Vibgyor

Most of us share a fascination for colours. As children we have left many a strokes of innocent splendour in colour on walls, paper and canvas. But for Saadia Habeeb, it was glass that caught her attention. Her choice of medium and colours reflect a very feminine perception of the world. Nature is Saadia's muse, and she captures well the images of water, flower and bird on glass. Indeed every little piece of her work is a song framed in glass.

It was a friend of hers who suggested that she turn her hobby into a profession. And with the support of her husband, that's exactly what Saadia did. Since the past four years her work has grown into a full fledged commercial business with orders coming in from five star hotels and overseas. Saadia's glass painting adorns the ceiling of the boardroom in Central Park, Manipal Centre in Bangalore. How is her art received in Bangalore? "It has definetely picked up lately" says Saadia with a content smile on her face.

Saadia's glass painting has found expression on lamp shades, wall hangings, room dividers, windows and ceilings. Her colourful little songs in glass cost anywhere between Rs 350 to 15,000. When she takes orders she makes them according to the client's specification of colour and design. Saadia has framed the smile of bright Yellow flowers and the mystery of an unicorn on many a wall. She calls her work REFA Arts, which is an anagram of her son's name Rehan and daughter Farina.

In addition to glass painting, Saadia also does nib painting "which is very tricky and labourious". She is also adept in other forms of needle work like crochet and tatting, but the bulk orders she receives from builders, architects and private houses for glass painting, don't leave enough time for anything else.

If you are interested in buying or finding out more about these paintings please send us an e-mail at prakash@indiaexpress.com