Watercolour collage titled Nature Rising I.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

India-born, Emirates-based artist Beena Samuel discovered her passion for Art right in school years. “Colours, textures, shapes, the play of light and shadow enticed me to draw and paint,” she says. Her mature style is abstract and lyrical, with a leaning for organic forms and free flowing compositions “capturing the unseen qualities of space and time.”

Watercolours and Silk Paintings are her first love. She also sculpts, creates mosaics and upcycles her works in mixed media. An experimental attitude and an openness to new ideas and media and her education and training in Art has been reinforced by working with renowned international artists living in the UAE, US, UK and France. Resident of the UAE since 1982, Samuel’s background is in Accountancy.

Her childhood love of Art was reignited when she began living and working in Oman and Al Ain. She considers herself blessed to be able to pursue her calling fully, after moving into Dubai in 1995.

A recipient of several awards, including the prestigious UAE Watercolour Challenge in 2003, and someone who has been written about in leading publications, she has exhibited in group and solo shows in the UAE, since 1999. Her works can be found in private collections in the UAE and worldwide.

From commissioned works to charity, there is hardly a field in the art sector she has not been part of. She is currently an Art Instructor in Creative Watercolour and Silk Painting at the Dubai International Art Centre (DIAC), Jumeirah. Beena Samuel talks to Gulf Today on her life and art

How did an Accountant turn to Abstract painting?

I worked for ten years, and then took a break to stay at home and take care of my two children.

When my younger child started schooling, I decided to study watercolour — it was my first love — with Prabha Garg, the well-known Indian artist, while living in AlAin/Buraimi. It was a tough and difficult decision because I couldn’t afford it!  There was no money coming in, and artists were not much valued.

 Beena Samuel is based in the UAE.

I used to admire then famous UAE watercolourists from DIAC, especially Patricia Al Fakhri, Jean Haines and Jane Love Elliot, Tina Siddiqui, Donna Acheson Juillet and my first drawing teacher at DIAC, the famous Ethiopian artist Alem Goshime. While drawing and painting, I found it helped when I simplified shapes. I saw shapes, textures and colours all around me.

That is when the abstraction happened. And watercolour, being a tough medium, I needed to think of simplifying everything around me. My philosophy in life is to ‘keep it simple’.

As teacher, what gives you most satisfaction?

I enjoy sharing my ideas, skill and knowledge. I enjoy inspiring others in creativity, opening their eyes to new possibilities. And my students inspire me in return.

As artist, what makes you happy?

It is creativity that sustains my whole being. I consider it a blessing to be able to work on new ideas, to create something beautiful and meaningful.

As a commissioned artist, what makes you proud?

It is indeed very special when I am commissioned to create an artwork that my client enjoys owning and derives a great deal of pleasure. I feel proud when someone values my work and considers it worth paying for.

 Composition titled Rustic Landscape II by Beena Samuel. 

Why do you like Nature? Nature can be violent too …

Nature has raw authenticity. The trees and flowers bloom, seemingly without a grand purpose, the streams and rivers glide and flow. They provide us with so much support and pleasure! Nature is strong and powerful, yet gentle too. Probably she likes the contrast, her untameable properties. We are only a tiny speck on this earth and we have to understand and abide by her rules.

How did your life in Oman and Al Ain influence you as a Nature lover?

While living in Al Ain and Buraimi/Muscat, perhaps what was inspirational was the barren desert landscape of Abu Dhabi/Al Ain, the red sand dunes, the date palms, the strong desert sunlight, the colourful mountains of Oman, the beautiful arabesque architecture …

How do you get your art ideas?

My ideas come from observing the sunlight falling on objects, watching nature and people, playing/experimenting with ideas/materials, reading a beautiful book or absorbing poetry, working with other artists … I believe inspiration is all around us, everywhere. 

Who are the artists you look up to? Why?

I look up to all my art mentors who have taught me creativity, my artist friend Diyali Sen Bhalla who taught me to share and to have courage and art teachers like Corine Pagny and Guillaume Delorme, who taught me to be expressive. Some of my favourite Old Masters are Jatin Das, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and Vincent Van Gogh.

Does the UAE have a strong market for abstracts?

I have never thought of the market while creating art. My aim is to work at expressing myself with truth and authenticity. I am a strong believer of ‘living in the moment’. So I work with whatever life throws my way. For example, if I find twisted metal wires on my path, I will utilise them in my art for that day ... which is why you will find variety in my expressions. It has been a decade now, since I have been creating upcycled artworks out of used/old/re-purposed materials. It has found a strong following in UAE art circles.