Fluid art has forever mesmerised us with the kaleidoscope of colours each unique piece creates. This month, we discovered the stunning acrylic pour paintings of Salman Fouad Kamal of SFKDESIGNS. BTM had a little chat with Salman to find out more.
How long have you been creating art for?
I got into art when I was around 16 years old, starting with sketching, but wanted to get into the Digital art world. Being a big fan of CGI, I acquired the necessary softwares I needed and relied on online classes and tutorials to get a head start on my learning.
Currently, I work on both Digital and Acrylic art.
Tell us about your journey with different art styles. How would you describe your art now?
I have a mix of styles! My earlier work focused on Fantasy characters - mainly 3D sculptures and character creations; the type of art that can be used in movies or video games. Those were created parallel to my learning earlier on to showcase the skills I acquired. I then transitioned to a calligraphy/ graffiti art style. While interesting to do, I was still looking for something else - this is where my passion for fluid art started!
I wanted to create something that is tangible and unique which can be looked at on a daily basis. The one thing that grabbed my interest in this type of art is that, not a single piece created can be replicated - this way any piece made is unique which is something I completely value!
Who would you say is an inspiration to you when it comes to art and the creative field?
My family! I am blessed to be surrounded by artists in my family - my father is an artist; his work is traditional and draws inspiration from his childhood and family portraits. My elder brother is actually one of the people that inspired me to get into digital art in the first place. He has a mixed style of digital, sketching and pyrography (wood burning art). My sister is also an inspiration and is the main person I go to to discuss ideas, color schemes and different art styles that I want to incorporate into my art.
Which mediums do you work with?
Mainly, I use acrylic paints for my fluid ‘Acrylic Pour’ paintings. However, I like to experiment with different mediums and techniques to see what kind of results I would get. This is key as different mediums and techniques give me experimental results that look unique and give a different outlook to my art.
What are your thoughts on the art scene in Bahrain?
Over the years I’ve noticed many exhibitions and art spaces popping up that give local artists the chance to showcase their art. I think there is a lot of untapped potential in the Kingdom and recently there is a shift from traditional art into more contemporary concepts. It’s more of a cultural shift, you can see the progression and importance of art in many local areas such as Bahrain Bay and Block 338.
This is an exciting opportunity to give upcoming artists the platform they need to grow and showcase their work. Personally, this plays a huge role in giving new artists, such as myself, the inspiration and confidence to tap into a market that is sought out for in the Kingdom.
Any collaborations in the pipeline?
I am always looking forward to collaborate with different artists to help each other push our work to another level.
