Meet Abdulaziz AlHunaiyyan, an ambitious illustrator and individual with a penchant for productivity. Whether he’s immersed in his artwork or tackling tasks in his day job as a home décor buyer and engineer in the private sector Abdulaziz’s passion for art shines through. When he’s not at work or on the university campus, you’ll likely find him nestled in a cozy coffee shop, pouring his creativity into a new project.

Despite not being a full-time artist, Abdulaziz seamlessly integrates his design skills into his professional life, crafting his own cushions, rugs, and doormats with flair. He sees art and design as complementary forces, each enhancing the other in a harmonious blend of creativity and functionality. Proudly self-taught, Abdulaziz embraces his journey of continuous learning, finding fulfillment in the process of honing his craft and bringing his artistic visions to life.

“My art is a funky take of Kuwait in various generations and decades, it tells unique stories with many interpretations, and I almost always draw people or even portraits, rarely would I draw abstracts or patterns. It’s a slightly more realistic motifs drawn in a traditional 2D cartoony feel. I feel that it happens to my design strength and is an advantage for me when comparing me to the market,” he explains.

With a lifelong passion for art, Abdulaziz’s creative journey began at a young age. Exploring various mediums, he found joy in painting and experimenting with different techniques. His formal art education further expanded his horizons, introducing him to a plethora of unique mediums and styles. Abdulaziz’s creativity soared to new heights when he received his own iPad and Pencil six years ago. Since then, these tools have become indispensable companions on his artistic odyssey, allowing him to seamlessly translate his ideas into digital masterpieces. From creating basic cartoons with free computer software to orchestrating movie nights with his cousins, Abdulaziz’s artistic endeavors have always been a source of joy and nostalgia, marking cherished moments of his childhood. Today, fueled by a deep-rooted passion and armed with modern technology, Abdulaziz continues to pursue his artistic vision, blending traditional and digital techniques to create captivating works of art.

“My inspiration is drawn from Walt Disney’s classic cartoons, most notably Sleeping Beauty, the artistic details in that movie were impeccable, and it showed me that the devil is in the details! Recently, my inspiration has been from Pinterest of observing individuals taking photos in traditional settings, such as Al Mubarakiya in Kuwait, Souq Waqif in Qatar, and the endless touristic locations with an old vibe in Saudi Arabia with traditional clothes. There isn’t a certain artist I gather inspiration from quite honestly,” Abdulaziz explains.

When Abdulaziz starts a project, he starts with understanding the overall theme, and tends to work on multiple artworks at the same time to harmonize the concept together. Whether using the same element, or using the same individual in many settings, or having a theme such as the 80s or 90s, etc. He then takes a look at social media for composition ideas, sometimes he poses and takes photos for references. Next, he tries to fit a background, for example, an 80s living room from a TV show, a vintage room in a museum, or even getting a reference image online, which he then changes to fit his image.

“I feel like the 80s is a very vague theme, as my illustrations could easily go with any of the decades. It’s just that I believe the 80s has a lot of great references, especially in Kuwait’s culture such as the locations, restaurants, pop culture like TV shows and movies, it was a booming time and I absolutely love researching; therefore it blends perfectly with my vision,” he elaborates.

Transitioning from traditional painting to a whimsical, cartoony style, Abdulaziz AlHunaiyyan’s artistic evolution reflects a journey of exploration and self-discovery. While his earlier works leaned towards realism, he found the process time-consuming and the outcomes conventional. Embracing his love for illustration, Abdulaziz gravitated towards a more imaginative approach, infusing his art with vibrant colors and playful characters. Yet, amidst the evolution of his style, he harbored a desire to explore watercolor-style digital art, intrigued by its expressive possibilities. Reflecting on his artistic path, Abdulaziz embraces every mistake as a valuable lesson, recognizing that each trial and error has contributed to his growth as an artist. With unwavering determination, he remains steadfast in his commitment to his craft, knowing that the journey he has embarked upon is leading him towards a fulfilling destination. If given the chance to advise his past self, Abdulaziz would offer a simple yet profound message: stay true to the path you’re on, for every step forward is a testament to the journey’s ultimate reward.

“I do feel like some of the art I present is a little too repetitive, there are so many untouched territories and I definitely do not want to miss out on it by switching my style or concept completely. Finding composition ideas is also a bit of a struggle, I have so many scrapped designs that I did not post anywhere because I felt it was disjointed with the whatever it is that I’m delivering,” Abdulaziz tells us.

We love how Abdulaziz is just getting started and ready for more. “I have many hopes for the future! Such as seeing my art highlighted in galleries and exhibitions, I would love to collaborate with companies in delivering a funky art style for whatever project they have in mind, For example designing menus, Instagram posts, magazine covers. I have plans on potentially creating my own board game and I would be designing the entire thing, from characters, to instructions, to the box art, etc. I also plan on growing my art channel, delivering video tutorials and more seasonal content!,” he tells us.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE

What do you most value about your friends?
Their ambition, it genuinely inspires me, and I am proud to have such friends who promote this trait.
Which living person do you most admire?
My parents! They paved the way for everything I’ve done and are continuing to support me in all my achievements. I will forever be grateful to have such amazing individuals in my life.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Me being a chairman at my own company, sitting behind my desk at my company’s headquarters with my cat having a cup of Chai Haleeb.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Probably… Weekly haircut appointments!
What is your most treasured possession?
Probably my Apple Pencil, it unlocked a lot of adventures and potential career opportunities for me and I will forever be grateful for having that!
What is your greatest fear?
Losing my right to freedom or being forced into making decisions that I don’t want to make.
What is your most marked characteristic?
If it’s me evaluating myself, it would be my creativity. If it’s someone else evaluating me, it would probably be my patience, as I’ve heard many people mention this about me.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I would like to act, I feel like that’s a new talent I would like to acquire, maybe to one day act my own skits or become an actor.
What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for?
My persistence, when I strive to achieve something, I exert all my efforts in ensuring that it is fulfilled.
What is the human trait you most dislike about others?
When someone is rude, there’s a way to deal with situations, and observing others as inferior isn’t the way to go.
What is it that you most dislike?
Laziness, sometimes it’s necessary, but I believe being lazy has wasted my time more than me trying and not actually achieving.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Tea, meaning let’s have a cup of tea or gossip! All it takes is for me to say this to my friends, family, or colleagues, and they’ll instantly get it.
What are your favorite words to live by?
Love All, Trust a Few, Do Wrong to None. – William Shakespeare
Where would you most like to live?
Although I love Kuwait and it’s hard to imagine me living elsewhere. I would have to say the UK, being the second most country that I visit.
If you could have any job, what would it be?
Easy, Owner of many successful conglomerates!
What would you consider your greatest achievement?
It’s difficult to select one, because almost everything I’ve done I’ve genuinely felt proud of! I would have to say pursuing my master’s degree which is what I’m continuing with at the moment. It’s not so much as the degree itself as much as it is about balancing my life.
What do you hope for the future?
I have genuine hopes for the future with regard to my plans, and where I hope I take my art and degrees! I do see myself mentoring individuals to help guide their life in terms of personal and career lifestyle.

Follow @by.abdulazizalh on Instagram to see more of his art and follow his journey.