Archive for March 2015

Is Islamic Art religious?

Art is not a person that must choose between religious or secular aspirations but art is beauty, loved and possessed by those who have fine tastes.

Keep Creating and let the doubters walk!

Artists, Pay Attention to Social Media; Michael Cuffe has a point.

Michael Cuffe on social media marketing and building your art career

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WA0KecvP-g

I have been following

many artists and art coaches over the years to move my art career hopefully in the right direction. Young artists reach out to me about how to move their art career forward. I would recommend Cuffe’s talk on social media for the aspiring artists. Art career is all about having a laser like focus and a commitment to yourself. I love the advice Prophet Muhammad gave to his family when asked about what the best acts are. He said the best actions are those that you consistently do even if they are small in your sight. I have been blessed to have stability at home and work to create a grassroots Islamic art dialogue. And I admire people like Michael Cuffe who share their knowledge to help us grow as artists.

Let me get back to Michael Cuffe, a Founder and Editor in Chief of Warholian, as well as a recognized photojournalist. He is an expert in the realm of social media and brand building, Cuffe has a way of simplifying difficult concepts into few simple words. As an artist, you should definitely look into using Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Google+, etc. to share your work and this video is one of my favorites so do check it out!

Michael Cuffe’s Fine Art World Trajectory for Art Students:

School à people start noticing your work →  Group shows →  Solo shows →  Museums (cultural interest) →  Museum (installation) →  Blue chip collectors →  … Fame & Fortune (my two cents!). “In the fine art world when you start to work with the museum, your work itself just starts to go up in money like crazy!”

Cuffe talks about helping artist gain control of their art career. He realized early in the game that everybody in the art industry was paying attention to art only and “No one was really highlighting the artist”. It really resonated with me when Cuffe mentioned that “Your art is one thing and you are another”. Art does not have any emotions but artists do. The lesson I learned is to keep on learning and creating and share the wealth of art. 

Please do share about your art expedition and the lessons you have learned on this journey.

A tribute to #ourthreewinners by Faraz Khan at ISCJ ART Gala 2/14/15

A Few Questions for the Zaytuna College Faculty & Students

I would love to sit in a class and ask some pertinent questions that come up in many conversations about art and Islam. I do understand that Zaytuna defines itself as a liberal arts college and not a seminary of Islamic Studies and thus nurtures discussing issues that are religious and secular in nature.

·         Would the staff and students reengage the tradition on art and entertainment and seek new understandings on music, portraits, sculptures, or will they simply follow the tradition that has been explained by the masters?

·         How would American Muslims define or be encouraged in various fields of fine arts?

·         Can we go beyond Arabic calligraphy or different shades of patterns and writings and still be considered Islamic art?

·         How do American Muslim leaders view pop culture? The good, bad, and ugly! And where can we contribute?

·         How would Zaytuna view the cultural contributions of the American Muslim community in the fields of arts and entertainment? Will the response endorse isolation from the culture making process? Or will it engage the challenge of shaping a new parallel culture? Or will it simply drop the question as a vain quest of fame and desire?

I look forward to your replies and discussion at Zaytuna College.

The Making of Grassroots American Islamic Art Image: Ya Allah written in Arabic Calligraphy By Faraz Khan. 2015.

8:00 pm, Saturday, March 20, 2015 (rescheduled)
Faraz Khan at Zaytuna College, California
I am excited to take the grassroots American Islamic Art movement to the West Coast!

Zaytuna College received accreditation a couple of weeks ago to become the first accredited American Muslim liberal arts college. I have always been convinced that college campuses are the best places to educate and direct grassroots aactivism.

Fall 2015, I will be taking my call for American Islamic art to Zaytuna College community. Many American Muslims see Zaytuna on a mission to educate the next generation of Muslim leaders to give a sense of direction to Islam and Muslims in America. Zaytuna a brainchild of Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir, and Hatim Bazian is a liberal arts college that aims to produce individuals well-versed in both Western and Islamic civilizations.

Arabic Calligraphy Program with Faraz Khan at Fairfield University, Fairfield MSA.

There has been so much written about a career in the art world. One of hand, you have the picture of starving artists and on the other hand, you have inexplicable paintings being sold for millions of dollars…

How do I develop myself as an artist? I have read about a couple of dozen books on the topic of art career. Authors such as Alyson B. Stanfield and Edward Winkleman have really precious advice for entrepreneur artists in my boat. Their works are easy to read and cover similar topics (except for Winkleman’s work on Art Gallery). If you want a quick simple A – Z approach, I would recommend Alyson Stanfield’s “I ‘d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion”. I have actually bought multiple copies of Alyson’s work for my interns and have heard only good reviews from them. In a few simple words, if you really want to make a mark in the art world, keep hitting the nail 🙂

My Five Book Recommendations on Art Career:

How to Start and Run a Commercial Art Gallery

Jul 14, 2009 by Edward Winkleman

ART/WORK: Everything You Need to Know (and Do) As You

Pursue Your Art Career

Mar 24, 2009 by Heather Darcy Bhandari and Jonathan Melber

How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself Without Selling Your Soul

Jun 9, 2009 by Caroll Michels

The Artist’s Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love

Jun 9, 2009 by Jackie Battenfield

I’d Rather Be in the Studio!: The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion

Feb 9, 2015 by Alyson B. Stanfield

Faraz Khan demonstrating live speed painting technique at the ISCJ Islamic Art Gala on February 14, 2015. Speed painting with glue and glitter is a simple concept that works well when infused with a surprise image that the audience could relate with. Faraz Khan work explores concepts in Arabic calligraphy. He is the 2015 artist-in-residence at the Arts Council of Princeton, NJ. More info: www.FarazKhanArtStudio.com

For the Love of Art,

Live Art Demonstration by Faraz Khan

February 14, 2015

ISCJ, South Brunswick, New Jersey.

It was a festive art event. A surprise tribute to the three victims of the Chapel Hill, North Carolina shooting. I was expected to do an art demonstration and thought about doing something that will communicate the sacrifice of #OurThreeWinners. You could also hear my remarks in the second video about art and identity.

Faraz Khan post art demonstration comment.