Assalam Alaykum Warahmatullah wa Barakatu everyone. I hope this finds everyone well. This month, I’ll be speaking to Abdulwaduud popularly known as Mr Waduud, in shaa Allah. Note that this interview has been scaled down for consumption.
Please introduce yourself (what you do, what you’re known for, etc).
My name is Waduud and I’m a visual artist. I help brands tell their stories to their staff, to their audience and to those that work in their space. I also help people of aesthetics curate artworks that are interesting or hold sentimental value for their homes. I run a community of creatives where I offer support and encouragement on the path of content creation. You can find me on Instagram @mrwaduud.
Could you share what self-development looks like to you?
Self-development is the recognition and awareness of the self, discipline as well as consistency and measuring growth. To me, that typically means accessing the ways I have changed as an artist, being open to information that helps my growth and rejecting stagnancy.
Do you have a system for measuring how far you've come? What does that look like?
I have a mental sort of look back over the years of how I am, and where I’ve been. The choices I made to get here, the difficulty of those choices and I ensure I try to make better decisions day in and day out about the work I do towards the future. I run a community of creatives and another way I measure self-development is by comparing myself with those that are upcoming and noting how far I’ve come. It allows me to be grateful and lets me see that I’m doing the work.
One thing I noticed about your online presence in particular is how full of voice your content is. What was it like building that brand?
We’re at a time when a lot of people are scared of how people perceive the way they act, the way they behave and I find that to be a ridiculous fear because these people are usually unfamiliar with your experience, what you’ve gone through and how that has moulded you. In general, it’s not something I’ve ever subscribed to. And I’ve allowed myself to accept that I’m human just like everyone else, I’ll make my mistakes just like everyone else and as long as I’m not causing harm or confusion, I’m good to go. In the end, you have to be confident in your projection of self and your journey.
As an artist, what are the first things you notice when you enter a city?
The structure of the buildings, the colours and the use of space— especially since we’re living in an age that encourages a lot of minimalism. There’s almost a pushback against filling our spaces. These things are what give our environment life and the moment we take that away by trying to keep it simple, we run a risk of making things dull and tasteless instead. I usually notice the individuality in the use of space and the aesthetic in general.
Inspiration is ever present, how do you decide what to work on and maintain a reasonable balance between projects?
I generally don’t wait for inspiration as I’m a sucker for keeping in mind that I need to do certain things to move forward, to learn on the job so I barely leave room to be idle. Of course, there are dull moments when you don’t feel excited or afire to work but the most important thing is to show up for me every day and substitute between tasks. I paint. I read. I watch movies. And I make sure I’m filling my well and not letting myself run empty despite being busy.
Do you have three top pieces of advice about attaining excellence that you think everyone has to know?
— Don’t hesitate. These times, one has to say that procrastination kills a lot of our dreams because we often hesitate to do things that we have to do now. The only thing that can get you from point A to point B is not hesitating to get up from point A. Get up, and choose to push yourself a little while longer, and to work.
— You’re the most important resource you need. Not a gadget, not a tool and certainly not a person who’s promised you something. You need you.
— It’s going to be your life, your responsibilities, and your choices so don’t anchor that on other people’s opinions.
What does your average day look like?
Getting up, praying. Eating— as I’m a foodie. I could then design or paint, and check my Instagram to ensure I’m not keeping anyone or any important messages unattended to. And then I go to work and on the days when I’m not painting over at the studio, I’m probably at an art gallery or seeing a new space and tapping into the brilliant spaces around. if I’m not doing all of this, I’m probably at home watching Netflix.
Shawarma or Pasta? Both.
Cake or IceCream? Icecream.
Ebook or Hardcopy? Hardcopy.
Hardcover or Paperback? Both.
Fiction, Nonfiction, or Both? I prefer to watch fictional movies and when it comes to reading, nonfiction or memoirs.
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Hardcopy anydayy!