In the heart of every artist lies a labyrinth of emotions, struggles, and revelations. My journey as an artist is no exception. I began learning art in 2003, and started as an amateur painter around 2008 or 2009. During those early years, my canvases remained silent, nameless. It wasn’t until the inception of “Strokes of Chaos” in 2019 that I started naming them, each title a beacon of my evolution and self-discovery. You may ask, “Why the change after so long?” Well, the reasons are deeply intertwined with my quest for identity and artistic freedom.

Silent Years

In my early days, I was lost in the shadows of the masters and mentors who shaped my path. Their guidance was absolutely invaluable, but at the same time it also felt restrictive. My work, although skillfully crafted, felt more like a tribute to their visions than a manifestation of my own. As a result, these pieces never truly felt like mine. I therefore decided not to identify them, with the exception of “Bangladesh on the Outset.”

There was even a period when the very thought of painting filled me with absolute dread. The chaos of creation was overwhelming, a wild beast I sought to tame. I yearned for control, for order amidst the mess. This led me to even stepping away from the easel for quite some time. During this period I delved into other academic and personal pursuits that offered structure and predictability whilst my love for painting waned.

A New Beginning

After a five-year hiatus, I was drawn back to the canvas. A conversation with a friend is what rekindled my passion. This return to art was different- charged with renewed passion and absolute clarity. I wanted to paint, to create, and most importantly, to narrate the stories that danced in my fabled mind. Naming my paintings became essential in this new chapter. Initially, I would paint first and name the piece later, letting the art choose its persona. As I grew more confident, the process reversed. I began by naming my thoughts first, giving structure to the theme I was composing, and from those sparks, I crafted my paintings.

More recently, some of my best-selling paintings come with a description, a snapshot of my thought process during its creation. I call them “Artistic Insights.” I want my viewers to see my paintings through my eyes, to feel the emotions and thoughts that inspired each piece. This need for structure, for guiding interpretation, is still strong within me. I prefer to gently nudge my audience to journey back to the moment of creation with me, to experience the world as I saw it.

Bedlam Muses

Inspiration is a capricious muse, visiting at the most unexpected times. For me, these glimpses of thoughts came rapidly and in such fragmented forms that I often either struggled to remember them or synchronise them on to the blank canvas. Over the years, I have learned how to harness and capture these fleeting moments, allowing me to carefully organise, reflect and expand upon them when I have the time.

Naming my paintings has become an integral way to anchor these bedlam muses, transforming ephemeral thoughts into tangible stories. Through this process, I invite my viewers to experience the chaos and the calm, the struggle and the triumph that define my artistic journey.

This blog, “Bedlam Muses,” is named to reflect the chaotic yet inspiring nature of my creative process. “Bedlam” speaks to the disorder and madness that often accompanies the act of my creations- the wild, untamed thoughts that rush through my mind. “Muse,” on the other hand, represents the source of my inspiration, the guiding force that transforms chaos into art. Together, “Bedlam Muse” captures the essence of my artistic journey: a blend of chaos and creativity, struggle and inspiration. It is an echo of the tumultuous yet beautiful process of bringing my visions to life.

So, as you step into the world of “Strokes of Chaos,” you are not just observing my paintings; you are walking alongside me through the landscapes of my mind. Each title is a doorway, each piece a story waiting to unfold.

® Strokes of Chaos