Shafiya Shafi found her voice through the strokes of her brush. Her journey began in the quiet corridors of her mind, where she painted the emotions she couldn’t express in words – as a personal diary of feelings on canvas.
Accidental Foray into Portraits
The world of art was accidentally revealed to her. It was during her master’s studies in Psychology at Kashmir University in 2016 that Shafiya visited the School of Fine Arts at the university. There, she encountered students deeply immersed in their work, capturing the delicate beauty of falling Chinar leaves. The scene stirred something within her, a spark that would soon ignite a passion she had never fully realised.
“Initially, I was creating self-portraits, trying to capture my feelings and emotions,” she recalls. Each piece was like a page from a diary - a silent diary of strokes and colors that spoke the words I couldn't say.”
Inspired by this experience, Shafiya sought permission to join the art classes occasionally. With the support of the faculty, she began to immerse herself in the world of fine arts. Her first significant piece was a bold and evocative portrait of a girl with chains on her lips, titled "Congrats, it is a girl." This powerful statement on societal constraints marked the beginning of her journey as an artist with a purpose.
Today, she is a sensation on social media where she showcases her work from her handle ‘Shafiya Artworks’ and connects with a wider audience. Shafiya has 86.3k followers on Instagram (Shafiya Artworks), 42k on Facebook, and 2.15k subscribers on YouTube.
She’s not the only self-taught woman artist who has found social media an ideal platform for her artistic endeavours.
A Doctor Turned Artist
Dr Tabish Aijaz Khan has more than 15k Facebook and 11.3k followers (Artby_Dr Tabish) on Instagram she can be searched as Artby Tabish Khan on Facebook.
Tabish, a self-taught artist from South Kashmir's Anantnag, is known as the "MBBS student who turns waste into art." Tabish channels her passion into transforming trash into beautiful artworks, believing "nothing in this world is useless unless we see it as such."
Her artistic eye extends beyond traditional canvas, incorporating Chinar leaves, cups, feathers, and other materials. Notably, she crafted a Kaaba model from a shattered cup, a 3D valley from an eggshell and coconut cover, painted scenes on over 150 Chinar leaves, transformed stones into art pieces, and painted on real hen feathers.
Her artistic achievements include recognition from the Indian Records Book, World Record For India and accolades like the Excellence Award for Kashmir's Icon and Women's Empowerment Award.
Dr Tabish says, "Professionally, I am a doctor, and that has always been my aspiration. However, over time, I have also dedicated myself to pursuing my passion for art. Art is a source of immense stress reliever for me, providing me with a sense of peace, tranquility, and happiness. Whenever I am feeling stressed or unhappy, I try to express those emotions through my art. It is now an integral part of my life." Dr Tabish adds.
Finding a Voice Through Art
For these Kashmiri female artists, art serves as a powerful medium through which they can voice their experiences, dreams, and aspirations. In a society where women's voices are sometimes silenced, art becomes a powerful medium where they can freely express themselves and present their thoughts.
Shafiya says, "Mostly I create portraits of girls, focusing on their hardships, pain, and the social evils they face." These portraits are not just profiles, they are narratives which conves a very powerful message about the human condition.”
Many people connect deeply to these works, finding a resonance of their unexpressed feelings.
Shafiya goes beyond portraits and looks at larger stories. For instance, the pivot of one of her paintings is a mermaid whose tail is stuck in a ship’s anchor. “The anchor,” explains Shafiya, “is like a world pulling her down.”
"While I explored these different themes,” she goes on, and adds, “I also diversified my artistic endeavors. I ventured into resin art, calligraphy, wall paintings, and paper mâché even pioneering mural art. Recognizing the importance of preserving culture, I began including elements of fading Kashmiri traditions in my work in an attempt to revive and celebrate these unique art forms, especially this fragile art paper mâché."
Artist with An Inner Voice
Another young female artist from Srinagar, Saaifah Bhat, who holds a postgraduate degree in Media Studies from the University of Kashmir, defines her art as an expression of her inner voice and self.
As Saaifah eloquently states, “For me, my art is not a mere hobby, it is an integral part of life or who I am. It provides me with profound peace of mind. It acts as a solace whenever I feel low or anxious. My art is a trusted friend, guiding me towards a deeper understanding of my inner self."
Saaifah primarily creates a beautiful blend of Islamic and Buddhist traditions with calligraphy, beautifully crafting intricate designs by hand.
Saaifah says, "I delve into the art of Buddhist mandalas, creating captivating geometric patterns and blend it with Arabic calligraphy, where I meticulously and skillfully inscribe Islamic names, verses from the Quran, and even personalise artwork by rendering names in Arabic script."
To bring their artistic visions to life, Saaifah utilizes a diverse range of tools, including art books, traditional qalams, a variety of pens, and an array of colors. "The combination of artistic techniques and materials allows me to infuse creativity and beauty into my work," she adds.
Chinar As a Symbolic Canvas
Tabish recounts her artistic journey, inspired by the captivating sight of Chinar tree leaves while strolling beneath their shade. This sparked her unique approach to art, which is utilising a diverse range of natural materials.
"My artistic journey is deeply intertwined with the natural world, particularly the discarded treasures often overlooked by others. I transform Chinar leaves, feathers, eggshells, tree bark, stones, coconut shells, and countless other objects I find into captivating works of art,” she says.
“The Chinar leaf holds a special place in my heart, serving as a symbolic canvas that embodies the very essence of Kashmir. Indeed, my art often celebrates the breathtaking beauty and rich cultural tapestry of this enchanting region, inviting viewers to rediscover the wonders that surround us," Tabish adds.
She defines her art as an escape “from all negative things." It has a therapeutic effect on her and she believes this art is linked to her vocation as a doctor.
Social Media as a Showcase
All three artists use social media to showcase their work, broadening their reach and facilitating orders from across India and internationally, proving invaluable for my artistic endeavours.
Shafiya explains, "I don't have any physical shop for my artwork. Social media has helped me grow my audience and customer base."
Tabish agrees and acknowledges social media as the cornerstone of her artistic journey since 2019. She credits social media as a wonderful medium for bringing her work appreciation from her audience. "It is through these platforms that I share my art works, and it helped me to gain recognition, and ultimately established my artistic identity," Tabish says.
Saaifah, who has more than 1k followers on Instagram, operates from her handle capturingheaven27. Though she started more recently, social media has already helped her artwork get traction and orders.
Saaifah also highlights the challenges in selling art online, such as customers refusing delivery and demanding free work. “Occasionally, individuals order pieces, then they refuse to accept delivery upon completion and demand free orders instead,” she reveals, adding, “they don’t realise that handmade calligraphy requires significant time, effort, and patience.”
Business Model
Despite such challenges, social media has become a source of income for these women artists, allowing them to turn their passion into a profession. Through the presence of social media and a strong follower base, they can earn a good income, providing financial independence and stability.
Shafiya explains that she never envisioned her art becoming a business. "I was simply creating portraits when a friend suggested I open a page on Instagram and upload my work online. This initial step garnered support and appreciation for me from friends and others. A pivotal moment arrived when a friend commissioned a portrait, offering to pay for the artwork, marking the beginning of my artistic endeavors as a business." Shafiya adds.
Tabish, a talented artist, while not actively pursuing commercialization, states that while she does not actively sell her artworks, her Chinar leaf paintings garner significant interest among people. “Every Chinar leaf painting I create finds a willing buyer and it never goes unsold," she says.
Saaifah acknowledges the gains from the online art market, and says, "I receive orders from diverse clients, particularly for names rendered in Arabic calligraphy and other artistic expressions."
For these artists and many more, social media has become a source of income, empowering them to turn their passion into a profession. While their art is doing good business, their aspirations go beyond the monetary benefits.
Achievements and Aspirations
Shafiya says, "I hope my art can touch people's hearts and minds. I want to evoke emotions, spark conversations, and leave a lasting impact. I believe art has the power to heal, inspire, and connect us on a deeper level."
"And also I hope my art will leave a lasting legacy. I want to create work that will resonate with future generations and inspire other artists to pursue their passions." Shafiya adds.
Tabish is happy with the recognition she gets but adds that she aspires to improve more and become inspiration for others.
"I hope my art continues to challenge me and push me to grow as an artist. I want to constantly explore new ideas, experiment with different techniques, and push the boundaries of my creativity. I believe the pursuit of artistic excellence is a lifelong journey of self-discovery and growth," Tabish adds.
Saaifah says I hope my artwork helps me to pursue my passion and upgrade my Islamic knowledge and skills not in terms of money but in future I hope my art will help me to achieve a name in the artist industry and I will try my best to take my skills to next level."
While leveraging digital platforms to showcase their emotions, heritage, and the transformative power of art, these Kashmiri women artists redefine creativity and culture. They preserve tradition while challenging norms, expressing unique perspectives that transcend boundaries. Their work weaves empowerment and artistic excellence into a legacy, inspiring change and a new generation of dreamers.
Through their craft, they illuminate hope, connection, and resilience, proving that art can reshape narratives and leave an indelible mark on the world.
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