Huda Noor Baydoun is an undergraduate student majoring in special education at Dar Al-Hekma College in Jeddah. On graduation, Baydoun wishes to pursue postgraduate studies in art therapy.
The 22-year-old paints with a small brush on smooth surface canvas, a method that was used by Picasso. For inspiration, Baydoun looks to the celebrated painter Jackson Pollock. She uses different materials from watercolor, charcoal, oil color, pastel and, her favorites, acrylics. She also uses different canvas sizes. “It all depends on the style and vision I see for the paining. I sometimes use different supplies for one painting,” she said.
She places a mole on the left cheek of every portrait she paints as it is a symbol of beauty and reflects her own mole, something that gives her painting a personal touch.
Baydoun, who finds inspiration in house music, says painting is a way for her to express her thoughts and emotions. Her mood decides what to paint, how to paint and which colors to use. “It becomes clear from some of my paintings whether I was happy or angry when I painted it as I use dark and gloomy colors when I’m in a bad mood, and cheerful and jolly colors when I’m thrilled and pleased,” she said.
“My paintings reflect well how I feel at any moment. For instance, I once saw a historical tragic movie and painted a portrait of a man who looks like a mummy,” she said.
Some people appreciate Baydoun’s paintings, while others strongly reject them. Her works are either abstract paintings or portraits. Some people view her abstracts as scribbles and say her portraits are Haram (against Islam). “Those comments make me sad, but make me stronger at the same time. I’m a stubborn girl and comments like these make me paint more. I know that the more people criticize me the more I become better,” she said.
“Saudis buy more abstracts than portraits, since abstracts contain no images of human beings and they … carry a great mixture of colors,” she added.
Baydoun began painting at an early age; a schoolteacher encouraged her to embrace her talent and helped her develop her skills. Baydoun first displayed her paintings at a high school exhibition when she was 16. She later started taking pictures of her paintings and showed them to people and artists and then published them on Facebook.
She seeks people’s opinions on her work, which give her confidence and help her paint more. She began selling her paintings when she turned 18 and started to hold public exhibitions. She also participated in an art competition in 2007 hosted by Atelier Jeddah and won third place.
She has also exhibited her work at the Al-Rahala and Ghassan Motors exhibitions, and in O Magazine. She is currently displaying her paintings at Z Club, Stars Avenue and Tifa Boutique.
“I’ve found a great deal of comfort in and support from my family; my father is the first person who sees my paintings and comments on them. My mother is also supportive; she is looking to help me establish my own art gallery as soon as I graduate,” she said.
Baydoun wishes to do art therapy, because it combines her two passions — art and psychology — and will allow her to help people with special needs and teach them how to express their feelings through painting and sketching.
Baydoun’s work can be viewed on her Facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26772313719&ref=ts
