I was sitting at my study desk with a blank page in my spiral notebook. I wasn’t sure what to draw or what the outcome would be. My mind was filled with thoughts about Eid al-Adha, which is approaching on Monday. For those unfamiliar with Eid al-Adha, it is an important Islamic holiday commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God's command. Instead, God provided a ram to sacrifice, and this act of obedience and faith is honored by Muslims through the ritual sacrifice of an animal.
As I pondered, I reflected on the essence of Eid al-Adha and the importance of upholding our religious values during the celebration. For instance, it's crucial to ensure that the animals are treated humanely and not subjected to unnecessary pain. Islamic teachings emphasize that one should not sacrifice an animal in the presence of another to avoid causing distress. Furthermore, cleanliness and neatness are vital throughout the Eid al-Adha celebrations, yet we often witness streets stained with blood and animals being sacrificed in inappropriate settings.
Additionally, it is important to distribute the meat equitably: one-third for the family, one-third for relatives, and one-third for those in need. However, sometimes people might prioritize their preferences over the principles of charity and fairness. These thoughts, though they concern a minority, weighed on my mind as I stared at the blank page.
I pondered what I should draw to capture the spirit of Eid al-Adha. Finally, I decided to create an artwork depicting a public gathering, as Eid is a time when people come together, often reuniting with those they haven't seen in years. But what should the gathering place look like? Should it be a room, a hall, or a banquet? I wasn’t sure, but I knew I wanted to reflect the essence of community and togetherness that Eid al-Adha brings.
After finalizing my idea, I paused to capture an aesthetic photo with the tools I'll use for the artwork. These pencils belong to the H and B series, offering varying degrees of hardness and softness that I'll employ based on the needs of my artistic process.
Now I needed a perspective for the image. I employed the single-point perspective technique and began sketching the scene using a soft pencil. As I added a tree, I questioned my decision-did I truly envision the 'gathering' outdoors, or was there another reason? These doubts lingered as I completed the three-sided walls. Unsure if it was a mall or a park, I contemplated the setting.
I continued adding more trees, following my intuition. I also enhanced the depth of the image by refining elements such as space, distance, and background. As the pieces started to harmonize, I questioned why I was drawing from the viewer's perspective, focusing intensely on elements that engage the viewer as if they were part of the artwork itself. Despite my doubts, a part of me wanted to pause, yet another part urged me to press on.
When I decided not to give up, I started outlining the artwork with a firmer pencil. I began refining the shape and texture of the trees. At this point, they looked more like lollipops to me than actual trees. I hesitated to change their texture because I worried it might mess up the whole picture. So, I decided to keep things as they were in terms of space and texture.
After finishing the tree shapes, which looked more like lollipops or cabbage at that stage, I added finer details to make them more realistic. I also included elements like stalls, creating a lively atmosphere within the scene. This, along with seating areas and clear boundaries, helped my 2D artwork start to resemble a 3D space, giving it a touch of realism.
I wanted to make my artwork more lively, so I included human figures inspired by the animated show 'I am the Best Muslim'. Adding grass under the trees made it look more realistic. I also decorated the trees. By this point, I was feeling tired and imagined myself peacefully sitting in the place shown in my artwork.
To add more life to the scene, I included three additional figures. The image is finished, but I'm unsure exactly what it represents. It's clearly a gathering, but is it from my imagination, like something from a dream that doesn't quite make sense? Or is it meant to depict a park or an outdoor mall? I'd appreciate your thoughts in the comments below. Did you like this image? Please let me know your feedback and any suggestions for how I can improve in my future artworks. Should I try working with watercolors, or stick to sketching for now?
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