Kashifa Sohail Artist Biography

Kashifa Sohail was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1975. She received her art education from the Karachi Art College (Department of Painting, where she won a "best painting" award) and participated in local juried competitions. For several years during the 1990's Kashifa lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, where she was a member of the Sharjha Art Museum and taught art to children aged 4 to 10. An active member in the art community, she enjoyed painting Arabs and their local culture.

In 2000, the artist emigrated to New Jersey, USA, where she joined the Art Association in Roxbury and began working as a greeting-card illustrator and as a freelance artist. Continuing to participate in juried shows and other art exhibitions, Kashifa's work earned a "best painting" award in the Spring Show of Morris County College.

She has benefited from observing the varied cultures and lifestyles of these countries; she has lived in, before immigrating to Canada. It was a hard struggle for her to revitalize her career after every move, but this dedication has helped her to become more an enthusiastic, passionate, diverse artist.

The Classical Realism Art always inspired her. Her personal style is semi realistic. In her work she enjoys the instrumentation of brush work and mark making experiences. She tries to bring together all the elements in composition for the movement of the eye across the picture plane.  Her strengths are in her formal presentation of subject matter, paint application, and use of paint to describe virtual textures of a subject’s surface. Oil Paint is a primary respond to her as an agent of expression and mood.

She uses Acrylic as a secondary medium to enhance her creativity. Its fast drying ability and a greater degree of adaptability provide various possibilities. In her mixed medium art work she likes to craft texture, gloss, monotype and painting.

On her journey she got chance to learn from many versatile art instructors of different countries. To observe Alberta western culture, she enrolled herself with the Fine Arts Certificate Course from Alberta University, Edmonton. Two and half

years in Calgary, she has awarded affiliation of the Federation of Canadian Artist. She has participated in numerous group shows and won honours during past years. Her artwork can be found around the world in private and co-operates collection.