Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Talented teenager Shereen Arayedh has painted her way into the hearts of art lovers across the kingdom with her colourful canvases and is a ‘chip off the old block’ as she creates cool designs for her artisan father’s woodwork business.
The 18-year-old Bahrain Polytechnic business student may never have attended art classes during her days at Al Wafaa Secondary School but she always had a keen eye for detail, adored pop culture and had a flair for the creative.
She has formed her own business on Instagram called @artbysheryy to showcase her sketches, vibrant paintings as well as her make-up artist skills. “I’m a self-taught artist,” said Shereen who lives in Sanad and will be switching her major to web media. “I discovered my talent when I was 14 and my passion for art then grew. I was inspired to create custom-made canvases by my father Arsalan.
“While I’m interested in all kinds of art forms, I tend to be more attracted to ‘pop art’ and face make-up.
“Art is a hobby to me and the only way that I feel I can properly express my feelings. It brings joy to me life. It’s an escape from the busy and loud world. That’s my inspiration. I’ve also been encouraged by my family and friends to continue painting with oil and acrylic which boosted my confidence even further.”
Shereen’s affinity for design doesn’t fall far from the family tree as Arsalan also found his drive for the medium in his teens but decided to pursue a path in system engineering instead.
The 42-year-old said: “Back then, art wasn’t in much demand and technology was booming but, I have always been attracted to it.”
He graduated from Bahrain University in 1998 as a computer science engineer and worked in Bahrain Credit Co as IT admin for five years before joining Gulf Air in 2004. Two years ago, Arsalan began woodworking and since then the senior system engineer has not looked back … and now his daughter is working by his side too.
“I started first building cages for my love birds,” he said. “I loved the outcome and it didn’t stop there. I was really enthusiastic to learn more about the carpentry field and my father-in-law, A. Hussain Ebrahim Al Darwish, is my inspiration. He’s a professional carpenter with more than 35 years of woodworking experience.
“I have made several artwork pieces for my friends and family that added a touch of pizazz to their interiors. I use many different materials including wood, metal, stones and paint but I enjoy vintage woodwork the most.”
Arsalan creates vintage furniture and axes, bird cages, yard tables, picture frames, prints pictures on wood and builds wood docking stations.
He and his wife Khatoon, 42, a natural homemade soap-maker and businesswoman, built an outdoor hut in their home for the dynamic duo to create in.
“My wife helped me in choosing the colours and combining the materials together,” he said. “She has a calm sensitive approach to designs and assists me in setting the tone for my work.”
Arsalan is currently working on building a more spacious place, from scratch, to conduct the woodwork business. “My dream is to be one of the best woodworkers in the Gulf,” he added. “I love the fact that I can turn wood into a unique piece of work that will last a lifetime. I love when someone comes to me with something I have never built before. I am up for the challenge. I enjoy woodworking and it is the key to my success. It teaches me patience, precision and creativity.”
Shereen is now his designer and adds her own natural touches to beautify his work further.
“The idea of working with fathers may seem a nightmare for some,” she said, “but to me, working with my dad is really fun and I have learned a lot. I feel more responsible and mature while working with him.
“Thanks to him, I learned to be more timely and organised. Working with family doesn’t only create a stronger bond between us but also makes successes more fun and satisfying. It’s our fun thing to do!”
So far they have designed a food truck together from scratch for BBQ Smokehouse. Shereen has also found success from her art having sold seven paintings and orders are still piling in. “That was the moment I realised I was making money while doing something I loved,” she said. “This is just the beginning. My goal is to become a well-known artist in Bahrain and launch my own art exhibition.”
Shereen’s younger sisters Reema, 16, and Noor, 11, who both attend government schools, also enjoy art. “It runs in the family,” said Arsalan.
Shereen’s work starts from BD10 and Arslan’s items can be snapped up from BD5.
For details, follow @woodcraft.bh or email woodcraft.bh@gmail.com.
