Celebrating Mother and Artist – Julie Ahmad
My goal for the month of May was to celebrate artists in our community that are also mothers! I have to say that May got the best of me, but it is never too late to do what you planned to do, even if it's a little late! Our first artist mom that I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing was Julie Ahmad, artist and instructor of our amazing online offering, ZEN ABSTRACTS!
How did you get into painting abstracts - what did that journey look like?
I attribute my life as an artist to my daughter. When I was pregnant, I often felt this strong burning desire to be creative and work with my hands. There was some kind of organic correlation between my body being in the state of creation and my heart urging my hands to do the same, so my journey into becoming a professional artist began. I paint in an intuitive style, not always having the final outcome in mind from the start. It’s a journey and practice in patience and trust. Getting there and discovering where the canvas will lead me is often full of surprises. Layer after layer, a piece can take anywhere from 4 or 5 days to 4 or 5 weeks to create. The process is what it is and although not always to my liking, it must be honored.
What do you love about painting abstracts?
I am always so curious to see what it is like to color ‘outside the lines.’ With abstract art you make up the rules as you go… With abstract art you make up the rules as you go… There is no wrong or right and this feels incredibly liberating to me. I was most drawn to the looseness and forgiving qualities of abstract art. There were no rules here, you could make them up as you went along and I wanted more of that. My paintings consist of a lot of color, texture, and PERSONALITY! Each piece carries a different story; I love how every observer catches new things that jump out to them within a painting. There are always new discoveries within abstract paintings and I love that exciting element of abstract art.
How do you balance being an artist and a mother?
As both a professional artist and a mother, it can be extremely difficult to balance it all… I struggle with this every day as I am juggling between my kids’ crazy school schedules and extracurricular activities, basic house upkeep duties, and my career. I definitely have to compromise my profession constantly, however these challenges in motherhood have made my voice stronger in initiating the distribution of responsibilities between myself and my husband. My children always take precedence but I am constantly fighting for my career. I utilize Saturdays for my painting days and can only do this if the kiddos are taken care of and I ensure that Sundays are always family days. Everything almost always lands on the mother’s shoulders with kiddos and I try my best to balance the responsibilities. I definitely am unapologetic about it and encourage women to embrace their careers in addition to being fantastic mothers. Motherhood is a journey but is filled with so much love and beautiful experiences. I am so grateful to be a mother of 2 wonderful children- they inspire me each day to be the best I can be, not only as a mother but as an artist.
Would you like to learn to create beautiful abstract paintings like Julie? If so, we have an amazing online course with her! In Julie's online course, ZEN ABSTRACTS, you will be given the tools and knowledge to learn this intuitive approach to layered mixed media abstract painting. Step by step, I will guide you through the process of understanding the properties of each of the mediums we will be using and how they interact with one another. With this knowledge there is a wide space to experiment, giving you the freedom to take risks with your art without fear of consequence.
It’s an absolute pleasure working with you Kara.! Thanks for the feature and giving me an opportunity to speak on the balance between art career and parenting. I hope to encourage and give insight to others out there who are on a similar path.
http://www.julieahmad.com
Hi Julie!
We feel so lucky to have you teaching in our community! I also love that you are able to share your own life with others to encourage and support the path of those that may not feel like they have time for both family, and art! xo
Wonderful interview and beautiful paintings! I especially loved reading how Julie advocates for her career while juggling the responsibilities of motherhood. Cheers to strong women!
Hi Julie,
Hi my name is Aaliyah I am julie’s daughter I loved the interview. My mom is an amazing artist I am always so proud of her when she comes home. She does so much at home and is still able to be so successful and brave. She also has to deal with my brother Nick. She’s AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
Your mom is amazing and you are so lucky to have her!! She is an incredible artist and person!