An entrepreneur… A self-taught digital freelance artist… A photographer… These are but a few of the adjectives that can be used to describe Salman Arshad – a fine young man from Peshawar, Pakistan. Arshad has close to four-thousand followers on Instagram and Facebook combined. I instantly knew I had to reach out to him because his art – simply put – is breathtaking.
If you search ‘namlasart’ on social media, you will instantly perceive Arshad’s work as a seamless amalgam of fantasy and reality – something very few artists are able to balance tastefully. You will also notice that his work not only spans across several genres, Arshad has not limited himself to one particular trajectory of art. He dabbles in photography, painting, comics, and even business cards.
So how did it all begin?
“I have been attracted to colors, patterns and drawings ever since I can remember. I always had a bundle of pencils, markers, crayons, chalk and other colorful stationary lying around. Color, to me, has some sort of a magnetic pull. I used to collect all the colorful stuff.”
His family noticed his flair for art and encouraged him to hone his skills. “My family has always been very supportive,” says Arshad. “I have three brothers who indulge in design, software, and other avenues of art, just like me. I suppose art is in our blood because we are all self-taught!”
Over the years, his mother saved all of his work and framed it. The pictures are displayed prominently around the house; they occupy the mantelpiece and various walls and hallways. Says Arshad with a laugh, “My mom has never wasted an opportunity to proudly show off my art to anyone who visits our home.”
I asked Salman Arshad if there was anyone in particular who inspired his work. “No one in general,” he responded. “I tend to look at other artists’ work and study the latest trends to derive inspiration. More than anything, I strive to challenge and out-perform myself.”
From a young age, Arshad experimented with different software, including Adobe Photoshop, and developed skills that proved to be valuable down the road. At that point in time, he also developed a fascination for truck art. Now, if you’ve spent any time in Pakistan you will know that it is impossible not to notice the elaborate imagery on trucks. Every inch of a typical vehicle is usually covered in bright photographs and awe-inspiring regional prose. In fact, truck art is such a big deal in Pakistan that there is an entire industry devoted to maintaining what could rightfully be called ‘glorious mobile art museums.’
Salman Arshad agrees. “Two years ago, I did a little search which opened up my eyes to new possibilities. To convey my appreciation for truck art, I wanted to choose a piece to use as my cover photo for Facebook.”
But he wasn’t able to find a suitable image. Arshad did not give up the idea. Instead, he rolled up his sleeves and got to work.
“I relied on my Photoshop skills to create my own cover. The image elicited a strong and favorable response from everyone who viewed it. I felt encouraged enough to create more covers. The ideas started to pour in and I ultimately ended up with an entire gallery dedicated to truck art.”
Arshad devoted his energy towards creating funny comics as well as free customized truck art covers. In so doing, he developed a portfolio, which showcased his skills. The rest of the magic happened across social media channels when ‘Namlas Art’ was born.
“‘Namlas’ is my name, Salman, written backwards” explained the young artist. “I wrote my name on paper and held it in front of a mirror. The reflection got me thinking. ‘Namlas’ is not just the lettering written backwards. It is a reflection of everything that I have created and is, thus, an accurate reflection of me.”
As expected, social media proved to be a valuable ingredient in this recipe for success.
“Technology has proven very helpful in allowing me to make a name for myself. I market my art through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter,” revealed Arshad. “The medium is not only cost-effective, I am able to reach audiences far and wide.”
Around that time, Arshad also grew his social circle. “At University, I met many other artists, entrepreneurs and talented people who connected me with others in their circles.”
Soon, word spread. Clients from near and far came knocking. Arshad’s talent and professionalism resulted in glowing reviews. His reputation received a clear boost and established Arshad as a serious artist.
Salman Arshad continued his education while fulfilling stellar projects. He completed his master’s degree in Business Administration from the IM Sciences University, Peshawar, majoring in marketing. A couple years prior, while studying for his bachelor’s degree in business, his uncle had invited him to join his corporation.
“The opportunity was something I jumped at right away,” exclaimed Arshad. “I have always been inclined towards business and commerce. The desire to find leads and turning a profit is what enticed me to pursue an education in business, to begin with.”
What was once just a hobby has now turned into a full-fledged business. Salman Arshad has combined his talent with his business acumen and successfully provides social media and digital marketing services. In recent months, he also launched his photography business.
It is surprising that Arshad has not competed in any formal competitions. His response justified why he has not explored that avenue.
“I regularly receive valuable feedback on social media from people who actually hold degrees in fine art, fashion designing, and related fields. There are students of art who ask me to give them guidance and inspiration. Some also are curious about my methodology, philosophy, and how I approach as well as use the right tools to create my art pieces. I find encouragement in the feedback I receive. These people are professionals in their field and are seeking formal education at art institutions. When I reveal to them that I am self-taught, they are genuinely surprised. That, to me, is an award in itself.”
Considering the constant feedback, Arshad is considering launching an art workshop series where he will be able to advise and train junior artists on learning the ropes. “I am willing to helping people out. Friends and artists are always welcome to my office for discussions over a nice cup of tea.”
I asked Arshad about the role of female artists in society, especially in Peshawar. He gushed about how much they have contributed to art. “To an artist, the canvas is the best way to express oneself. The majority of artists in my circle are female and they have found their voice through art. These ladies are immensely talented. Some are painters and calligraphers; others are photographers and digital artists. What is holding them back is the necessary exposure, however. Many do not feel comfortable in revealing their art to the world, one of the reasons being that they risk backlash.”
I asked him to elaborate on the point further. His response, “People here do not understand the worth and importance of soft skills which is always a major and heavy discouragement for all artists. A layman generally takes artistic skills for granted and thinks we are working with software for ‘fun.’ There is a tendency for them to ask for favors, assuming it might only take a couple of minutes for us to fulfill a task when the reality is that it takes us years to perfect our talent. Plus, we use expensive software to accomplish what might appear as a simple project to them. They are reluctant, then, to pay for our skills and time invested, which discourages artists from treating their talent as anything more than a hobby.”
There is more than an ounce of truth in that statement. In my bid to interview artists, it has been a bit of a challenge getting female artists to agree to speak about their work. Here’s hoping readers will understand the significance of the matter and adopt a more reasonable mindset so art can flourish.
“I live by the motto, ‘Escape the ordinary. Decide your vibe…Dream!!!’ These words also happen to form the caption for my latest work, which is currently in process.”
The motto encompasses Arshad’s dream at a cellular level. “I want to see *Namlas* as a full-fledged media agency,” smiles the artist. “My dream is to expand it and take it to the next level, both nationally as well as international.”
Salman Arshad is definitely on the right track.
You may reach him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/namlasart/, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/namlasart/
Here is some of Salman Arshad’s work:
Sonia says
Amazing work for someone who is self taught!
Seema Khan says
Yes, particularly for a relatively new field. It really is a big deal.