Meet Walija Nahal
Introduction
Meet Walija Nahal, an illustrator and artist whose work delves into human emotions and experiences.
Q. What inspires your work and design style?
I guess it’s mostly people, their emotions, and experiences. As far as style is concerned, you don’t know why you gravitate towards a particular thing. I enjoy line art and portraits, and something emerges from it. It reflects what occupied my thoughts at that time. Occasionally, it’s also influenced by my current experiences, allowing me to create something from those moments.
Q. What's your general creative process?
I usually start with a photograph that leads to an idea, and sometimes the idea will lead to a reference (photograph). At the end of both these roads, a piece emerges, and I work on it for as long as I feel like working on it.
Q. What are some challenges you've faced in your creative journey, and how did you overcome them?
Initially, it is difficult to visualize or solidify a particular thought. Eventually, it becomes easier the more you practice a particular mental muscle. But you must persist through the initial phases because often they are the most difficult ones
Q. If you could time travel, which era or period in history would you visit for artistic inspiration, and why?
Well, if I have to, then I might choose the Victorian era, although we know a lot about it through movies and books. Still, it depicts a particular aesthetic that you would want to experience for yourself. But it is indeed very interesting regarding how people lived their lives in those times. Talking about people, the ancient Egyptian civilization is something that everybody would want to see or experience. However, only from a distance do they seem intriguing because the ground realities of those times were disturbing. When I think about the realities, not much has changed.
Q. Which emotion or mood do you find the most inspiring for your creative work, and why?
Well, I believe individuals shape their creations based on their knowledge and curiosity. What they produce reflects their identity, and this process is deeply personal, even intimidating. As I examine my work, I perceive elements of chaos, clutter, and confusion, as well as the journey through chaos, understanding of my surroundings, and moments of surrender. These thoughts and emotions, which I contemplate mostly subconsciously, eventually find expression in my work. It’s only when you take a step back that you can connect the dots.
