Interview with: Malik Anas
 Hi Malik, Thank you for agreeing to take part in this interview. Please take a moment to introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself.
Thank you so much for having me; it’s great to be a part of this website.I’m Malik Anas Al-Rajab, I’m a 32 years old graphic designer and a calligrapher from Baghdad-Iraq.
You're love and passion for calligraphy shines through your work. When did your interest in calligraphy begin, and what kept it growing?
Thank you so much, well I can still remember my first encounter with calligraphy: I was 15 years old, my older brother was just starting his first lessons in calligraphy, he sat there with a breed pen trying to write his first letters in (Thuluth Style), the most difficult and beautiful style in Arabic Calligraphy tradition. It was then when I fell in love with this magical and mysterious ability to do calligraphy. I started to learn more about calligraphy since then; I can still remember many billboards, books titles and names by remembering the style in which they were written.A few months later I started my traditional training which lasted for almost 4 years with a famous master calligraphers (Hamid Al-Sadi) and (Haidar Rabee).I’m very passionate about calligraphy and any art form related to it, I feel the same joy and fulfillment when studying a calligrapher’s work or when I discover a new possibilities and ideas regarding the subject. Passion is a great fuel to life!
 Instantly looking at your calligraphy i assumed that it was traditionally produced, but as i looked deeply and read more about it, I found out that it was done by computer. I think it is amazing how you capture traditional techniques in a contemporary unique way! What tools, software and materials do you use to produce your designs?
In 2005 I wanted to experiment the ability to incorporate calligraphy and graphic design, after few tryouts I managed to produce a contemporary calligraphic pieces (by hand using a breed pen) and then scan it and finish it up digitally. Later on I was able to do a 100% digitally artworks using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.
Who and what influences your work?
In the beginning I tried to study and understand the contemporary aspect of Arabic Calligraphy and then the western contemporary calligraphy. With that I studied the style of Islamic medieval manuscripts which helped me so much in understanding compositions and layouts. A simpler question would be: who didn’t influence me!I’m so proud that through this learning process, I was able to contact many great calligraphers and they were so kind to guide me into a more coherent style, calligraphers whom influenced me not only by their beautiful work but also by their beautiful soul, such as
Brody Neuenschwander
and
Alice Young
Did you have to learn Arabic when you started calligraphy, or did you already know how to write in Arabic?
Arabic is my native language so this wasn’t an issue, if I wanted to learn –for example- Japanese calligraphy I would think that it’s more helpful to learn the language first.
 What tips would you give someone wanting to pursue Islamic/Arabic calligraphy in this contemporary, computerized age, but wants to keep a traditional feel to there work?
I believe that there is a special essence in Islamic/Arabic calligraphy –like in many other calligraphic traditions- the trick is to find and capture this essence. As for the traditional feel, it’s really a matter of practice and knowing your tools.Arabic Calligraphy thrives on practice, patience and…More practice! Trying to find a bridge, a link between what is tradition and what is contemporary may lead us to many new dimensions.
I know I would love to buy a copy of you work, and I'm sure others are interested in owning a copy also. Are any of your designs available to purchase, and if not do you think you will sell you designs in the future?
I’m working on it and I will try to activate my printing account at
my deviantart account
soon.
I found you on devientart. Do you have a website or blog you use also, or are you just located there?
My deviantart account is my main account at the moment.
We would like to thank you again for taking the time out of your busy life to be interviewed. I wish you the best with your beautiful calligraphy work and in life, and I'm sure many have and will be inspired.
It was my pleasure! Thank you so much for this opportunity and I hope you all the best with your work and website.
Visit malik's amazing devientart and website here:
www.malikanas.com
www.malikanas.deviantart.com
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