033 - Using Art to Tackle Anxiety, Expressing Faith in Calligraphy (Ruby Jaffrey)

Ruby Jaffrey is a Calligraphy Artist specializing in Arabic script and modern Islamic Art. Born and raised in London, England, Ruby moved to Dallas, Texas in 2002. Her love for the arts was nurtured at home by her mother who is an an Urdu lecturer and poet. Ruby became increasingly interested with the aesthetics of written script. Encouraged by her husband, Ruby began her artistic journey in 2007.  Her works are a celebration of color, spirituality and faith that are in keeping with the stylistic zeitgeist - expressed with a modernism that she hopes will resonate with the artistic sensibilities of today’s youth. Her work has been exhibited al  over the world in London, Washington DC, Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, and Karachi.  We’ll be chatting to Ruby about her art, cultivating her talent, becoming another Brit lost in the US and how her artistic craft impacts her spirituality and vice versa. 1:10 – Experience of Brits migrating to the U.S? How was the transition? 4:47 – Ruby’s fascination with written script. 10:06 – Pushing the boundaries and pursuing your art as a career? 12:48 - Challenges of being a female artist. 15:33 – Art as a career in the South Asian community. Advice from Ruby. 20:24 – Hasnain always talking business. Ruby’s business model to monetize from her art. 29:13 – Art and mental health. 34:24 – What role does spirituality play in your art? 37:52 – Hasnain shifting the conversation again and asks how Ruby’s differentiates herself from other artist within her industry. 47:01 – Hasnain’s art film idea shattered, Ruby art process from idea to final canvas.