While I was visiting a gallery in Lahore about three years ago a landscape caught my eye, on close observation I find several artists' reflections in that landscape. I inquired and found that Muhammad Arshad is the artist who has painted such a beautiful painting.
In a pleasant contrast shades of greens, yellow, red and earth tones Arshad explores the beauty of a forest. Capturing nature's beauty on canvas is his way of appreciating nature. His work shows the transformation of Changa-Maanga forest in winter. He get fascinated by the colours of leaves that changes from bright green to yellow, red and brown, giving a very colourful and attractive look to the forest environment. These shades of nature captured in stunning golden sunlight of late afternoon by Arshad are exhibited recently at Ocean Art Galleries, Karachi.
The paintings truly reflect the title 'Late Afternoon Light'. He uses the light skilfully in his landscapes. Different light intensity can be clearly seen in his paintings which reflect various shadows and shades on the foliage of the forest. He paints the evening because the rays of the sun at this time fall in such a way that the subject gives an attractive look.
Arshad is very much inspired by Zulqarnian Haider. He takes inspiration from a direct observation of nature as he paints on location and brings a pictorial richness to his canvasses. While talking to me he said that he do on spot painting. He took snaps of birds in Jhallow Park and incorporates them in his current landscapes.
But I see his colours sense like senior artist Allah Bukhsh. As every second artist in Punjab is a landscape artist in my opinion if he continues to work with the same dedication, within ten years he will become one of the famous artists of the country.
The spectacular scenes of wild flowers, brids, fallen leaves, and bare branches appear on his canvases. He mainly focuses on shrubs and herbs in his paintings instead of long shady trees. He reveals the life beneath the shady trees near the soil - the land of the forest.
The dried leaves and brown grass and pale bushes in the shades of green, brown and yellow dominate his work. He captures the contrast of colour during the late afternoon time created by the dying sunlight.
Overall the paintings depict the harmony and beauty of nature in a quiet forest. The dense foliage of the forest floor, tangled branches, leaves, tall grass and wild flowers give a serene sense to the viewer.
His work is well planned and executed brilliantly through delicately spread colours. Exploring nature through the genre of landscapes, he creates aesthetically beautiful works of art motivated by his relationship with the nature. It seems he is very fascinated by nature and it derives him immense satisfaction while capturing the surrounding scene full of natural life. Actually his landscape paintings communicate with the viewers who sense quiet, peace and harmony of nature.
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