Chatting about Intuitive Art with Karimeen, Artist
Hi everybody,
Our guest today on 'Chatting about Intuitive Art' is my artist friend Karimeen from India. We met on Instagram while enjoying each other's work. Karimeen is creating wonderful imaginary drawings and paintings. Her work is beautiful, colorful and full of happiness. Let's pass the word to Karimeen!
Karimeen
Could you tell us a bit more about yourself and how you became an artist?
I am Meenakshi Iyer, a self-taught artist from India (Delhi), who chooses to call herself Karimeen. My art journey started on a chilly winter morning when my parents departed for work, leaving me with a pencil and a cursive writing book. Of course, the cursive writing book was as dry as a bone, so my four-year-old heart made me choose the pencil and the freshly-painted walls of our flat.
I drew and doodled my way through the unimaginative subjects that I was forced to study in school – much to the chagrin of my teachers. My art was not limited to books… it was there on my friends’ books, class board, class benches, scraps of paper, my classmates’ palms, their handkerchiefs, and erasers – I didn’t spare them either!
It is unfortunate that I could not convert my passion into a profession. Much later in life, as I reignited the lost spark, I found ideas blooming out of my dreams, from observing people, children, nature, creepy-crawlies, all kinds of animals – their expressions, their everyday life – and music. These ideas would not let me sleep, and the only way to tame them was through my art.
(LAMOUR) The reader and the wildflowers, Poster Paints & Watercolor on Paper, A4, 2021-2022
How would you define yourself as a creator?
As a creator, I judge myself less on my talent and passion, and more on how good I am at being myself. I follow the rabbit-hole of my own obsessions and see that I am weirdly good at something very specific. It is all about unleashing my own individuality, finding a purpose, and becoming a better human being. As a creator, each day is new learning, a revelation, an adventure, a mystery, and I am totally fascinated!
Do you consider yourself a light-worker and how do you see that?
Being an energy-sensitive empath, it’s easy for me to feel overwhelmed in daily life and to struggle with anxiety. I am definitely in the process of being a lightworker, but I also know that I have to heal myself first, address my own demons, and settle my karmic debt. The process has already begun and there is no looking back.
(SCOOTY), The Yellow Scooty, Poster Paints & Watercolors on Paper, A4, 2021-2022
Is there a healing aspect to your work?
I can vouch for the fact that I healed via my art. Six years back, my drawers were full of antibiotics, and now they are full of colours, brushes, and sketchbooks. While the doctors failed to even diagnose my condition, art completely cured me of my maladies, so much that now I feel like a spring chicken! If this is not magic, then please tell me what is it.
Some of the comments on my Instagram handle do tell me that my colours make them feel lively and take them back to their childhood. I sincerely hope that one day my works put a permanent smile on their faces and infinite love and compassion into their hearts.
(SLEEP) ... And I shall rise, Poster Paints & Watercolors on Paper, A4, 2021-2022
What does intuition mean to you and does it play a part in your work? If it does, how does that work?
Oh, intuition means everything to me, considering that I am an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving). I trust it at all times to save me from precarious situations. At the moment, it is mostly my memories, imagination, and dreams that fuel up my art. Intuition plays a role in the sense that I enjoy the whole process rather than the final outcome. It is not guided by the seven deadly sins. It is art for the sake of art. It is art for the soul.
(WANDERLUST) Wander | The fusion of my art & soul takes me to places where I long to be,
Poster Paints & Watercolors on Paper, A4, 2021-2022
Do you sell your work and if you do, where can we find out more about that? Is there anything else you would like us to know about?
I am not selling much but that does not stop me from doing what I do the best. In case you wish to get in touch, you can give me a shout-out on Instagram @Karimeen6, or mail me at meiyerdec@gmail.com. All the proceeds from my sale go to animal welfare organizations and NGOs working in India.
Thank you so much Karimeen for giving us this very interesting interview and for sharing your beautiful art with us.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
With Love and Light,
Rika 💖🙏💖