Saudi artist promotes digital painting

Saudi artist Amal Saud will Friday hold the first exhibition of her digital paintings in Dubai under the title "Silent Film," thus joining a new wave of artists that merge creativity with technology and contributing to a type of art that has been gaining popularity in the past few years.

"Digital painting is not very different from traditional painting," Saud told Al Arabiya’s morning show Sabah Al Arabiya Tuesday.

 Digital painting makes me in full control of my work since I can edit it and change its details any time 

Saudi painter Amal Saud

“The difference is in the tools. Instead of brushes, I use a computer and a tablet. I also use a digital pen instead of only using the tools available on the program,” she said.

Saud added that the uniqueness of digital painting is due to its blending of creative abilities with the latest technology as well as the way it saves much of the effort exerted in traditional painting.

"Digital painting makes me in full control of my work since I can edit it and change its details any time. It also saves the time and effort used in buying brushes and paint."

Digital painting, Saud pointed out, has gained remarkable popularity in the past few years, especially that several tradition painters have started using this technique.

“Traditional painters were fascinated by the possibilities offered by painting programs and digital art.”

Amal Saud depicts the mystery of oriental women

Saud presented two of her digital paintings in the show. The first painting depicts the issue of racism, whether sectarian or tribal, and the damages inflicted on racist people and those surrounding them.

The second painting features an oriental woman in a way that highlights the mystery and charm with which she has always been associated. In the background are newspaper clippings about the tragic events that swept the Middle East and the world in recent years.

Saud wrote the text herself and refused to use the fonts on the computer program so that the painting would be 100% her creation.

Saud, who will present her work in her first exclusive exhibition “Silent Film” in Dubai, played a major role in promoting digital art in the Arab world.

She teaches digital painting through her website and volunteers to teach it to female students keen on exploring art form in several Saudi universities.


(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)