Maitha Demithan

2011-11-25T01:43:00.001-08:00

watercolour and ink on paper.

2011-10-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

Title : Phthalo Blue, 24x31cm, charcoal and thread.

Portrait of Steve Jobs

2011-10-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

Indian Ink on paper... RIP Steve Jobs

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life,"

"Because almost everything —all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important."

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

2011-02-05T04:00:00.001-08:00

studio mess..

2011-01-28T07:42:00.000-08:00

Burj Khalifa

Nad al Shiba sky..

Stunning..

the blue window

My Studio..

Final project for printmaking..

He's listening..

I love the colours here..

2011-01-14T02:39:00.000-08:00

Rania Ezzat and Joshua Watts in the printlab at Zayed University

Joshua Watts looking for coffee at Tashkeel

Ice-cream van arrived at Tashkeel

Hadiyah super excited !

Rebecca, Jill, and Khalid..

Hassa ironing my cloth before printing..

2011-01-11T07:24:00.000-08:00

Joshua Watts - during class..

Mohammed - Tashkeel

Me - Tashkeel

Paolo Maria - Tashkeel

Nad al Shiba

1-1-11

Biladi - Tashkeel

2010-12-25T00:18:00.000-08:00

Mark Pilkington standing next to my work :)

Art Abudhabi - Hunar Gallery

2010-12-25T00:14:00.000-08:00

A trip to DIFC galleries..

2010-11-15T00:21:00.000-08:00

2010-10-29T04:02:00.001-07:00

"Maitha Demaithan’s artwork is on display in the public area outside the entrance to the VIP section - protected by its own 24/7 personal guard - with up to 30,000 people passing by each day of the Expo."
www.abudhabicityguide.com

Shanghai/China

2010-10-17T01:31:00.000-07:00

"Tashkeel curated art exhibition of UAE artists at the UAE Pavilion, during the Shanghai Expo 2010, China." I have participated in these exhibitions with my work 'Estuary'. It's been amazing, thank you Tashkeel...

"Due to the outstanding response to Tashkeel's curated exhibition of Emirati art at the Shanghai Expo 2010 UAE Pavilion, the exhibition has now transferred by invitation to the United Nations Expo building."

(All photos in this post are from Tashkeel)

..a drawing for Joani.

2010-09-25T05:07:00.000-07:00

Eid Mubarak!

2010-09-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

Tomorow is Eid and I've decided to paint orchids on my hands to celebrate...

Enjoy the pics!

contour drawing!

2010-09-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

I love contour drawing - especially with using a pen to draw, because you cannot erase and all the marks show. Blind contour is also fun! What Is Contour Drawing? is a good article for those who want to find out more about contour drawing... Sadly, I've lost the sketchbook that has all my contour drawings, it's a good thing I took pictures of these. :) I drew these by placing the object in front of me and drawing... I really love drawing hands, I will never get bored of drawing hands. <3

2010-09-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

I love documenting things around me and the emotions I feel. Something as simple as one of my nieces and nephews coming into my room and asking: "Auntie Maitha, can we have some chocolate?" sends a tremendous wave to my brain and heart. The chaos they create and laughter in a room is very inspiring. The importance of play , curiosity and forgiveness is alive…. My most favorite of these moments was when my twin nieces, Maitha and Alia, came into my workspace to ask for some crayons. I went to open the glass door and to my surprise, I saw a beautiful portrait in front of me. With my mobile in my hand I took the picture straight away…

(05/08/2009)

From that day onwards, I began to look at the glass door differently and it became an inspiration for many other works..

Winter breeze Jan 2009

My love is like a red red rose Jan 2009

2010-09-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

I think it's time to start collecting the beautiful messages that I receive from time to time... <3 I got this today morning..

Hi
My name is Habiba and I am a graphic designer in France. Sorry to disturb you but I discover your work in Brownbook and I have to say that I really love it !!! I saw in the magazine the pictures like scans and on your blog your illustrations. It's just great !

Well I just write this message for tell you that I love your work and I hope the best for you in the future !

Regards
Habiba

Tagged!!

2010-08-29T18:07:00.000-07:00

From my blackberry ; -

To every1 who tagged me, 14 things about myself:

1- some people call me maitha others call me taina...some call me tais...and tai...

2 - its a name my brother made up..we used to love to play stage acting, reocrd silly voices, build houses in trees. No1 to do it with now. He's grown up.

3 - I don't think I will ever grow up. I feel I'm still childlike - I love playing, creating, colouring in, eating sweets, imagining places and stories in my mind, eating water melons..

4 - that's why my fish died one day. It jumped out of the fish bowl. It thought anything was possible too.. Like me.

5 - and by anything I mean like going to the moon you see.. That's why I bought a telescope. It will take me closer.

6 - I was once a mad scientist, an architect, interior designer, actress, director, poet, film maker, animator, choreographer, costume designer, writer, gardener, teacher, illustrator ..but I chose to be an artist. Simply bcuz It combines all of the above.

7. I'm not a starving artist.

8. I don't have a favourite artist. I only knew Michaelangelo existed a while ago. I never knew Picasso died - n I still have no idea...about artists.

9. I don't owe the great artists, anything for becoming an artist. My teachers were my parents.

8. I own lots of books - they make me so happy. Bring me a book any day - I love them more than diamonds + chocolate.

9. I carry a paintbrush in my handbag for some reason I am still unsure of...

10. Reason? I'm a dreamer, and dreams never begin with reason.

11. I'm sometimes a trouble maker. Misktakes are vital - I'm also a risk taker.

12. I'm an owl. I stay up at night. Sometimes doing nothing. There's something special about the silence.

13. I talk little. I write more..

14. I can continue writing..but I'll stop. I've still got a lot to learn about myself. That was only the beginning.

Made in Tashkeel

2010-08-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

2010-07-15T12:57:00.001-07:00

Panaroma Magazine, and Gulf news

City WRAP!

2010-07-13T15:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.dubaimedia.ae/Media/view/70439

2010-07-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

I've been not feeling well for a few days now. Staying in bed and slowing my pace this summer is such a bad idea. I can't believe I haven't packed any brushes, paints, my sketchbook and art materials. I thought it would be better to travel fresh and would buy things as I need them. Well I did, I got some paintbrushes, a pen, pencil and watercolors from Geneve. I feel something is still missing – and I feel a little lost but I am not sure what it is exactly… I also feel a little bit strange and I'm sure it's not because I don't have my blackberry. Or is it? I'm surviving anyway…

Watching 'Work of art : The next great artist' has indeed been inspiring to me. I imagine myself as an artist among the rest and question to what my response would be to each challenge or project. Would I work well under pressure? The feedback and advice given to the artists is helpful to the viewers. I am beginning to see why an art piece would work better than the other and what makes it stand out. In my head I go back to my own work and compare the quality and communication of a message to my own. I'm so pleased that such a reality show is being shown. I wait eagerly for the next episode.. everyone should watch it !!

I wonder if we could have a course at university that is based on this show. What if we get a project each week and a limited amount of time to create (just like our art exams at school – 10hours only). It would really show us what our strengths are, and we will grow as artists and build confidence. To have judges at the end of each project and a mini show? The possibilities are endless… and it would be FUN! And challenging.. I WISH.. ZAYED UNIVERSITY! C'mon!!! :p

Found this in switzerland...beautiful, right? :)

Mr. Rabbit !

2010-07-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

I've been following this rabbit a lot these past few days, taking pictures, video and sketching him (the most adorable rabbit in the world..) He would pose for me - but he won't let me get too close. Totally irresistible- and he has a striking puffy tail...bouncing up and down... SO CUTE!!!

Update..

2010-07-04T07:44:00.000-07:00

The National article
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100624/ART/706239968/1007/rss

Great Middle East Photo
http://www.greatermiddleeastphoto.com/2010/07/maitha-demithan.html

Thank you Hind Mezaina! :)
http://www.theculturist.com/home/maitha-bin-demithan.html

Thank you Jurgita Gerlikaite! :)
http://www.gerlikaite.lt/en/newsletters/wwwgerlikaitelt-newsletter-july-2010/

Albayan Newspaper
http://www.albayan.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=Article&cid=1277242923648&pagename=Albayan%2FArticle%2FFullDetail

Interviews? Eughhh!

2010-06-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

Today was my last exam. My heart feels lighter and my face glows. It's been a good year – lots done, and lots has happened and most important of all I feel I have grown.

We've had an online interview today with the 'Canadian art' magazine. It's been a great experience for me and I have learnt a lot in a short period of time. From the questions that I've been asked I've realised that all my art is mostly about woman. Does that reflect how much time I spend with woman, and how much little encounter I have with men. I remember my vain trials, trying to sketch or paint a man and 'failing' – the men I sketch always look like woman. Does that happen because I sketch females all the time, or because I haven't spent enough time studying the male structure? What surprises me even more is that I am always attracted to feminist art such as the art of Shirin Nishat. I have nothing against men but I've never really spent enough time with them – other than family members, whom even if I draw would look like me anyway!

How important it is to be able to speak about your art. I've figured out that its like a conversation – the more you talk about it, the more it makes sense and the more it talks back to you, gives you something to think about and feed into your work. I find it amazing when I tape my own work onto the wall and leave it there. When I least expect it, it speaks to me, and I speak back to it. Day by day the conversation builds and one thing leads to another. However, when it comes to interviews I shy away. I've receieved three requests to be interviewed this week – as always I have hesitated (because I blush so easily, and because I know I'm not a good speaker). I can express myself easily through writing, so why can't I just write? That's what I did. They have emailed me the questions and I have answered them. Having done that, I am not giving up on being a better speaker. I will improve and practise when I can… (I hope the blushing goes away too :P )

Here is a picture of Janet Bellotto holding her laptop, and showing the magazine guys the art department at Zayed University. :)