Mastery – If someone has a mastery of something, they are extremely skilled at it. In this new series, we are going to look at local case studies and interview contemporary masters, from sports people, writers, singers, explorers, artists, scientists and musicians, so we can learn how to unlock the secrets of mastery.

Let’s learn about inspiring characters who have mastered their skill or trade, and learn some new words in the process. Let’s get to know artist Kareem from Ipoh and his journey as an artist.

As a child, Kareem would sit with his father and watch him draw and sketch. These father-and-son bonding sessions marked the birth of a young artist, who would go on to showcase his first solo exhibition as a teenager.

“Watching my father draw and sketch piqued my own interest in art. Very soon, I was drawing all the time.

“At around the age of four, I started learning seriously from my father, who was also an artist.

“Then when I was about six, my parents insisted on me taking formal lessons under master artist, Chow Ngan Moi, from which I learned drawing, sketching and Chinese brush painting until I was about 18.

“I received additional training, especially in sculpture, batik, art history and art appreciation from my art teachers in school,” related Kareem, who is now 26.

According to Kareem, he was either drawing and painting or singing and dancing from a young age.

“I am very lucky to have been raised in a family which respected the arts. Whereas my father was an artist, my mother is involved in the theatre. My mother taught me to sing and both my parents were at one time quite involved in the Perak Society of Performing Arts (PSPA).

“I, too, was into theatre and performing. I was a costume designer for PSPA productions in my school days. It was my first job at the age of 15,” he said.

After completing his formal education came the time for Kareem to make a choice. To be a thespian or an artist – that was the question.

“I decided to do the sensible thing and went with art. It was also part of a realisation that as much as I like acting, I’d always be unconsciously sketching or drawing in between sets.

“Now, art is my life,” said Kareem, who debuted his first solo exhibition “In the World Through My Eyes” at just 18.

The exhibition showcased some 100 works comprising of sketches, drawings, paintings, statues, sculptures and Chinese brush paintings, demonstrating Kareem’s mastery of different mediums of artwork.

Later in 2019, he organised and curated the “From the Art Room” exhibition for his students of the “Ipoh Fine Art Class” with the support of the People of Remarkable Talents (PORT) to raise funds for a children’s home.

These days, as a professional artist and art teacher, Kareem is either taking orders for paintings and customised artwork or teaching art on the weekends if he’s not working towards another exhibition.

“I draw almost every day and I try to complete as many drawings as possible within a day. Creating a completed work of art can take anywhere from a week to a couple of months, sometimes years, but I enjoy the process!

“My father has been my greatest inspiration and though he is no longer with us, I’d like to believe I’m carrying on for the both of us.”

 

Words to learn:

contemporary – belonging to or occurring in the present

sketch – a rough design of a painting or drawing

showcase – to exhibit or display

pique – to provoke or arouse

scribble – to write or draw hastily

formal education – learning delivered in a school setting

thespian – an actor or actress

realisation – to become fully aware of something as a fact

unconsciously – without realising or being aware of one’s actions

incline – have a tendency to do something

debut – a person’s first appearance or performance in a particular capacity

customise – to build according to one’s specifications or preference

inspiration – encouragement, influence

Skill and talent takes time to cultivate. As Kareem has taken years from the time he first picked up a pencil to sketch until he finally put up the courage to showcase his work to the public, mastering English does not happen overnight. So take heart and put in lots of practice. You will get there eventually. The good news is that ILTI is here to guide you on your journey towards English proficiency. Start your journey in Cambridge English now by visiting ilti.edu.my or call 010-395 3067.