, it is vital that one primarily gets acquainted with the concept of Sufism and what it is all about.

Sufism- What is it?

Sufism can be termed as the mystical dimension of Islam. People who practice Sufism are termed as Sufis. These Sufis belong to various orders or congregations and have their spiritual sessions in accordance with these orders.

Usually, all Sufis trace back their original precepts from Muhammad SAW through his cousin and son-in-law Ali. The Naqshbandi order differs in this respect since they trace back from Muhammad through the first Rashid Caliph Abu Bakr.

This was a short introduction of Sufism and Sufis. However, our collection of paintings pertains to asceticism which classical Sufis are noted for .

They have a number of devotional practices, amongst which the notable ones are Dhikr, Muraqba, Visitation and Sufi Whirling.

Sufi Whirling- What is it?

Our paintings portray Sufis in this latter form of physically active meditation. Through this customary dance, dervishes aim to reach the source of ultimate perfection or Kemal.

In this dance, the dervish abandons his ego or nafs and while listening to the music, focuses his attention on God. While he centers his attention on God, the source of Kemal, he spins his body around in repetitive circles which is known as Tanoura dance or Sufi Whirling. This dance is a metaphorical representation of the planets in the solar system orbiting around the Sun.

Check out our gallery on Sufis and Mystics today to revel in this classic art form

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This week, Team CATF would be delineating its tried and tested tips and guidelines for all aspiring artists out there on how to varnish an acrylic painting.

WHY VARNISH YOUR ACRYLIC PAINTINGS?

You might be wondering at this juncture that why do we have to varnish in the first place. The answer is pretty simple.

It is essential that you varnish your completed acrylic paintings because
• The varnish will protect the painting from dust, UV rays and yellowing.
• It would add a layer of shine that somehow, almost as if by magic, pulls the whole painting together and makes it look even more amazing, bringing out the gorgeous vibrancy of the colors.

WHAT KINDS OF VARNISHES ARE AVAILABLE OUT THERE?

• Varnish comes in gloss, satin or matte finish.
• You can mix any of these types of varnish to get the exact finish that you are looking for, but it will take some experimentation! Learning how to varnish an acrylic painting involves this kind of experimentation so that you get it just right.

ARE YOU ALL SET TO VARNISH NOW?

When you're ready to varnish, these are the instructions that you would have to follow.
1. Make sure that the painting is completely dry first.
2. Always keep a separate glass jar or plastic cup aside exclusively for varnishing
3. It is better to keep a separate brush too just for varnishing.
4. Rinse the jar in water before putting in varnish.
5. If you use a removable varnish and you think that someday the varnish might need to be removed for any reason, you'll need to apply an isolation coat before you varnish the painting. The isolation coat acts as a barrier between your painting and the varnish, protecting your painting from the chemicals that remove the varnish.
6. Lay the painting flat while varnishing, and make sure it's in a place where it can lie flat and undisturbed for a few hours while the varnish dries..
7. Dip the brush into the varnish about 1/3 to 1/4-way down the length of the brush and gently tap off the excess. Holding the brush at an angle, apply the varnish in even strokes across the painting, moving the brush in the same direction each time. Start at one corner and work your way across the whole painting in a parallel fashion.
8. When you are done, look at the surface of the painting from an angle. If there are any parts that are not shiny and wet, gently go over it with a bit of varnish. It helps if you shine a light on it, because the wet, varnished parts with sparkle in the light. If you see any dust or other debris that may have fallen into the varnish, gently and carefully pull it out using a toothpick or some other small, pointed object.
9. Allow a few hours for the varnish to dry, according to the time indicated on the package. Then you may or may not want to give it another coat of varnish. Sometimes the varnish doesn't cover completely evenly the first time around, so another coat will even everything out
10. When you're done, carefully and thoroughly clean the jar and the brush, and keep them someplace safe where they won't collect any dust.
Congratulations! Now you've completed your acrylic painting!


Check out our collection of acrylic paintings today at
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Belly Dance- What is it?
Belly dance is an expressive dance which emphasizes complex movements of the torso. Originally a Middle Eastern folk dance, it has evolved to take many different forms depending on the country and region, both in costume and dance style. New styles have been spread from the Middle East to the whole world where its popularity is becoming more and more popular in the Occident.

Belly Dance- What are its roots?

The term “belly dance” is a translation of the French term “danse du ventre”, which was applied to the dance in the Victorian era, and probably originally referred to dancers from the Ouled Nail tribes of Algeria.

Belly Dance- Today

Its current use is something of a misnomer, as the Ouled Nail dance used more abdominal movements than the dances described today as “belly dance”.

CATF and Belly Dance

In its collection “Belly Dancers”, CATF has focused exclusively on belly dancers, their associated ambience, dress codes, movements and the mystery which they evoke.

Check out our collection today at

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-catf.html?tab=artworkgalleries&artworkgalleryid=339906

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CATF Artist Guide for Beginners: Acrylic Paint Supplies

Needless to say acrylic paint supplies and knowledge of where to get them is an essential must-have before you start painting with acrylics.
Here we have jotted down a list of all the supplies that you would need along with suggestions of where to get them from. From paints to brushes to canvases, this article is going to be your basic but ultimate guide.

The Basic supplies include:
1. Acrylic paints
2. Paint Brushes
3. Canvas (wood, paper, etc.)
4. Palette
5. Paper towels or rags
6. Varnish
7. A cup of water
8. Soap for brushes


1. Acrylic paints

When painting with acrylics, acrylic paints are indispensable. The top item in our list seems way too obvious, however it is important for beginners to know where they can get hold of acrylic paints and what kinds of acrylic paints are available in the market.
Acrylic paints can either be bought individually or in a set. While buying your paints, things which you need to consider include the colors’ quality, its permanence, its viscosity, drying time etc. Links to some of our favorite brands have been given below.

• High Quality Acrylic Paints for Artists

http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-artists-acrylic/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates


http://www.dickblick.com/products/liquitex-professional-heavy-body-acrylics/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/golden-heavy-body-artist-acrylics/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

• Fluid Acrylic Paints

http://www.dickblick.com/products/liquitex-professional-soft-body-acrylics/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/golden-fluid-acrylics/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/lascaux-aquacryl-artists-watercolors/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

• Open and Interactive Acrylics

http://www.dickblick.com/products/golden-open-acrylics/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/chroma-atelier-interactive-artists-acrylics/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

• Student Quality Acrylics

http://www.dickblick.com/products/liquitex-basics-acrylic-colors/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-acrylics/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/grumbacher-academy-acrylics/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

2. Paint Brushes

Paint brushes are going to be the next mandatory item on your list. Choosing the right paint brush can be an overwhelming experience for beginners and hence we have listed down some of our favorite links for you to consider.

Also, you need to remember that for Acrylic paints, there are 8 different shapes of paintbrushes. Each shape caters to a different technique and level of details.
- Round Brushes
- Pointed Round Brushes
- Flat
- Bright
- Filbert
- Angular Flat
- Fan
- Detail Round




Also, there are different sizes of brushes too.

• The small size brushes are for details.
• The mid-size brushes are for versatility
• The large size brushes are for painting large areas and washes.

Moreover, paint brushes usually come in two types of bristles. Natural and Synthetic. For acrylic paints, the latter option works well because they are easier to clean, work well with the acrylic resin and can sit in water for hours.

Listed below are some of our favorite brands for paintbrushes.

If you are looking for something budget-friendly, check out these

http://www.dickblick.com/products/princeton-series-3750-select-synthetic-round/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/loew-cornell-american-painter-brushes/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

Or if you want something high-end, Da Vinci brushes may just be what you need

http://www.dickblick.com/products/da-vinci-top-acryl-synthetic-brushes/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

3. Canvas

Canvas is the most popular substrate to paint on. Canvases are available in multiple sizes. Another option could be wooden panels or very thick paper. Some factors to consider while choosing a canvas for yourself may include texture, weight, fiber, permanence etc.

Some of our favorite canvas brands include:
http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-academic-cotton-canvas/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/masterpiece-artfix-acrylic-primed-linen-canvas/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/fredrix-blue-label-cotton-canvas/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

4. Soaps for Paint brushes

It is important to wash your paintbrushes thoroughly with soap and water. For this very purpose of cleaning and conditioning paintbrushes, specific soaps are manufactured.

Listed below are some brands of paintbrush soap.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/ez-air-brush-cleaners/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/the-masters-brush-cleaner-and-preserver/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/pink-soap-artist-brush-cleaner/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

5. Varnish

Varnish may be your last step while painting with acrylics, however its importance can in no way be mitigated. A coat of varnish at the end is crucial because it helps the paint to chemically bind up with the canvas. Also, it serves as an additional layer of protection.

Acrylic varnishes come in different finishes. They may be satin, gloss or matte.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-matte-acrylic-varnishes/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/liquitex-acrylic-polymer-varnishes/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

http://www.dickblick.com/products/golden-acrylic-polymer-varnishes/?SSAID=317993&utm_source=SAS&utm_medium=affiliates&ref=affiliates

CATF and Acrylic Art

CATF team loves Acrylic paints and we have an extensive array of acrylic artworks, each distinct in its technique, meaning and ambiance.
Check out our acrylic artworks today at

1-catf.pixels.com

Acrylics are a huge favorite with CATF team. Our talented artists love exploiting this amazing art medium to its full potential. Today, we would be elucidating those characteristics of acrylic paints which make them an appealing and interesting medium to work with.

Working with acrylics can be both rewarding and fun. They are extremely versatile and easy to work with. Given below are some of those traits which would make all our beginner artists want to experiment with these colors.

Acrylics are best friends with water

Acrylic paints are water based. This implies that they can be both thinned and cleaned with water. When thinned with a lot of water, acrylic paints might resemble water colors.

Acrylics are Eco-friendly

For those artists who have an eco-friendly side to them, acrylics might be the most attractive option out there since these paints are non-toxic as well as non-smelly. As far as quality is concerned, they can be compared with oil paints. However, they are free of the toxicity and smell which usually comes with oil paints.

Acrylics are swift workers

If you are an impatient artist and like to get done with your work quickly, then acrylics may just be what you need. These paints dry quickly. However, this trait has both its perks and cons. The disadvantage of quick drying is that you might feel that the colors haven’t blended nicely enough.

This situation can be remedied though. All you need to have is a retarder ( which acts as an acrylic medium that extends drying time). You could also opt for a flow release ( which would potentially enhance the bendability of colors).

Acrylics love versatility

When you speak of acrylic colors, you aren’t just referring to a single type and brand of colors. Instead, acrylic colors embody an expansive, versatile range of colors, ranging from acrylic gels to acrylic pastes. Just as the colors are extremely versatile, similarly their application can be ingenuous. You could modify their texture as per your demand.

Acrylics as Enhancers

Acrylic paints are also used as enhancers at times to alter your paint’s sheen. You can either use them to bestow your artwork with a matte sheen or endow it with a high gloss. There is an entire range of acrylic colors available now which can be used for this purpose

Acrylics in Mixed Media Applications

One of the best uses that acrylics can be put to are in mixed media applications. Paper, wood and canvas are the most popular choices to use with acrylic colors. However, owing to their versatile nature, they can be used on almost any surface such as fabric, clay etc. All you have to do is make sure that these surfaces are primarily primed with gesso. Moreover, different tools could be used to vary and modify their texture and effect.

Tip: When you get bored of your paint brush, improvise using other tools such as sponges, Q-tips, toothpicks, scrapers etc.

The Best Part

Once they have been properly varnished, acrylic paintings do not need to be framed behind a glass. When and if they do collect dust, all you will have to do is wipe them with a damp cloth and they will be as good as new.



Stay tuned to get hold of our next article which would delineate the painting supplies needed to work with acrylics.



Check out our collection of acrylic art today at

1-catf.pixels.com

Middle Eastern Art
• Is it even a genre?

The category of Middle Eastern art is necessarily general since it incorporates the region’s incredible diversity and breadth, spanning from eastern Mediterranean to Pakistan.

• If it is, what themes does it deal with?

Likewise, the themes which this category of art deals with are interspersed with an incredible degree of richness and diversity. At times, these works appear to be set in contexts which are fraught with conflict and at other times, these works portray the junction between tradition and rapid development. Moreover, lately, artworks originating from this region or depicting some aspects of the regional culture tend to question West’s prevailing representations of the Middle East.

• Middle Eastern Art or Islamic Art?

Islamic Art is a significant dimension of Middle Eastern Art. However, the genre of Islamic art has been modified and customized to include contemporary works in the Middle Eastern context. Generally, inspiration is drawn from cultural traditions which are juxtaposed with contemporary themes. More than often imagery and techniques are deployed from earlier periods which are then embellished with an au courant ambience.
However, this doesn’t imply that modern Middle Eastern art is re-inventing Islamic art. Instead, it appears that it is being re purposed so as to make it a much more cognizant tool of personal expression, free from the shackles of functionality and patronage.

• Finally ! CATF’s contribution to Middle Eastern Art :D

CATF aims to shed light upon these very trends which are surfacing in this genre. Our collection of Middle Eastern artworks juxtapose tradition with contempo. They question stereotypes and break them. They experiment with colors and techniques and foreground a new and resplendent purpose of Islamic art.

Check out our collection of Middle Eastern Art today at
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Art makes people and people make art. It is a tricky yet an incredulous and intriguing combination. Our incredibly talented artist Maryam Mughal embodies this combination to its perfection. Hereby, she would be sharing the story of  her venture into the world of art and colors with us in her own words.

What inspired you to become an artist in the first place?

Since a child, the air in front of me was the canvas and I was brushing it with colors of my thoughts. One day I did it on paper
and the world around me said, wow, since than I was titled as a natural artist and my hands itch to create more art to beautify
life around me. I paint my desires, my expressions and expectations towards life according to my violent mood swings. For me,
each of my painting is more like my own baby as I feel my soul in it.

What are your favorite media and themes which you prefer to work upon?


Contemporary modern and figurative is my favorite domain to work. Yet I have trained myself to work on art assignments too, as a decade of work has enabled me to grasp the idea and tailor it to clients’ demands. I’m inspired by nature, pain and
transitions. I love painting beyond constraints of time and space. My hobby is my profession so I don’t see myself retiring any time in life. I want to leave some work which makes me eternal. The journey of the artist in me has faced every possible
adversity; from rejection to alienation, from ridicule to exploitation but it only grew stronger and today when I look with in, I don’t see much of myself except than an artist.

What are your career aspirations?


I Am a BFA graduate with 10 years of experience in Graphics, advertising, print media, Radio and TV. My favorite job is to create unique style paintings and artworks in different mediums. I have been associated with an international art gallery from a long
time. Also, I love creating functional artistic concepts and communicational illustrations, books and magazine design. I started my career as a Client Executive/Assistant Creative Manager in an Ad Agency in Islamabad and that’s how I got in to Advertising
Industry in 2007. Being a Fine Arts student  I had an added advantage of understanding  creativity in communicational design. My career aspirations thus run along similar lines.


From the vantage point of an artist, if you had to say something to the world, what would that be?


I believe that drawing and painting serves as a timeless means of communication since art is that expressive therapy that makes me and everyone feel connected to an image of the world that extends beyond the senses; a world in which time is still and one achieves inner peace.

Kūfic script, in calligraphy is the earliest extant Islamic style of handwritten alphabet that was used by early Muslims to record the Qurʾ�n.

* Characteristics of Kufic Calligraphy


This angular, slow-moving, dignified script was also used on tombstones and coins as well as for inscriptions on buildings. Some experts distinguish Kūfi proper from Meccan and Medinese scripts, which were also used to copy the Qurʾ�n.

* Kufic- Why and How?

The script was called Kūfi because it was thought to have been developed at Kūfah in Iraq—an early Islamic centre of culture. Simple Kūfi was developed early in the Islamic era; the earliest surviving copies of the Qurʾ�n—from the 8th to the 10th century—were copied in it.

Later a floral KĹ«fi flourished, and several other varieties of the script developed, including foliated KĹ«fi, plaited or interlaced KĹ«fi, bordered KĹ«fi, and squared KĹ«fi. It went out of general use about the 12th century, although it continued to be used as a decorative element to contrast with the scripts that superseded it.

* Kufic calligraphy at its best

CATF has an expansive collection of calligraphy which encompasses a diverse variety of techniques and styles. Despite this rich diversity in our themes and styles, our collection of Kufic Calligraphy still tends to stand out. The beauty of this style lies in its difficulty of legibility.

Literacy may be limited but its aesthetic beauty has always been accessible to all, and it is this very beauty of these patterns that matters.

Our kufic calligraphy tends to be austere, and derives its beauty from the purity of its austerity; however simultaneously it lends itself to clever, even playful variations only limited by one's creativity.

CHECK OUT our incredibly varied and creative compendium of kufic calligraphy today at
1-catf.pixels.com

Kūfic script, in calligraphy is the earliest extant Islamic style of handwritten alphabet that was used by early Muslims to record the Qurʾ�n.

* Characteristics of Kufic Calligraphy


This angular, slow-moving, dignified script was also used on tombstones and coins as well as for inscriptions on buildings. Some experts distinguish Kūfi proper from Meccan and Medinese scripts, which were also used to copy the Qurʾ�n.

* Kufic- Why and How?

The script was called Kūfi because it was thought to have been developed at Kūfah in Iraq—an early Islamic centre of culture. Simple Kūfi was developed early in the Islamic era; the earliest surviving copies of the Qurʾ�n—from the 8th to the 10th century—were copied in it.

Later a floral KĹ«fi flourished, and several other varieties of the script developed, including foliated KĹ«fi, plaited or interlaced KĹ«fi, bordered KĹ«fi, and squared KĹ«fi. It went out of general use about the 12th century, although it continued to be used as a decorative element to contrast with the scripts that superseded it.

* Kufic calligraphy at its best

CATF has an expansive collection of calligraphy which encompasses a diverse variety of techniques and styles. Despite this rich diversity in our themes and styles, our collection of Kufic Calligraphy still tends to stand out. The beauty of this style lies in its difficulty of legibility.

Literacy may be limited but its aesthetic beauty has always been accessible to all, and it is this very beauty of these patterns that matters.

Our kufic calligraphy tends to be austere, and derives its beauty from the purity of its austerity; however simultaneously it lends itself to clever, even playful variations only limited by one's creativity.

CHECK OUT our incredibly varied and creative compendium of kufic calligraphy today at
1-catf.pixels.com

Our weekly contest winner, Anne Gifford shares her journey of art

* Anne, when and why did you get interested in art?

I have been creating art of some type or another since the age of 4. I am forever grateful that my parents enthusiastically encouraged me to express my creativity, and after attempting to finish a college curriculum in social work, I opted to follow my heart and switched to fine art.

* What art media interests and inspires you?

After graduating with a BFA, I began my career as a silkscreen artist. After 25 years of printmaking, I now work with watercolor where I build successive layers of color to create my vibrant, rich, and detailed paintings. I have lived in Boulder since 1976 and find inspiration in the natural beauty of Colorado. On my many walks and hikes throughout the area, I am always on the lookout for new imagery. Light, shadows, rocks, water, mountains, canyons, wildlife and whimsy are all part of my subject matter as I bring my own unique vision to my work.

* Any other achievements that you would want to talk about?

I am an award winning artist and the seven time poster artist for the Bolder Boulder 10K Memorial Day Race, one of the largest road races in the United States. My paintings have been chosen to represent The 150th Anniversary of Boulder County and the 40th Anniversary of Boulder County Open Space.

I additionally enjoy teaching watercolor classes to senior citizens at the East Boulder Senior Center in Boulder, Colorado, as it provides me with a rewarding platform in which to share my talents.

* If you had to give a message to all aspiring artists out there what would that be?

When I create a landscape sometimes I feel as though I am recording the natural beauty surrounding us for future generations. I hope my viewer will experience the happiness I felt as I created it.

My message to all aspiring artists would be....paint!!!!!! (or draw, or make prints or pottery....)

To get to know more about our contests and more about Anne, check out our website today at

1-catf.pixels.com

Truck Art- What is it?


Pakistan’s �truck art’ is now quite a well-known �genre’ around the world. For long, it has been an homegrown art-form in South Asia, especially in Pakistan, where the whole idea of decorating trucks (also, lorries and even rickshaws) with complex floral patterns and poetic calligraphy, has evolved in the most radiant and innovative manner

You so can’t miss out on these trucks!

Anyone who has been to Pakistan knows that the sight of a fully decorated truck is unforgettable. A truck embellished from bumper to bumper with paint and colorful, sculpted metal is expressive and captivating in ways that few other artistic media can duplicate. Decorated Pakistani trucks declare a dazzling, exuberant artistry that is unmatched on vehicles anywhere else in the world.

So what does this art form comprise of?

Pakistani truck art takes two forms— murals or painted scenes and “decoration pieces.”

Decoration pieces typically adorn a truck’s side carriage and are placed on top of a mural or painting. Ranging in size from less than a square foot to more than six feet, decoration pieces are often the flashiest part of a fully embellished truck. Consisting of a metal base covered with colorful reflective stickers, or chamak patty, and further highlighted with mirrors or studs, decoration pieces are shaped to represent any of the truck art motifs, such as birds, fish, and flowers. The decoration piece is an important flourish on the truck because the artistic materials make the piece the most reflective part of the vehicle. There is no Urdu word for decoration piece, and both truck drivers and truck artists will use the English term.

CATF and Truck Art

CATF’s collection of truck art comprises of both these murals and decoration pieces. Check out our vivid and exuberant collection of truck art today at
1-catf.pixels.com

Hey folks!
This week, the art movement which we would be featuring is Pop art.

What is Pop Art?

The first question which would have popped to your mind would be that what this movement is about.
Pop Art is a modern art movement that developed in the 1950s and 60s. It was created by the Scottish sculptor and artist Eduardo Paolozzi in London, 1952. Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana and Roy Lichtenstein are examples of pop artists.

What are the Themes covered by Pop Art?

Pop art has themes and techniques drawn from popular mass culture, such as advertising and comic books. Pop art employs images of popular as opposed to elitist culture in art.

What are the Methods of Pop Art?

• The artists use mechanical means of reproduction or rendering techniques which downplay the expressive hand of the artist.
• Pop artists went for absolute clarity. Most forms were bordered with black lines as in comic books. The objects are often plain like a poster, and without perspective. The colours are clear, achromatic and primitive colours.
• Objects of the everyday life get isolated and modified or processed in collages. Pop art is a connection between reality and art, handled with abstract means. Some of their catchwords are: popular, consumable, cheap, funny and outstanding.
• Much of pop art is rather academic, as the unconventional organizational practices used often make it difficult for some to understand.
• Pop art and minimalism are considered to be the last modern art movements and so the precursors to postmodern art, or some of the earliest examples of postmodern art themselves.

CATF has an entire range of artworks which cater to this particular style and taste. To check out our work in Pop Art, click on the link below
1-catf.pixels.com

“When a poet digs himself into a hole, he doesn’t climb out. He digs deeper, enjoys the scenery, and comes out the other side enlightened.”

― Criss Jami, Venus in Arms

For me an artist is this very person. For me, art is this very hole. There is no end to it, no banality, only far-reaching enlightenment.

However, art per say can never be pinned down in the shackles of word or speech. It escapes and evades all such confinement. It is more like ‘love’, or as Iqbal would say ‘ Ishk’ . Something to be felt but never truly articulated. Something with a myriad of expressions and dimensions, not one monolithic definition. Something that reaches far beyond our comprehension and understanding yet envelopes us from all around.

My journey as a visual artist began from a very young age. I think I was in grade 7 or 8, when I started sketching and soon this fervor took the shape of a passion for oil paints. The feeling that consumed me when brush strokes were my arsenal and canvas my story of life is something which I find difficult to articulate. I would just dig deeper and deeper into this hole, stay in for as long as I could, wished that I could never come out of it, but whenever I did, I was always a new person; a more sensitive being, a more denaturalized individual and undoubtedly possessed an enlightened visage.

Art for me was more than colors. It was energy. It was energy to be felt, radiated and consumed by sensitive souls. I can confidently assert that my life as an artist paved the way for my life as a spiritual healer. These very experiences were responsible for making me susceptible and vulnerable to the multitude of energies which surround each of us every second of every day. Nature and Figurative Art have been some of all my all-time favorite themes. Nature has always been kind to me. She has been my Mother Goddess, inspiring me, nurturing me and endowing my soul with indescribable depth.

The binary of essence and existence is another theme which interests me greatly and serves as an inspiration for me at countless times. Yet, it is at times, when art becomes capitalized, that I lose my inspiration, but then again my calling hails me.

If I had to say something about myself, it would be that art awakened me spiritually. It made me aware of and vulnerable to auras. It made me harness my negative energies and of those around me to tune in to positive frequencies. It propelled me to think deeply and more profoundly. It instigated me to think outside the box and to outdo conventions. Most significantly, it made me feel love, peace and light. If I were to sum up my existence in one phrase, it would be that ‘I am all love, am all peace, am all light.’

Overview

During the mid-nineteenth century, the provocative and sensuous Aesthetic movement threatened to dismantle Britain's fussy, overbearing, and conservative Victorian traditions. More than a fine art movement, Aestheticism penetrated all areas of life - from music and literature to interior design and fashion. At its heart was the desire to create "art for art's sake" and to exalt taste, the pursuit of beauty, and self-expression over moral expectations and restrictive conformity. The freedom of creative expression and sensuality that Aestheticism promoted exhilarated its adherents, but it also made them the object of ridicule among conservative Victorians. Nonetheless, by rejecting art's traditionally didactic obligations and focusing on self-expression, the Aesthetic movement helped set the stage for global, twentieth-century modern art.


Key Ideas

1. Rebelling against Victorian materiality and modern industrialism (particularly what they criticized as the impoverished and repetitive designs of consumer products created cheaply by "soulless" machines), Aesthetic artists placed a premium on quality craftsmanship in the creation of all art. Some even revived pre-industrial techniques in the process.

2. Aesthetic artists touted the adage "art for art's sake," divorcing art from its traditional obligation to convey a moral or socio-political message. Instead, the focused on exploring color, form, and composition in the pursuit of beauty.

3. Distinct from the Victorian preference for fussy decor, curvaceous forms, and abundant detail, Aesthetic art is characterized by subdued colors, geometric designs, and simplified linear forms. The movement took as its primary sources of inspiration Pre-Raphaelite painting's of flaming red haired beauties, medieval geometric designs, and Japanese motifs and aesthetics.

4. The Aesthetic Movement maintained that art should not be confined to painting, sculpture, and architecture, but should be a part of everyday life. To this end, Aestheticism embraced not only the "high" arts, but also ceramics, metalwork, fashion, furniture-making, and interior design. Many Aesthetes, most notably Oscar Wilde, even adopted public personas through which they lived according to Aesthetic principles.

CATF

CATF has a diverse range of art which adhere to the tradition of aestheticism. To check out our collection of aesthetic paintings click on the link below.

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This week CATF bring forth to you the tale of one of our most talented artist's journey into the realm of art and colors.

Mawra will be sharing with us her story of inspirations and achievements in her own words.



“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

-Pablo Picasso

I believe that in this world, almost every artist uses their practice to clean up their souls from ordinary mess. It is sometimes much easier to create when we are experiencing discord. Peace and contentment can dampen creativity.

The pavement I walked through was that of perceptions, emotions, thoughts and experiments which I term as experiences. This unity of experience traces the inner-self, which is actually me. Being a visual artist, “All is flux” is the notion that inspired me to explore my surroundings. I find pleasure in applying my knowledge in a multidisciplinary context, be it in making paintings, videos, and sculptures or applying it in interior spaces as an installation. I enjoy conceptualization for feasible concepts which focus on detail, aesthetics and environment-friendliness.

My bachelor in Fine arts drew my attention towards visual arts. At the same time, I was curious to observe the general influence of globalization on art, architecture and culture. Therefore, after completing the PGD in Visual Arts, now I am doing M Phil in Communication and cultural studies from National College of Arts. Definitely, all of these subjects have broadened my vision towards critical thinking and writing.

However, when I am creating I enjoy exploring how my ideas can grow throughout the making process, in specific the close connection between materials, processes, concepts and creative thinking. My fragile mediums allow me to think with my hands, as the feeling of cloth, texture of leaves and thread under my fingers gives me the feedback I need.

With time, obsession of observing the nature has drawn my attention towards natural mediums. In my recent art practice I have experimented with multiple natural mediums to understand the changes it goes through with the passage of time.

To stress upon the phenomenon of “flux” I condensed my choice of plants to stemmed roses. I have frozen the transformation of roses on diverse stages to conserve the particular time and different phases of change. But despite of all the effort the phenomena of “flux” is still existent and all the experiences of change are just conserved in my mind. I admit that my passion is largely fueled by my desire to evolve, change, and try new things.

Passion for paintings and photography forced me to conserve the various stages of change in all material culture and to record how these changes occur. Furthermore, I have also captured in my paintings how carnivals, cultures, and architectures of all countries are affected by globalization. Also, my photographic documentations of historical palaces and crafts have donated me an extra insight into the background reasons for which architecture or crafts were made by ancestors and how it is ruined by descendants.

Ever wondered whose creative genius it was which connected with you through that particular piece of art? Ever wondered whose inspiration caught your eye and touched some place deep in your heart? Ever wondered whose hand made those brush strokes? Ever wondered whose heart came up with those symphonies which made your heart beat a little wilder, yet a little calmer? Ever wondered whose brain it was that envisioned such majestic colors and made them palpable for you in paper?

Ever wondered who is the muse behind your favorite art?

Ever wondered whose creation it is which is in sync with your being?

We know that you wonder so.

We know that you would dearly like to be acquainted with these miraculous artists who can bring to you the mottled moon, to touch and to feel; who can make the russet evenings and autumn skies stay with you eternally, who can make you appreciate the beauty that surrounds you like no other being and who leave a mark in your being which can not be tarnished or effaced.



And so Corporate Art Task Force brings for you its Exclusive Artist Spotlight Feature Series.

Get to know the faces behind these creative veils and have a peek inside their inspirations, their muses and forces which drive and sustain them.

Every week, meet one of our creative geniuses and get to know more about the people who make you want to reach your souls



with our Exclusive Artist Spotlight Feature.



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Every artist has a muse, but what happens when two creative geniuses get together?



What for that matter is erotic art?

What does it delineate?

Where does it get its inspiration from?

This week’s feature blog would look into the art of love or what happens when art and love combine. It would try to understand how and why erotic art becomes an important part and parcel of our art canon.

What is Erotic Art and what does it signify?

Erotic art covers any artistic work that is intended to evoke erotic arousal or that depicts scenes of love-making. It includes drawings, engravings, films, music, paintings, photographs, sculptures and writing.

Defining erotic art is difficult since perceptions of both what is erotic and what is art fluctuate. A sculpture of a phallus in some African cultures may be considered a traditional symbol of potency though not overtly erotic.

Is Erotic Art Pornography?

In addition, a distinction is often made between erotic art and pornography (which also depicts scenes of love-making and is intended to evoke erotic arousal, but is not usually considered art). The distinction may lie in intent and message; erotic art would be items intended as pieces of art, encapturing formal elements of art, and drawing on other historical artworks. Pornography may also use these tools, but is primarily intended to arouse one sexually. Nevertheless, these elements of distinction are highly subjective.

Sin City Gallery and 12 Inches of Sin in Las Vegas, Nevada exhibitions focus on art expressive of a diverse view of sexuality which push boundaries and challenge ideas about high and low art. These exhibitions point to the way in which nudity and sexuality is often considered a trope in contemporary art, i.e. Chapman Brothers, Jeff Koons, Vanessa Beecroft, and Marina Abramović.

Art and Love in CATF

CATF has an extensive collection of art which can be considered as master pieces of the nexus of art and love. Visit our website below to check out our art galleries

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What is Expressionism?

Expressionism emerged simultaneously in various cities across Germany as a response to a widespread anxiety about humanity's increasingly discordant relationship with the world and accompanying lost feelings of authenticity and spirituality. In part a reaction against Impressionism and academic art, Expressionism was inspired most heavily by the Symbolist currents in late nineteenth-century art. Vincent van Gogh, Edward Munch, and James Ensor proved particularly influential to the Expressionists, encouraging the distortion of form and the deployment of strong colors to convey a variety of anxieties and yearnings. The classic phase of the Expressionist movement lasted from approximately 1905 to 1920 and spread throughout Europe. Its example would later inform Abstract Expressionism, and its influence would be felt throughout the remainder of the century in German art. It was also a critical precursor to the Neo-Expressionist artists of the 1980s.

Key Ideas

• The arrival of Expressionism announced new standards in the creation and judgment of art. Art was now meant to come forth from within the artist, rather than from a depiction of the external visual world, and the standard for assessing the quality of a work of art became the character of the artist's feelings rather than an analysis of the composition.
• Expressionist artists often employed swirling, swaying, and exaggeratedly executed brushstrokes in the depiction of their subjects. These techniques were meant to convey the turgid emotional state of the artist reacting to the anxieties of the modern world.
• Through their confrontation with the urban world of the early twentieth century, Expressionist artists developed a powerful mode of social criticism in their serpentine figural renderings and bold colors. Their representations of the modern city included alienated individuals - a psychological by-product of recent urbanization - as well as prostitutes, who were used to comment on capitalism's role in the emotional distancing of individuals within cities.

Expressionism and CATF

Corporate Art Task Force has an entire collection of expressionist paintings in multiple media. Visit our gallery today and get acquainted with this exotic collection.
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In recent years, the attention paid to contemporary Islamic art has been increasing significantly among curators, art dealers, art critics, and collectors, mostly interested in the arts produced by artists who draw their inspiration from their cultural roots and artistic imagery.

Today, Islamic culture encompasses many different countries around the world, including the ones beyond the main concentration of the Muslim populations in Southeast Asia, in the Middle East, and in North Africa. The artistic integration arising upon the processes of globalization and the diaspora of Islamic artists towards Europe and the United States resulted in a repurposing of Islamic art through new media and, in some cases, incorporating extraneous elements against the dilution of their own cultural and artistic traditions.

Since the late 1990’s the art scene in Islamic countries witnessed a burst of artistic activity, expressing a renovated and realistic vision of local culture. A new generation of artists from a wide range of Islamic countries brought to light a provocative, controversial and persuasive discourse through the use of various media, such as photography, filmmaking, painting, installation, ceramics, digital art, video, and sculpture.
The individual signature of these artists presents a remediation of traditional arts; Arabic script embedded in mixed media formats.
These traditional yet innovative Islamic artworks are a signature aspect of Corporate Art Task Force. CATF deals in all kinds of Islamic art, be it calligraphy, literary art, motifs, architecture or a juxtaposition of some or all. These rich and diverse depictions of Islamic art which are true their cultural roots yet innovate simultaneously are presented in our extension collection, which can be visited by clicking on the following link.
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Begin your new year with an artwork which reflects the depth of your soul!

Happy New Year
From Team CATF!

"It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago. She outgrows his prophecies faster than he can make them." - Mark Twain, 1883

Chicago was only 46 years old when Mark Twain wrote those words, but it had already grown more than 100-fold, from a small trading post at the mouth of the Chicago River into one of the nation’s largest cities, and it wasn’t about to stop. Over the next 20 years, it would quadruple in population, amazing the rest of the world with its ability to repeatedly reinvent itself.
And it still hasn’t stopped. Today, Chicago has become a global city, a thriving center of international trade and commerce, and a place where people of every nationality come to pursue the American dream.

Early Chicago

Chicago’s first permanent resident was a trader named Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a free black man apparently from Haiti, who came here in the late 1770s. In 1795, the U.S. government built Fort Dearborn at what is now the corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive (look for the bronze markers in the pavement). It was burned to the ground by Native Americans in 1812, rebuilt and demolished in 1857.

A Trading Center

Incorporated as a city in 1837, Chicago was ideally situated to take advantage of the trading possibilities created by the nation’s westward expansion. The completion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal in 1848 created a water link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, but the canal was soon rendered obsolete by railroads. Today, 50 percent of U.S. rail freight continues to pass through Chicago, even as the city has become the nation’s busiest aviation center, thanks to O’Hare and Midway International airports.

The Great Fire of 1871

As Chicago grew, its residents took heroic measures to keep pace. In the 1850s, they raised many of the streets five to eight feet to install a sewer system – and then raised the buildings, as well. Unfortunately, the buildings, streets and sidewalks were made of wood, and most of them burned to the ground in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Chicago Fire Department training academy at 558 W. DeKoven St. is on the site of the O’Leary property where the fire began. The Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station at Michigan and Chicago avenues are among the few buildings to have survived the fire.

"The White City"

Chicago rebuilt quickly. Much of the debris was dumped into Lake Michigan as landfill, forming the underpinnings for what is now Grant Park, Millennium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. Only 22 years later, Chicago celebrated its comeback by holding the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, with its memorable “White City.” One of the Exposition buildings was rebuilt to become the Museum of Science and Industry. Chicago refused to be discouraged even by the Great Depression. In 1933 and 1934, the city held an equally successful Century of Progress Exposition on Northerly Island.

Hull House
In the half-century following the Great Fire, waves of immigrants came to Chicago to take jobs in the factories and meatpacking plants. Many poor workers and their families found help in settlement houses operated by Jane Addams and her followers. Her Hull House Museum is located at 800 S. Halsted St.

Chicago Firsts

Throughout their city’s history, Chicagoans have demonstrated their ingenuity in matters large and small:
• The nation’s first skyscraper, the 10-story, steel-framed Home Insurance Building, was built in 1884 at LaSalle and Adams streets and demolished in 1931.
• When residents were threatened by waterborne illnesses from sewage flowing into Lake Michigan, they reversed the Chicago River in 1900 to make it flow toward the Mississippi.
• Start of the "Historic Route 66" which begins at Grant Park on Adams Street in the front of the Art Institute of Chicago.
• Chicago was the birthplace of:
• the refrigerated rail car (Swift)
• mail-order retailing (Sears and Montgomery Ward)
• the car radio (Motorola)
• the TV remote control (Zenith)
• The first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, ushering in the Atomic Age, took place at the University of Chicago in 1942. The spot is marked by a Henry Moore sculpture on Ellis Avenue between 56th and 57th streets.
• The 1,450-foot Sears Tower, completed in 1974, is the tallest building in North America and the third tallest in the world.

CATF’s Art Collection of Chicagoan CityScapes

CATF’s art collection of Chicagoan cityscapes is a reflection of the city’s diversity and modernity. Its landscapes and monuments have been portrayed with color in such a manner that they have successfully managed to reflect Chicago’s soul and spirit.
Click the following link to visit our gallery of Chicago’s Cityscapes.

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Calligraphy

CATF has an entire range of Islamic art diverse in its themes and form yet unified by the similarity of its origin and the school of thought which it gets its inspiration from.
Hereby, we would be discussing these varied themes which can be classified underneath the broader umbrella term of Islamic Art. These themes inspire from one another and as a corollary their presence can be traced within each other.
When one speaks of Islamic Art, Calligraphy is by default considered to be a very significant part of it. Islamic calligraphy comprises of elegant scripts which represent the divine word revealed on the Prophet Muhammad. These calligraphic verses can be found on a variety of substrata and have a profound presence both in arts and architecture.

Motifs

Along with calligraphy, a very significant theme of Islamic arts are geometric and vegetative motifs. These motifs have a very profound presence in all those lands where Islam is practiced as a religion and is a cultural force. The intricate metal work of Safavid Iran and Alhambra Spain is one such example of this popularity and presence of this form of Islamic art.

Architecture

Islamic architecture also comes with its peculiarities and can be witnessed in the minarets of mosques, mausoleums and gardens.
All of these themes recur in CATF’s amazingly expansive collection of Islamic Art which features calligraphy, architecture, motifs and other varied peculiarities of this rich tradition.

To visit our art galleries, click on the link below
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Islamic Calligraphy- What is it?



Islamic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy, based upon the alphabet in the lands sharing a common Islamic cultural heritage. It includes Arabic, Ottoman, and Persian calligraphy.

It is known in Arabic as khatt Islami (خط اسلامي), meaning Islamic line, design, or construction.



What does Islamic Calligraphy comprise of?

The development of Islamic calligraphy is strongly tied to the Qur'an; chapters, and excerpts from the Qur'an is a common and almost universal text upon which Islamic calligraphy is based. Deep religious association with the Qur'an, as well as suspicion of figurative art as idolatrous has led calligraphy to become one of the major forms of artistic expression in Islamic cultures.

What are the different styles of Islamic Calligraphy?

As Islamic calligraphy is highly venerated, most works follow examples set by well-established calligraphers, with the exception of secular or contemporary works. In antiquity, a pupil would copy a master's work repeatedly until their handwriting was similar. The most common style is divided into angular and cursive, each further divided into several sub-styles.



The different styles of Islamic Calligraphy include

Kufic
Naqsh
Regional
Modern
CATF’s expansive collection of Islamic calligraphy encompasses all these diverse and varied styles.

Check out our entire range at

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Faisalabad is an extremely rich and diverse city of Pakistan with a very generous culture which has its roots embedded deeply in Sikh and British traditions. Whether it is textiles, architecture, food, music, literature or art, Faisalabad, formerly known as Layalpur, has made its mark all across the globe.

This is precisely why, we have chosen Faisalabad and its various historic sites as a substratum for our art collection. The resplendent baazars of Layalpur, its various architectural structures, its Buddhist monasteries, Sikh gurdwaras, Hindu Mandirs and Zoroastrian Temples all reflect the unique lively spirit of this city, which is beautifully illustrated in our art collection featuring the multi-dimensional facets of Faisalabadi culture.

Click below to view our exciting collection clad in exciting colors.
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CityScapes- Where did this art tradition come from?

In recent times, urban landscapes or more appropriately, urban cityscapes have emerged as a significant trend which no modern or contemporary artist would be unaware of. The impressionists Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro with their paintings of Paris along with the realist painter Antonio Lopez and his portraits of Madrid conjugated with Richard Estes of New York and his photo realist depictions were some stepping stones for this art trend to go forward and to be remembered by. But one does wonder where did this art tradition spring from and who were its protagonists, responsible for its creation and proliferation.

As far as the beginning of this tradition is concerned, just as it is impossible to pin down a certain date when cities surfaced, similarly one cannot delineate the appropriate origins and genealogy of this art tradition.

However, since we are concerned with American cityscapes so let us trace back the origins of this art tradition in the United States of America.

CityScapes in America

In 19th century, the most prominent figure in American painting happens to be most involved in painting American cityscapes. James Abbott McNeil Whistler was noted for his Nocturnal paintings of American as well as European cities. He was followed by Childe Hassam, a very significant impressionist painter.

Later, ‘ Aschan School’ emerged and we witness cityscape painting reaching its zenith. Ashcan School comprised of a group of painters whose primary concern was to give realist depictions of everyday life in New York City. Many noteworthy artists emerged from this generation who worked on various aspects and facets of cityscapes.

CATF's Collection of American Cityscapes

Hereby, CATF presents its collection of paintings on American cityscapes which cover different states and different cities. You would come across impressionist, expressionist and realist depictions of these cityscapes in a renewed light and with a defamiliarized perspective.

Visit our gallery ‘ United States of America’ and satiate your aesthetic appetites with these reinvigorating cityscapes.

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Our collection of paintings on Arab delights primarily feature Sufis and their dances.

In order to understand the depth of these paintings, it is vital that one primarily gets acquainted with the concept of Sufism and what it is all about.

Sufism- What is it?

Sufism can be termed as the mystical dimension of Islam. People who practice Sufism are termed as Sufis. These Sufis belong to various orders or congregations and have their spiritual sessions in accordance with these orders.

Usually, all Sufis trace back their original precepts from Muhammad SAW through his cousin and son-in-law Ali. The Naqshbandi order differs in this respect since they trace back from Muhammad through the first Rashid Caliph Abu Bakr.

This was a short introduction of Sufism and Sufis. However, our collection of paintings pertains to asceticism which classical Sufis are noted for .

They have a number of devotional practices, amongst which the notable ones are Dhikr, Muraqba, Visitation and Sufi Whirling.

Sufi Whirling- What is it?

Our paintings portray Sufis in this latter form of physically active meditation. Through this customary dance, dervishes aim to reach the source of ultimate perfection or Kemal.

In this dance, the dervish abandons his ego or nafs and while listening to the music, focuses his attention on God. While he centers his attention on God, the source of Kemal, he spins his body around in repetitive circles which is known as Tanoura dance or Sufi Whirling. This dance is a metaphorical representation of the planets in the solar system orbiting around the Sun.

Enjoy our paintings on Arab delights, particularly Sufi whirling and stay tuned for our upcoming theme.

Our collection of paintings on Arab delights primarily feature Sufis and their dances.

In order to understand the depth of these paintings, it is vital that one primarily gets acquainted with the concept of Sufism and what it is all about.

Sufism- What is it?

Sufism can be termed as the mystical dimension of Islam. People who practice Sufism are termed as Sufis. These Sufis belong to various orders or congregations and have their spiritual sessions in accordance with these orders.

Usually, all Sufis trace back their original precepts from Muhammad SAW through his cousin and son-in-law Ali. The Naqshbandi order differs in this respect since they trace back from Muhammad through the first Rashid Caliph Abu Bakr.

This was a short introduction of Sufism and Sufis. However, our collection of paintings pertains to asceticism which classical Sufis are noted for .

They have a number of devotional practices, amongst which the notable ones are Dhikr, Muraqba, Visitation and Sufi Whirling.

Sufi Whirling- What is it?

Our paintings portray Sufis in this latter form of physically active meditation. Through this customary dance, dervishes aim to reach the source of ultimate perfection or Kemal.

In this dance, the dervish abandons his ego or nafs and while listening to the music, focuses his attention on God. While he centers his attention on God, the source of Kemal, he spins his body around in repetitive circles which is known as Tanoura dance or Sufi Whirling. This dance is a metaphorical representation of the planets in the solar system orbiting around the Sun.

Enjoy our paintings on Arab delights, particularly Sufi whirling and stay tuned for our upcoming theme.

In the month of August Corporate Art Task Force held a contest on Literary Abstract Art. The theme was innovative and intriguing and we received a myriad of exciting entries catering to the said theme. The competition was rigorous. Yet the best of the best won and now we have her on board with us to share her success story and her passion for art with us.

Lois Bryan is an extremely talented artist and photographer whose art touches the soul.

Let us have Lois introduce herself in her own words.


Hi, I’m Lois Bryan. I think of myself as a photographer first, and digital artist second. My interest in art probably started before I was born, as I understand there was at least one family member who drew and painted beautifully. A large part of my early childhood was spent trying to make my fingers produce the images I saw in my head. Pencils and paper, and later, tubes of oil paints and canvases, were all my good friends. Life intervened, and my ability to spend hours with brushes and paints and canvas, lost in my own world, became less and less and finally stopped. Many years later, though, I discovered another visual creative outlet. My interest in photography began in the mid 1980s with the gift of my first real camera, a Nikon FG 35 mm film SLR. I was a single mom then, and film and processing were pretty expensive, so my interest in photography had to stay on the back burner for quite a few years before I could finally afford to jump into the fun.

We asked Lois what triggered her interest in art or what served as her inspiration and her reply was:

In the early 2000s, with the advent of digital cameras, I began to re-explore my love of picture taking. This interest blossomed in 2005 with my visit to the Mediterranean. The photography bug bit, and bit hard, and I’ve been snapping with one Nikon or another ever since. I currently alternate between my Nikon D7000 and D750 with a variety of lenses.
My enjoyment of digital art with the use of programs such as Photoshop and Corel Painter seems to have taken me full circle back to my childhood love. I use my photographs as the basis for the artistic / painterly / impressionistic images that can be viewed at my website http://lois-bryan.artistwebsites.com where my straight photography can be seen as well.

When asked about her future plans, Lois enthralled us with her reply

I think one thing that makes photography and digital art so fascinating is today’s constantly evolving technology. No sooner do I feel like I’ve gotten to the point where I’m comfortable with a particular camera or software, when something new, with new bells and whistles, comes trotting onto the market. I don’t think I have the photographer’s dread disease, “Equipment Envy”, but I do relish the fun of figuring out something new. It really is all about the journey. Nothing quite equals the excitement I feel when I’ve figured out a new Photoshop technique and hit on just the right combination of base photograph and editing choices and the image that I’ve been working on for hours or days … or often even longer … finally comes alive.

Her future plans were as amazing as the amazing artist that she is

Future plans include the hope of a bit more travel in order to snap some new material, and being able to spend more time playing with creative editing.

Lois touched home with her message for the world out there. We hope you’d love it like we did

A lot of people all over the globe are discovering the joy of picture taking. Images of all subjects are everywhere on the Internet as well as stored in personal phones to be shared person to person. The many different kinds of images appeal to many different kinds of personal tastes. I guess if I have a mission or message, it’s the goal to send glimpses of beauty out into the Universe. Images where an event or a place or a moment in time might evoke a familiar feeling or cherished memory with my viewers … might strike a chord or create a bridge or bond of hope from person to person … might even bring a smile … across the miles and across cultures

Mosques- Islamic Architecture
Islamic architecture is the story of art and building styles going back to the early origins of Islam and making their way to the present day. Islamic architecture is a very diverse and versatile term which takes its influences from both religious styles as well as secular art forms.
The Muslim conquests of Byzantine, Iran and Rome in 7th and 8th centuries were the major force which served as a reviving stimulus for Islamic architecture. It was greatly influenced by Persian, Roman and Byzantine architecture and this stands indebted to them even today.
As Islam made its way to South Asia and Southeast Asia, Chinese and Indian art forms had their fair share to play in the maturation and ripening of Islamic architecture.
Islamic architecture can broadly be divided into 4 types:
1. The Mosque
2. The Tomb
3. The Palace
4. The Fort
Hereby, Corporate Art Task Force has focused upon famous mosques across the globe and their peculiar architectural delicacies. The importance of mosques in Islamic culture and theology can best be understood by the following verse:
"Behold! We gave the site, to Abraham, of the (Sacred) House, (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me; and sanctify My House for those who compass it round, or stand up, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in prayer)." (Surah Al-Hajj, 26)
The mosques which feature in our collection include Masjid-ul-Aqsa, Putra Mosque, Ibn-e-Talun Mosque, Sultan Omer Saifuddin Mosque, Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, Zahir Mosque and Al-Azhar Mosque. Each one of these mosques is noted for its architectural finesse. The details of each have been supplied along with individual paintings.

Click on the link below to visit our CATF’s collection of Mosques and Islamic Architecture.

http://1-catf.pixels.com/

Islamic Motifs

What are Islamic Motifs?

Geometric patterns tend to be an intrinsic aspect of Islamic art, since it seeks to avoid figurative images. Their origins can be traced back to Sasanian Iran and the Byzantine Culture. These geometric patterns are noted for the specific repetitions of squares and circles. These squares and circles may either be interlaced with each other or they may be overlapping one another.
Consequently, this results in complex and intricate patterns which define Islamic architecture. These Islamic motifs may exist independently or they may be deployed as calligraphic embellishments.

Vegetal Patterns and Islamic Art

These geometric patterns are at times conjugated with vegetal patterns as well in addition to calligraphy. These motifs are produced across the entire Islamic world and are used for a myriad of purposes. They may be used to adorn manuscripts and text on one hand and they may be used to embellish objects and textiles on the other. However, they stand out the most when they bedeck mosques and other buildings.

Arabesque Style Art

The medieval period saw another development in Islamic art when its fully abstract and highly refined ‘arabesque’ style surfaced, noted for its ubiquitous patterns.
These motifs matured further over the centuries and were heavily influenced by Chinese, Italian, Iranian, Turkish and Indian art styles.
Islamic vegetal patterns are now a very popular art form and are incorporated across the globe. They have matured and refined greatly however usually they do not symbolize any characteristic meaning.

CATF’s Collection of Islamic Motifs

In Corporate Art Task Force’s collection of Islamic Motifs, you will come across this art style in its best form. Islamic art's complex patterns seem to embody a refusal to adhere strictly to the rules of geometry. As a matter of fact, geometric ornamentation in Islamic art suggests a remarkable amount of freedom; in its repetition and complexity, it offers the possibility of infinite growth and can accommodate the incorporation of other types of ornamentation as well.


Check out our entire collection of Islamic Motifs at
http://1-catf.pixels.com/

Rajasthani Art and Culture

The culture of Rajasthan is among one of the most colorful, vivid and vibrant cultures that can be found across South Asia. Its artistic and cultural traditions are deeply entrenched in Ancient India and its lifestyle.
Not only is Rajasthan noted for its glamorous culture but its history is equally glorious. In fact, the history of this land can be studied by tracing back its etymology.

Tracing Back Rajasthan’ History

Rajasthan is from the word Rajput which advertently stands for the ‘land/country of Rajputs’.
The tribe or cast of Rajputs is noted for its magnanimous bravery and its history of valiant kings. Thereby, Rajasthan was often known as the land of Rajas or the land of kings. The architecture, music, arts and other cultural aspects of this land are thus suited to its name and are very cultivated.

Rajasthani Music and Dance

The Rajasthani cultural tradition is known for its classical music accompanied with its distinctive dance forms. You can also come across folk music which generally comprises of ballads detailing heroic deeds of kings and princes or love stories. Their religious songs known as bhajans have also gleaned considerable fame.

Rajasthani Arts and Crafts

The colorful and traditional art of Rajasthan also stands on an elevated pedestal. The textiles, handicrafts and others pieces of art are noted for their bright colors and intricate carvings.

Rajasthani Architecture

Rajasthan’s architecture is also one of its kind. Its huge forts, beautiful temples and embellished havelis are what make up the essence of Rajasthani culture and architecture.

Corporate Art Task Force’s Collection of Rajasthani Paintings

The various aspects and facets of this rich culture are numerous. However, hereby we have portrayed some of the very significant ones in our collection of Rajasthani Art-Acrylic paintings. The color palette itself reveals the richness and depth of this culture, whereas the paintings themselves have a lot to say about the significant aspects which constitute this culture.

Monet very eloquently states that all great artists have been impressionists in one way or the other since impressionism is nothing other than direct sensation.

However, it spruced up a modern movement as early as the 1860s. Initially, it gathered fame in Paris and then made its way across the entire Europe and ultimately into the United States. Artists now deviated from the aspirations of fine finishing and detailing and moved on to the impressions gleaned from a fleeting glance.

What Is Impressionist Art All About?

The key tenets behind Impressionistic art were:
- Art doesn’t necessarily has to be a realistic depiction.
- Impressionistic art revolved around intense, pure colors.
- Conventional linear perspective and clarity of form was given up in favor of optical effects of light.

Corporate Art Task Force's Impressionist Art

Here at Corporate Art Task Force, we have magnanimous Impressionist painting at your disposal. Modernity and Art have been inextricably woven together to give the best of each other. In lieu of broad, bold strokes, small patches of intense color have been deployed which given the onlooker an insight into the magical workings of color and light. Not only is the artist and onlooker’s perception deepened about the subject matter but it also helps them to reflect more upon the subject itself.
Our impressionist paints are bright, bold and vibrant. You may not see a lot of detail but you are definitely going to come across lots of palpable sensation and feeling.

There are several well defined genres of art with historical references as evidence such as abstract art, pop art, figurative art etc. However, there is still no single well-defined genre outlining "Islamic" Art. Is there such a thing as "Islamic" Art? If so, then what is it?

I have collected some reading material on this question and posted it below for your viewing. However, in order to fully understand "Islamic Art" I would require first hand inputs of non-academicians or emerging artists. For this purpose, I have started FineArtAmerica's first art group focusing on Islamic Art in order to engage a healthy discussion on what should be the definition of "Islamic Art" in this century while showcasing current (and past) such artworks of all our member artists. I request you to contribute (either through artwork or intellectually in our discussion forums) by joining the group at: http://fineartamerica.com/groups/islamic-art-.html

Defining "Islamic Art"
We can draw a broad boundary by defining Islamic Art as all works of visual art produced from the 7th century onwards by people who lived within the territory that was inhabited by or ruled by culturally islamic populations. This would mean that it covers many lands and various peoples over some 1400 years, making it an art not specific to a religion, a time, a place, or to a single medium like painting!

Typically, though not entirely, Islamic art has focused on the depiction of patterns and Arabic calligraphy, rather than on figures, because it is feared by many Muslims that the depiction of the human form is idolatry and thereby a sin against God, forbidden in the Qur'an.

"Calligraphy"
Islamic calligraphy, also known as Arabic calligraphy, is the artistic practice of handwriting. This art form is based on the Arabic script, which for a long time was used by all Muslims in their respective languages. They used it to represent God because they denied representing God with images. Calligraphy is especially revered among Islamic arts since it was the primary means for the preservation of the Qur'an. Suspicion of figurative art as idolatrous led to calligraphy and abstract depictions becoming a major form of artistic expression in Islamic cultures, especially and particularly in religious contexts.

Arabic, Persian and Ottoman Turkish calligraphy is associated with abstract arabesque motifs on the walls and ceilings of mosques as well as on the page. Contemporary artists in the Islamic world draw on the heritage of calligraphy to use calligraphic inscriptions or abstractions in their work.


References:

1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_art
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_calligraphy