PESHAWAR: A young artist has envisioned that digital painting entrepreneurship will get a boost and art lovers should promote it at world level to attract wide spectrum of customers.

Niha Mazhar opened an art display gallery in Deans Trade Centre after having shifted with her family from Lahore a year ago. Within a short span of time, local art lovers thronged her gallery.

She is also a recipient of several awards and commendation certificates.

“It was a tough job to convince my parents that I need their support for launching a display art outlet. Soon I was able to start my dream job. Initially digital painting was just my hobby but Japanese Manga art fascinated me to turn my art fad into a profession, she said.

Niha Mazhar has opened an art display gallery in Deans Trade Centre

Ms Mazhar said that it was her dream to become Pakistani number one Mangaka, an expert on Manga art. She regretted that most people unfortunately took ‘art’ for granted and even degraded artist that was why most young artists remained dormant.

She recalled that she had a penchant for pencil sketch and drawing at her tender age, growing up with different types of experiences with painting. She said that she ended up with accounting and financing and presently working as manager at a private firm.

The young artist said that she started learning digital art online four years ago and became an expert on its several aspects. She said that the project of opening an art gallery in the city encouraged her to attract online customers and also launched in-person classes for young girls and boys as most emerging artists didn’t have the facility of an art studio or a platform where they could learn digital painting.

“On Saturday and Sunday I teach a group of young entrepreneur to learn and market their art pieces online. My online customers are from Gulf States, the USA, UK and Japan. My target market is Japan where Manga, which means all kinds of comics, animations and cartooning are in great demand,” said Ms Mazhar.

She said that her job at the display gallery was two layered -- teaching digital painting including Manga alongside storytelling that should correspond to the art piece. She said that her students included all age groups. She added that digital painting might prove an effective market-oriented online entrepreneurship.

Ms Mazhar claimed that she had a master hand at using all medium of art and colours but digital Manga was her forte. She said that one should exploit her/his talent to the best.

Regarding her future plans, she stated she would open an outlet to be named as Niha Mazhar Academy where she would provide digital services, especially for young girls so that they could learn different skills. “I want to create a non-fungible token where users could buy, sell and trade and own their products,” the artist concluded.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2024