When & why did you first begin making art?
Like I said uh, I started at a young age and veered away from it. But when I’m at work, I always find myself doodling and visiting art websites and planning projects that I would do when I reached home. One day I asked myself, why am I here? So I left my day job and began pursuing art.

You left to study Fine Arts in London, do think travel has influenced your development as an artist?
Oh definitely. I think, in the most ways it influenced me and showed me what I am capable of in a competitive environment, especially in the arts.

What exhibitions or artists have left a strong impression on you?
There are so many amazing artists that definitely influenced me. Diane Arbus the photographer of freaks, not only her art, but also her story which somehow I can relate to. For example, society was trying to stop her from being an artist. Now no one is stopping me from becoming an artist but it’s not a very widely accepted profession. People don’t say oh wow you’re an artist. A lot of contemporary artists as well…Damian Hirst and Tracie Emin. Their work is extremely outlandish and I find inspiration in them.

Mixed media seems to be your preferred medium? What does it give you that other mediums don’t?
It’s the opportunity to change when I am bored. After hours of working on the same thing I feel I’ve used a certain medium to its full capacity. So switching keeps me working on a piece. If I don’t feel a piece I don’t feel I am doing it well.

Could you take us through your process in creating your artwork?
I usually stare at a blank canvas for a while before I touch it. It’s weird but it feels sacred to me…well it’s not that weird. Like I get really excited in stationery stores. And I work hours at a time and it’s usually horrible, like while I am working I think bad bad bad really bad to the point where I want to stop but I power through and eventually I am satisfied.

What ideas or issues do you feel are currently influencing your work?
Definitely stages in life that I go through, especially now that it’s so dynamic when you are young. I try to stay away from politics because I don’t think I understand it. Mostly it’s about my personal journey in life.

What are your plans for the future, professionally and personally?
Personally, I plan to have twenty children and make an army of artists. Hahahaa! Professionally I’d like to complete my masters in one of the centres of the art world, like New York or London and come back to Bahrain and start an art movement to show people that an artist can be successful in his or her chosen path.

Where do you think art in Bahrain is heading?
First of all I think its come a long way since the past 5 years. It has definitely moved forward. Many artists have been actively creating these days and I hope people in Bahrain begin to appreciate the value that art brings. They don’t realize it but there is art in everything we appreciate; in cars, fashion, even snapple bottles. And without art we would live in a very plain and boring world. And that is a world I don’t want to live in.