I quit my portrait painting business cold turkey
If you just got to know about my work, such as this stunning Pink Tulip painting, you should know that I didn’t start out as a botanical and still life artist. I started out as a portrait artist and I never thought that someday I would switch genres.
I wanted to please God so I had to quit painting portraits because I learned that my religion didn’t allow portrait paintings.
It wasn’t easy for me to leave my portrait business. I had honed my portrait skills since I was very young.
When I came to the United States, I had my portrait works featured in an international book.
As portrait painting was not taught in school, I had to learn how to draw portraits on my own. I was drawn to realism and learned how to observe the intricate details on my subjects and draw them.
With this early training in painting portraits, I can draw and paint any subject very well.
When I’m working on my artwork, I usually put music or Islamic lectures on in the background. One day, while working on a painting, this particular lecture I listened to talked about the prohibition on painting and sculpting anything that has a soul, such as humans and animals.
I stopped what I was doing, put my colored pencil down and listened attentively to that piece of advice. This was the second time I had listened to this hadith.
I asked myself, “What should I do? Should I just quit my portrait business?” I don’t want to get punished in the hereafter just because I wanted to do what I had set out to do in life.
Sure the money is good but is it worth it to sacrifice my hereafter?
After some thought, I decided to stop doing portraits. I was surprised by my own decision to leave portraiture. Prior to this, I was preparing myself to have some changes in life to follow Islam wholeheartedly.
I was already toying with the idea of wearing a hijab, started praying five times a day, and taught myself how to read the Quran in Arabic.
I felt that everything that I did at the time was leading me towards leaving the portrait business.
I couldn’t wait for my husband to come home so I could break the sad news that I would no longer be doing portraits.
He was quite sad when he learned the news. He thought I’d stop painting for good. Even my in-laws felt sad about my decision to leave the portrait business.
It was not an easy decision to make. I even asked myself what I was going to call myself now that I’m no longer a portrait artist.
Even though I was sad, I had to do it. Pleasing God is my number one priority.
I took it as God had given me guidance in my life, so I had to leave the thing that I love the most, which was drawing portraits. With that decision I quit portrait painting cold turkey.
I suddenly realized how beautiful our world is.
I had missed a lot while I was focusing on my portrait painting business.
For the first time I really enjoyed painting subjects other than people’s portraits.
I believe it was a blessing in disguise, that I was guided to leave the portrait business due to religious reasons.
Now that I focus on painting botanicals and still life, I appreciate nature even more.
Whenever I go out I observe my surroundings, I focus on the beautiful flowers, the unique shapes of leaves and tree branches, and especially colorful trees during the change of seasons, and so on. I feel the gratitude in everything I see and that contributes to my own inner peace.
Just look at this gorgeous pink tulip. I’ve always admired the beauty of tulips and I feel blessed to be able to paint one. This painting is ideal for tulip enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
I hope that my flower painting helps you appreciate our world and bring peace and harmony into your life.
Pink Tulip
ORIGINAL PASTEL PAINTING
ONLY ONE AVAILABLE
Pastel on Pastelbord
16X20 inches
This painting comes framed
Free shipping in the USA
PS: To purchase the original painting, simply click the enquire now button and fill out the contact form stating that you’re interested in buying this painting.
FINE ART PRINTS
I offer prints of Pink Tulip, in paper and canvas, in multiple sizes.
Pink Tulip Giclee Art Print
- Fine Art Paper Prints
- This option is available in 8” x 10” and 11” x 14”.
- Printed on archival-grade thick, fine art paper, 330gsm, acid-free 100% cotton paper. Hand signed and embossed. Certificate of Authenticity Included. Shipped Flat with backer board. Proudly Made in the USA.
- Canvas Prints and Framed Canvas Prints
- This option is available in 16” x 20”, 30” x 40”, and 36” x 48”.
- This ready to hang canvas print brings the utmost convenience to you – no assembly required. Gorgeous finished look in thick 1.5 quality wood floating frame in gold color. The canvas print is printed on archival-grade, poly-cotton blend canvas using archival ink. Proudly Made in the USA.
from $99
About the Artist
Siti Nuriati Husin is a Malaysian-born American realist painter and the founder of Siti Nuriati Husin Studio. Self-trained as a portrait artist, Siti started her art business in Malaysia as a commissioned portrait artist.
Siti’s Princess Diana’s portraits were published in the UK in a pop art book titled, ‘Diana in Art’. The book featured portraits from over 150 artists from around the world. In addition, Siti and her work have been featured in Malaysia in magazines and in a TV documentary. In the USA, her work has been featured in a Los Angeles local newspaper and various publications, such as the Colored Pencil and Azizah magazines.
In 2008, Siti left portraiture behind after over a decade in the portrait business. Her focus now is painting nature; flowers and still life. She is dedicated to helping others find their inner peace through art.
Visit Siti’s website to find out the available originals, private commissions, and one-on-one art coaching.