David Platford - In the same way that we are supposed to practice mercy, which is one of Allah's names or attributes, we can be extensions of Allah's other precious attributes as well, such as by practicing creativity. 

Pleinair drawing and painting my way around the world kept me in search of interesting landscapes and architectural forms.. While traveling I also started The Village Arts Project, an effort to distribute art supplies and inspiration to kids along the way. It was during one of my trips in East Africa, while on the Swahili Coast south of Mombasa that I first encountered Muslims who welcomed me into their village. I lived with them for several months, learning the basics of Islam and appreciating a simpler way of life. At that time I was heavily into drawing people and animals, so it was a shock to learn that my favorite hobby was 'haram'. I reluctantly decided to put my passion aside for a period of time, and instead began focusing on landscape drawing. At first the limitation was frustrating, but then I began to see the blessing in the infinite variety of landscape possibilities. These days, I occasionally will include characters in my art, but I do not worship them. 

My paintings are explorations of real and imagined relationships to the landscape. By juxtaposing ancient and modern subjects, a new timeless reality is explored, hinting at the possibility that ancient forces are still with us today in the modern world. By using non consistent vantage points, the “Far” becomes “Near”, and “Here” becomes “There”. My aim in overlapping imagery is to create a new synthesis of meaning, revealing hidden forms to guide us on the path towards the infinite beyond, where divisions between space and time collapse.

I am currently the art teacher at St. Elizabeth High School in Oakland, where I am working to give the students self-empowerment tools though visual expression. I received my MFA in Fine Art from the Academy of Art University in 2008, and my BA in Environmental Studies from UCSC in 2000. I am also the director of Living Arts Kinetic Experience (L.A.K.E.), a youth environmental education program in Northern California.

www.davidplatford.com