By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD:The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) is organizing a specialized two-week miniature painting workshop at the National Art Gallery in Islamabad.
This workshop, designed for professionals and individuals with an academic background in the visual arts, will be led by the renowned artist and educator Farrah Mahmood Rana.
The workshop will be held from July 28 to August 07, running Monday to Thursday, at the PNCA, National Art Gallery, F-5/1, Islamabad. Participants will receive intensive hands-on training in classical miniature techniques rooted in the Mughal tradition.
The program is divided into two focused sessions. The first session, titled Suffaid Qalam, will take place from July 28 to July 31. It will emphasize fine white line drawing, an essential element of classical miniature.
The second session, Guchrung, scheduled from August 4 to August 7, will explore complex color layering and tonal development techniques used by traditional masters.
Farrah Mahmood Rana is an acclaimed Pakistani visual artist and academic, widely respected for her contributions to traditional Mughal miniature painting.
A graduate of the National College of Arts (NCA), Lahore, she also holds a Master’s in Art Education from Beaconhouse National University (BNU). She is currently an Associate Professor at COMSATS University Islamabad and the founder of the COMSATS Art Gallery.
Her artistic career spans over 160 group exhibitions worldwide, along with four solo shows. She has conducted numerous workshops and residencies across the UK, Austria, France, and China. Her recent achievements include the prestigious President’s Award for Pride of Performance (2024) and the Charles Wallace Fellowship. Farrah’s work is held in important collections such as the World Bank and the National Art Gallery, reflecting her status as a significant figure in contemporary art.
The last date for registration is July 24, 2025, and seats are limited. The workshop is open only to those with a professional or academic background in art. Interested participants can register online by filling out the form available at https://forms.gle/CSgQ6sqb5TEsuUyv6. For further inquiries, applicants can email nag.vadevents@gmail.com.
This workshop is part of PNCA’s broader mission to preserve Pakistan’s artistic heritage while empowering contemporary artists with traditional skills in a modern studio environment.
