Local artist gives kids creative connection

Published 8:45 pm Tuesday, September 22, 2009

When parents tell Mill Creek artist Jalal Gilani they do not want their children to pursue art because they do not want them to become poor artists, Gilani waves off the stereotype.

He tells parents people should not pursue art to necessarily become artists.

Then why do it?

Because, according to Gilani, learning how to draw and paint equips people with skills that complement job skills in all career fields. These skills are not limited to only those brave enough to become artists.

Gilani is proof of his belief.

While working in the information technology industry, Gilani learned animation and graphic design, which he picked up quickly thanks to his experience with fine art.

“I’m more interested in fine art but jumped into animation,” he said.

Gilani graduated from the DeVry University and worked in the IT industry, but he made time for his art in the evenings and submitted work into county exhibitions.

He worked in the IT industry for decades before losing his contract with Microsoft earlier this year due to the recession.

The change prompted Gilani to open an art studio, FEELartistic, where he teaches children how to paint, draw still-life, animation, and comics, and use computer programs to create cartoons.

Gilani said his wife’s encouragement pushed him toward opening the studio.

“I was scared,” he admitted. “I didn’t know if I could make the money with a new business during a recession.”

The walls of Gilani’s Mill Creek art studio and classroom are lined with his work — paintings with vibrant red and turquoise strokes, drawn faces of his son and cartoon characters.

“I think it’s good inspiration when students see all the bright colors,” he said.

His students’ work is also featured on the walls and on the FEELartistic Web site.

Gilani said creating something gives artists a feeling of satisfaction.

“Only other artists can really understand how satisfying it feels,” he said.

With help from the city’s parks and recreation staff, Gilani advertised his studio around the city and began offering art classes this summer. During his summer camp, Gilani had approximately 35 regular students.

Gilani said his studio is one of the few places children can learn fine art and animation in Mill Creek.

“As a kid I had the interest but no resources,” he said.

Gilani offers evening classes and a free one-hour class on Saturdays. He even provides materials so kids can learn without being hindered by the economy.

“I want students involved in the fine arts,” he said. “If they want to accomplish something, I want them to know they can do it.”

Gilani’s first lesson is to teach youths how to draw with the basics: paper and a pencil. After they improve their drawing skills, can they transfer those sills to the computer screen, he said.

“You don’t immediately jump on the computers,” he said. “You start with drawing. To me, that is art.”

Gilani secured the license for a few animation computer programs and tweaked them to teach 7- to 13-year-olds basic animation and drawing concepts.

“My focus is to improve their drawing,” he said.

Gilani said creating cartoon characters and comic strips also challenges his students to improve their writing skills, as they are required to write a story for their drawings.

Gilani plans to offer classes for adults and seniors and is working with Mill Creek schools to possibly teach art classes.

His son, Rumi, 9, is also a student who likes to draw and do animation. His drawings of flowers and trees are hanging on the studio walls.

Rumi said he draws for the fun of it.

“If you get something wrong it’s okay, you can erase it,” he said.

Another student, Jessica, 9, said she tries to draw the anime characters she watches in Japanese cartoons.One day, she wants to draw anime movies.

“When you have a pencil you can make whatever you want,” she said. “You can make your own story and make your own person.”