Jump into the creative headspace of Nabeela Rumi, an Indian illustrator living in Canada. (@nabeelarumi). We asked her loads of questions about what inspires her, her art journey, and tips for getting creative, so read on to find out more!

Where do get creative inspiration for your artwork?

I love to go on short trips (and long ones too!). It has slowed down a fair bit with shifting to a new place, kids etc. but that is where I derive inspirations from… my travels. The details are in the natural landscapes of the place, colours that I see around, floor tiles, a blooming flower, unique cutlery – almost everything. Every place has its own story and culture, and I find it amazing to be able to recreate and take inspiration from our big, beautiful world!

If you had no time frame, what would you love to create?

I would love to experiment with different art media and make a tapestry about each month spent in a year, capturing all my memories – the good and the bad.

When it comes to art mediums, we see you love gouache and acrylics (same here!). How did you get into them, and what’s one medium you want to explore more but haven’t yet?

I was always familiar with acrylics, but I discovered gouache almost by accident while browsing on Amazon. The description mentioned that it could behave like watercolour when thinned down, while still being opaque like acrylics, and I found that fascinating. I bought my first set of gouache and never looked back.

I would really love to explore oil pastels and oil paints someday. They feel a little intimidating, but exciting at the same time.

What does an ideal weekend look like for you?

I love spending time at home with my family. My husband works away from the city and is only home on weekends, and that’s also when my children are home all day. The best moments are the simple ones – a home cooked hot meal, a good movie, a sweet treat, and everyone together.

What’s something you were nervous about starting, that turned out amazing?

I did not think I would do art full time. I do not have a formal education in it and always thought I would have a day job, so when I started my business and had thoughts about selling prints, I did not have much hope or expectations. I just went with the flow, and it turned out amazing. Fast-forward 4 years, I am here writing about my life as an artist, and it still feels surreal!

What are your tips on how to improve at art?

Not being afraid to try new styles. Often, we as artists are so focused on having a signature style and a sellable one and are too scared to play around.

But I truly believe growth comes from curiosity, exploration, and genuinely enjoying the process of making art.

Growing up, did you come from a creative family?

Not really! An aunt of mine was very creative though. From what she had available at her small town, she made wonderful things like bags, necklaces, embroidered tablecloths, sweaters etc. I actually learnt to embroider from her, but creativity wasn’t something that was deeply present in my immediate family.

What would you tell your younger self?

I would tell my younger self not to stress so much about the future, because life is going to take a huge turn and it’s going to be beautiful. I wouldn’t spoil the surprise of becoming a full-time artist though. I never imagined I would be privileged enough to make art every day for a living and discovering that naturally has been one of the sweetest surprises of my life.

We can see you take part in expos and markets – can you tell us about a favourite memory you have from them?

I think about this moment quite often. A woman once walked over to my booth and said something along the lines of, “please don’t stop making art the way you do just because you feel pressured to do what everyone else is doing.”

We ended up talking about how mundane life can become, and how fortunate it is to pursue a creative path. Her words stayed with me because I have often questioned whether what I am doing is meaningful enough, whether I am contributing enough to my family or if a traditional career would have served me better. That conversation made me feel genuinely valued as an artist.

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

An elephant, without a doubt. I honestly don’t even know why I love them so much, I just do! So, if I had the chance, I think I would happily be one.

See more about @nabeelarumi by checking out our gallery, where her art journey is featured. Stock up on acrylic paints and gouache if you feel inspired to make something, #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook to show us what you come up with.

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