Adnan Hussain 6/25/23 Adnan Hussain 6/25/23

Verdugo Park Painting

Plein air watercolor painting in Verdugo Park.

I went to Verdugo Park and did some painting practice after a long time. It was great to meet a few other artist and enjoy their inspiring work today, none more so than my awesome sidekick, who made the last two pieces. He teaches me a lot with each new exploration. There is a beautiful boldness to how he applies color, line and shape.

3/20/18 3/20/18

Gibson Girl with model Marissa Gomez sketches

Another costumed session at Center Stage Gallery, featuring model Marissa Gomez as a Gibson Girl. Here are some of my sketches from the 3 hour session. Medium: markers and watercolor.

3/8/18 3/8/18

Mariachi Dancer with model Toni Czechorosky

Another costumed session at Center Stage Gallery, featuring model Toni Czechorosky, who filled in graciously as the model for the night was unable to come. Here are some of my sketches from the 3 hour session. Medium: watercolor.

2/19/18 2/19/18

Cowboy with model Andy Flaster

Another costumed session at Center Stage Gallery, featuring model Andy Flaster. Here are some of my sketches from the 3 hour session. watercolor and markers

Another costumed session at Center Stage Gallery, featuring model Andy Flaster. Here are some of my sketches from the 3 hour session. Medium: watercolor and markers.

8/6/17 8/6/17

Belle and Sebastian, Spoon at the Hollywood Bowl

Thanks to my friend Melisa, I got to enjoy Belle and Sebastian and Spoon perform at the Hollywood Bowl. What a great show. I enjoyed Kristin Kontrol's opening set too, but did not get a chance to sketch. It's been a while since I sketched at a music show. It was quite dark at the Bowl, but the music was so great, I had to try and sketch something down. In the end, I don't expect great sketches. It's more the act of creating something while in that moment that brings me this high, or this feeling of absolute bliss.

11/13/16 11/13/16

Doctors and Engineers EP Release Tropico De Nopal

I went to see my friends Doctors and Engineers at their EP release show at Tropico De Nopal. These are friends I have known for years and it was so fantastic to see the fruition of much labor. People don't often realize how much it takes to put together music, record and create an event. It's a ton of after hours blood, sweat and tears to hone skills and create something incredible, somehow between all else that life throws your way. I was so glad to be there and enjoy the incredible lineup of King Kang, El Haru-Kuroi, Discostan and headliners, Doctors and Engineers. After the shit show that has been this election, it was quite amazing to be in a room that represents a cross section of what this beautiful city has to offer. It was a gathering of cultural, ethnic, linguistic, artistic diversity, with all genders, orientations and simply fantastic people doing what they can to better the world around them in those on stage and off.Many around the US don't seem to understand or care about the ramifications of what just happened. Bigotry, misogyny and a complete lack of relevant experience was rewarded with the presidency. Overwhelmingly white America sold out the rest of the country in the hopes of possibly reclaiming some tax dollars, cutting out healthcare and in many cases being able to be a bigoted piece of shit without guilt. I'm thankful for spaces like this show, because so many of all races have fought to get us all that we have, and in this beautiful, musical release, I felt like this was a window into that richness that we're going to fight to protect. If you don't see the problem, check out this link.Here are some sketches I made during the show, while peeking from behind heads, dodging elbows and trying to see in the dark.

8/17/16 8/17/16

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwal Party Grand Performances Jam

Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwal Party Grand Performances Jam sketches

Thanks to Leigh Ann Hahn and the wonderful people at Grand Performances, I got to enjoy a little musicians jam with Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwal Party, all the way from Pakistan right here at Inner City Arts. I've enjoyed their soulful music for years and got to see them a few years ago at a concert put on by the Pakistani Arts Council. It was a real treat to see them in such an intimate setting and to spend time and talk to them as well. Did I mention there was delicious Pakistani food catered at this little jam session? How could anyone pass up such an incredible opportunity on all levels.I can't thank Grand Performances enough for making opportunities like this possible. Don't miss their public performance on Sunday at Grand Performances in downtown Los Angeles!Here are a few sketches I made during the performance.

Kristeen took some photos and video with a cel phone:

You can see where friends Sheila Govindarajan and Sri joined in. Also in that last, unfinished sketch, you can see Tasneem with a saxophone on her lap and a tuba next to her.

10/9/13 10/9/13

Novi Maleševski Zurli at Discostan

Novi Maleševski Zurli at Discostan watercolor sketch

I had the pleasure of seeing Novi Maleševski Zurli (Milo Destanovski and Jessica Ruiz on zurla and Dominique Rodriguez on Tapan) live at Discostan along with some of my favorite DJs playing some of the most diverse music from around the world. Their sound reminded me of the murli played by Jairam Jogi.

9/19/13 9/19/13

Whalesound at Crossroads Sam Francis Gallery

Whalesound at Crossroads Sam Francis Gallery watercolor sketches

I went to see my friend Whalesound perform at the Sam Francis Gallery at the Crossroads school. It was the gallery opening for an exhibition curated by Christine Nguyen of Sea Moon She called "Relative Dimensions" with work by Deborah Aschheim, Matthew Brandt and Christine Nguyen. I managed a few sketches of Whalesound performing with Varuna on tabla.

9/4/13 9/4/13

Tarek Yamani at the Blue Whale

Tarek Yamani, solo piano performance at the Blue Whale, watercolor sketches.

I went to see Tarek Yamani's solo piano performance at the Blue Whale. There's something special about being lost in music, and letting the brush flow. These are some watercolor sketches, before and during the performance.

7/21/13 7/21/13

Elephants with Guns live at Sounds and Vision

Watercolor sketch of Elephants with Guns at Sounds and Vision, presented by Cannibal Flower and Venice Grind.

Went to see my friends Elephants with Guns at Sounds and Vision, presented by Cannibal Flower and Venice Grind. Great show, and as always LC put together an amazing mix of pieces in the gallery, live paintings, DJing and live music. I managed a sketch of the band.

7/19/13 7/19/13

Red Baraat and La Chamba at FIGat7th Downtown Festival

Red Baraat and La Chamba at FIGat7th Downtown Festival Watercolor Sketches

Joined lots of friends for Red Baraat and La Chamba live at FIGat7th in downtown Los Angeles. What an amazing show! Here are some watercolor sketches from the performance. These ones were painted straight to paper without any pencils, which is fun. The first is of La Chamba and the second is of members of Red Baraat.

7/14/13 7/14/13

Yemen Blues at the Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park

Watercolor sketches painted live of Yemen Blues at the Levitt Pavilion MacArthur Park

After an important protest in solidarity with Trayvon Martin and the inequality of justice as applied particularly to African Americans in the US, I head over to the Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park for a beautiful concert by Yemen Blues. It made me feel great to hear music from all over played and enjoyed by people of all races, as a reminder, that things can be better.

7/12/13 7/12/13

Las Cafateras at Grand Performances

Las Cafaterias at Grand Performances

Hopped on the metro and caught a great noon show by Las Cafateras at Grand Performances. Here's a sketch I created during their performance.

7/7/13 7/7/13

Adunni and Nefertiti and Martha Redbone at Grand Performances

Dropped by Grand Performances to see Adunni and Neferetiti and Martha Redbone for another show and some painting on saturday.

Dropped by Grand Performances to see Adunni and Neferetiti and Martha Redbone for another show and some painting on saturday. It got a bit cold, so I only stayed through the first two acts, missing Dessy Di Lauro, but it was fantastic. Adunni and Nefertiti came out for a soundcheck about before the show, and immediately they were captivating. Their voices, merged into one along with drumming was mesmerizing. Redbone with their steel guitar, banjo, vocals etc were so full of energy and fun. Here are sketches I made at the show.

Adunni and Nefertiti at Grand Performances watercolor sketch

grand_performances_redbone_web — Martha Redbone at Grand Performances watercolor sketch

7/5/13 7/5/13

Nina Simone Tribute at Grand Performances

I went to a beautiful free concert at Grand Performances in tribute to Nina Simone. It was a great night of classic Nina Simone songs played by a great group of musicians.

I went to a beautiful free concert at Grand Performances in tribute to Nina Simone. It was a great night of classic Nina Simone songs played by a great group of musicians. The entire area was packed with people. My friend and I walked all around to find a good spot throughout the show, and eventually settled on standing with a view of behind the stage. It was actually a good spot, considering the place was so packed. It was an interesting way to enjoy the show. It was from there that I put this little sketch together.

grand_performances_nina_simone_tribute — Sketch I created at the show from behind the stage.

7/1/13 7/1/13

Islamic Calligraphy: An Introduction by Aslam Kamal

Islamic Calligraphy: An Introduction by Aslam Kamal and how I applied it to a logo design for Gul.

It was among a stack of dusty books that I lucked out and found Aslam Kamal's Islamic Calligraphy: An Introduction. A few years ago, I was visiting book stores in Lahore as I love to do. Besides newer books, there are lots of treasures to be found in piles of old books. Often, that is where I learn about interesting artists and stories. Art books in Pakistan have very limited print runs as the audience of those who can afford art books and appreciate them is a small one.The book has a good deal of variety when it comes to calligraphy in Arabic script and more. There are pages with ancient examples from earlier forms of Arabic writing in the Quran, to exquisite pieces throughout the ages. Of particular interest to me were the pieces by Sadequain, one of Pakistan's most celebrated artists as well as the beautiful juxtaposition of architecture and calligraphy in the work of Aslam Kamal, the author of the book as well as an incredible artist himself.

Aslam Kamal Islamic Khatati Calligraphy Introduction Book Cover

Aslam Kamal Islamic Khatati Calligraphy Introduction

Aslam Kamal Islamic Khatati Calligraphy Introduction Book. Sadequain art.

It was with this inspiration that I did a series of sketches to come up with a title logo for my short film Gul.

Gul logo sketchbook page

Gul film title logo black

Gul film title logo photoshop

Gul Logo

Animated painted test for the Gul logo.

6/29/13 6/29/13

Malathi Iyengar's Love Trajectory at Grand Performances

I went and Malathi Iyengar's "Love Trajectory" at Grand Performances. Here are some sketches from the night.

6/21/13 6/21/13

Fishtank Ensemble at the Levitt Pavilion

I went over to join the wonderful folks from Art Division, who were creating a community mural. It was fun drawing with artists from Art Division and with them, encouraging little kids to join the fun. Afterwards, I watched Fishtank Ensemble perform at the Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park. Summer has begun!

Fishtank Ensemble painted live at the Levitt Pavilion

5/9/13 5/9/13

Alan Broadbent - Heart to Heart Album Cover

Two time Grammy winner, Jazz pianist and composer Alan Broadbent's new solo piano album "Heart to Heart" is out now, featuring a watercolor sketch of mine on the cover. I painted it live at the Catalina Jazz Club during a performance by the Charlie Haden Quartet.

Alan Broadbent album cover album - "Heart to Heart"

Purchase a print of the cover art - Purchase the album from Amazon - CD Baby - Google Play - iTunesThe album features these tracks played solo by Alan:1. "Hello my Lovely" by Charlie Haden2. "Heart to Heart" by Alan Broadbent3. "Alone Together" by Arthur Shwartz4. "Now and Then" by Alan Broadbent5. "Journey Home" by Alan Broadbent6. "Blue in Green" by Miles Davis and Bill Evans7. "Love is the Thing" by Alan Broadbent8. "Lonely Woman" by Ornette Coleman9. "Cherokee" by Ray Noble Purchase a print of the cover art - Purchase the album from Amazon - CD Baby - Google Play - iTunes

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