Fahd Al-Hijilan is a Saudi artist whose works are solidified by his spirit and memory. His colors never betrayed him, making each and every one of his paintings a unique and admirable experience. To him, art is not the right choice of materials, nor is it the professional strokes of a paintbrush on paper; it's a state of mind. Q: When did you first realize that you were meant to be an artist? A: At the age of six, I lived in Egypt back then and my ambition was to become a teacher. My actual career began in 1980, in which I participated for the first time in the artistic activities of the General Presidency for Youth Welfare. Q: When you feel like you're facing a dead end, working on one of your paintings, how do you react? A: When things get tough, I take a short break. That's usually enough to get me back in the mood for painting. Actually, a tableau is never an obstacle. Q: did working as a fine-arts teacher influence your career? A: Honestly, teaching consumed most of my time and effort. As a result, it hindered my development in the art scene. But even then, I kept on painting, since nothing can stop me from doing that. Q: Were you influenced by other artists? A: When I was at elementary school, our fine arts-teacher familiarized us with arts by showing us the works of great Egyptian artists. I remember feeling deeply impressed back then, after seeing the works of an Egyptian artist, called Saif Wanly. Saif Wanly's way of dealing with his works was very symbolic and beautiful in a way that leaves you with no choice other than falling in love with his style. Q: How can artists be innovative when they are focusing on sales rather than art? A: Well, I try to make the best out of what I have. Still, I agree with you that artists should be completely free to focus on their art, leaving business and financial matters to those in charge of it. Its worthy of notice that gallery managers try their best to market our paintings but again, we find ourselves involved directly or indirectly in business and financial matters. Q: How did the Internet affect artists? A: It had its goods and bads. The good thing was that it's a good way to present artists' works to a large number of visitors. Thus, it will be good for marketing. However, the bad side of that equation is that it increases the risks of plagiarism and artistic theft. Q: What does Fahd Al-Hijilan do besides painting? A: I'm a poetry lover and a cinema fan; I'm also an editor in an art magazine. Q: What can you tell us about your participations abroad? A: I had lots of participations abroad through Saudi Cultural Weeks, which are held annually in different countries. I've also had exhibits in Lebanon and Egypt. Q: Can you tell us more about your latest works? A: My latest works will be on display in my next private exhibition, which will be the sixth, at the Jeddah Atelier for Fine Art, in upcoming June. The exhibition will last, hopefully, for one week or 10 days. Q: From your point of view, is it important for an artist to define his methods and subject before actual painting? A: No doubt, an artist must know where he is going with his tableau, otherwise he wouldn't be a professional artist. Q: Any advice for beginners? A: They should try to develop their own methods, through mastering the use of their tools. Patience is needed; such a goal can't be achieved in a hurry. __
