Ghazal Qadri: The Interview

Atlanta by way of Kashmir illustrator, designer and artist Ghazal Qadri's book Say Something, Poupeh Babaee! lands in the Fall of 2024

Dr Haleh Massey and Ghazal Qadri are creating a middle-grade graphic novel, Say Something, Poupeh Babaee!, which tells the story of an Iranian girl who develops selective mutism after a travel ban prevents her parents from joining her in the USA. Alexa Carter at Little Bee Books has bought world rights to Say Something, Poupeh Babaee! and publication is scheduled for fall 2024. The Right Kind Of Brownies caught up with Ghazal Qadri in Atlanta.

Follow Ghazal Qadri on Instagram.

What is your earliest memory of music/art?
My father would buy heaps of picture books for me as a child. I would never leave a chance to imitate and copy the characters I would like in the books and try to learn drawing.

How artistic is your family?
I would always admire my elder brother for his creative abilities as also for his sharp wits. During his preteens and teens, he would tinker with mysterious structures and toy with queer ideas. He is a computer engineer by profession. Back at our home in Kashmir, several stained glass paintings drawn by him decorate our drawing room besides some Quranic verses written in Arabic calligraphy by him that still hang in the walls of our lobby.

Are you the first in your family to pursue Art full time?
Yes, I am the first to pursue art/design as a career. I did my undergrad in product design in India and then joined the art college in the USA for a graduate program in illustration. Some of my cousins seem to have followed my footsteps and acquired higher education in art in the different colleges outside India. I thank my father for always supporting me in my quest for a creative career.

What do you remember about the first piece of art you created?
I always remember drawing humorous, funny caricatures of my teachers on the back page of my notebooks while they delivered lectures in the class. I also remember having been punished several times for indulging in mischief.

Who or what served as your initial influence or inspiration?
I was always drawn towards observing human behavior. I had a whole lot of friends as a kid.  I would spend my time observing their utterances, their body language, gestures, micro facial expressions, gaits, displacement activities and so on. It soon goaded me into drawing pictures and caricatures.

When did you decide to make art your job?
Soon after graduating in product design, I was placed in the Lollypop Design Studio as an Illustrator. I had no formal education in communication design or illustration. After working there for two years as Illustrator, I joined MICA for a formal qualification in Illustration. Since then, I continue to work as an illustrator.

What drew you to Maryland from Kashmir?
I always love adventures. I travel a lot. My brother left Kashmir after class 10. It was then that I also made up my mind to follow in his footsteps. Thankfully, my father cooperated. I was admitted for my higher secondary education in a boarding school outside my state.

During 2010, Kashmir witnessed turmoil and led to the closure of schools and offices and education was badly hit. Immediately, my family planned to send me outside Kashmir so that my studies don’t suffer. Except for my mother, both my father and my brother were supportive of this idea. I soon joined a boarding school in Jaipur, India where I got an immense exposure to art and creativity. I participated in school and international competitions for Art.

Everyone encouraged me to follow my passion. I had never received any such appreciation or recognition for my art before in Kashmir. This helped me build my confidence and that’s where I decided to continue and apply for higher studies in Illustration. I knew Art and design have a great scope abroad and that’s how I researched and took help from my father developing important documents and a portfolio to get an admission into a good Art school. With a lot of support and guidance, I was able to get admitted into Maryland Institute College of Art.

What drew you to Atlanta from Maryland?
Well, I got my Master’s in Illustration studies at Maryland Institute College of Art in the year 2020. I have been working as a freelancer since then. It’s been a mix-bag. I worked with a variety of clients. I worked on books, product designs, I even launched my store. I worked on my own picture books. I am now living in Atlanta with my husband while drawing for a living.

What is the general Kashmiri perspective on art?
Kashmir and Kashmiris are not new to art, but the profession is new. People are very artistic and Kashmir itself is a beautiful place and there are a lot of art forms one can witness in Kashmir. Starting from paper mache art to Khatamband art to wood carving. We get to see so many crafts in Kashmir. Kashmiris are known for their artistic talents in and outside Indian territory.

Have you felt empowered by Kashmiris in your career?
Kashmir, the place I was born in, boasts a rich heritage of art and craft. It’s a haven for culture lovers looking forward to witnessing varied art & craft in the beautiful valley. A glimpse of its rich art & craft heritage can be seen in the lives of the people living there. From utensils to clothes to furniture to jewelry almost everything reflects the master skills and dedication of the locals towards the traditional art & craft in Kashmir. Weaving crewel and shawl and pashmina embroidery, wood crafting, and carving silver work, paper mache, and phool kari are just some of the professions which involve a huge number of Kashmiris. There’s a palpable presence of art and design in almost every aspect of their day to day life. Artists who live in this conflict zone are highly sensitive to their art and cultural traditions. Art is a process of healing for them. They release their anger and frustration by this form of expression. Despite a whole lot of societal barriers and obstacles that the artists face, they don’t give up and make the difference. For these artists, the brutal history is a canvas, and their art becomes a channel to express their emotions of anger and misery. It is a sort of an outlet.

What is your artistic process?
I am carried on by the flow. The purpose is to keep flowing — not looking for a peak or utopia — but staying in the flow. You can find me staring at people most of the time. It is nothing but me looking out for content. I am always watching! I carry a pen and notebook in my pocket wherever I go. I may also make use of the Notes app on my phone to jot down the ideas that I wander around with and the experiences that I come across with. It is not that hard to find an idea roaming. You just have to spot it. The world is colorful and fun! Homo Sapiens are amusing!

I used to draw daily comics for Go Comics until 2022. I had to discontinue it because of the heavy workload. Hopefully I will be back in the coming weeks.

Do you work on multiple projects at once or do you focus on one at a time?
I work on multiple projects at the same time. I draft a timetable for myself and prioritize the projects based on the urgency and timeline. I like working on different projects together at the same time. It keeps me engaged and it does not get boring. Every project gives me a different learning experience.  

How do you as an artist treat your craft?
I take it very seriously but I also do not make it feel like work. I enjoy it and I always take a break so that I do not start hating it and it doesn't become a mundane feeling.

How do you feel you are perceived as an artist?
My audience perceives me rightly as a storyteller who draws something that is relatable and comes straight out of my heart. Some people take inspiration from it and some of them relive old memories.

Who are some of your favorite artists today?
The list includes Mike Lowery, Gemma Correl, Tom Gauld and Oliver Jeffers. I like the simplicity of their work and am fascinated as to how their audience is so vast and inclusive. Their subject matter is also very diverse. I just love incidental comics by Grant Snider. His work is witty, incidental, fun, simple, and relatable! It is a complete package! He is definitely my most favorite!

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I call people and the things in this world my inspiration. I get inspired from everything they talk about or do. There is just some kind of amusement in looking at people and their actions.

How did you get involved with Dr. Haleh Massey for the new book Say Something, Poupeh Babaee?
I was reached out to by the editor last year. I have always been actively reaching out to publishers and editors whose works I really admire. Little Bee Books visited our school when I was pursuing master’s at MICA.

What does Poupeh Babaee mean?
Poupeh Babee is the protagonist’s name. Poupeh is a 10 year old Iranian girl who is migrating to the USA while her parents are stuck back home because of the Muslim ban.

When working on the graphic novel, are you meeting Dr. Haleh Massey in person in the studio?
No, we did not get a chance to meet yet. Hopefully we might set up a meeting soon.

How do you decide who to collaborate with?
I choose my projects wisely. I try to work on projects and stories that I resonate with easily. I also like to explore projects that offer me a lot of exposure.

What is your greater vision for your career as an artist?
Down the lane, I envision myself to be an independent artist who writes and Illustrates her own books for children. I want to write on subjects that are often ignored but form an important part of our lives.

Do you think you inspire younger artists?
I feel so because a lot of parents reach out to me often through emails saying that children find me very encouraging. Most parents do not want their kids to pursue art as a career but when they see my work they feel confident in exploring this area as well.

What are your thoughts on the arts scene in Atlanta?
I have been visiting many art exhibitions and shows in Atlanta lately. I think Atlanta is a hub for new and advanced artists. I really like the vibe for art and design in this city!

What do you think artists need to do more of?
I would advise beginners to be alert and keenly observant. Try to engage with people and learn about them. Make more friends because they provide you with a lot of stories to draw. The essential tools are “to observe; ‘ to think’ and ‘conceptualize’ and later ‘build upon a subject’.

Jotting down, I believe, is also a very important task; taking notes, all the time. Our minds are highly cluttered nowadays and as a result we can easily miss out on the different things we come across. I always intend not to miss any chance and make sure to record my experiences. Some notes are important, some are not. You can decide on filtering the mix bag later and make effective use of the inputs recorded. As you are always on look out and observing and noting down, you can mix more ingredients and add magic later. Draw every day! Make a lot of drawings! Get used to it.

What do you think artists need to do less of?
I believe artists need to focus more on enhancing their skills rather than just focusing on making better networks. Both are equally important but the skills have to be updated with time.

How does an artist separate their personal life from their career?
It is very important to separate your personal life from your career. Meaning, it is necessary to have a work-life balance. It definitely makes you more productive and makes you feel fresh when you do something else other than art. Art is no doubt meditating and relieving but if a person restricts themselves to only one way of attaining peace, the art may get boring and there would be frequent art blocks. I take my time off by reading books or cooking or cleaning up the house. However, there is art in everything we see around. I take a lot and a lot of inspiration from things I see and experience. So I do not completely shut my eyes off but I am always vigilant and record my memories while I am not drawing. I do not completely disconnect myself from my art. I try not to think of art as work and that’s how I feel relaxed… even while I am working.

Have you ever traveled somewhere to visit temporarily to make art and if so,
where and how?
Back home in Kashmir, I usually visit places to get inspired from nature. It makes me feel close to the art and culture of my place. Kashmir and its people are an important source of inspiration for my art.

If you could have dinner with two artists dead or alive, who would they be?
Charlie Mackesyl and Mario Miranda. These are my favorite Comic artists! I wish they could have lived longer to create more art.