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At a modest desk near the entrance of the Northern Municipal Council, pencils, charcoal and paper quietly capture a moving gallery of faces. For Iman Mohammed, a law graduate and administrative co-ordinator at the council, every visitor is a story waiting to be sketched.
“Every person stepping into the council is unique and I like to draw them,” she told the GDN with a smile. “My desk is near the door, so with just a quick glance, I capture them on paper.”
Over the years, Ms Mohammed has built an extraordinary collection of portraits. “So far, I have drawn around 500 councillors, MPs, senior officials and community figures,” she added.
Councillor Bassem Abu Idrees with his portrait
Ms Mohammed, 36, a mother and a graduate of the Kingdom University with a bachelor’s degree in law, has been devoted to fine art and charcoal realism for more than 15 years.
“I believe art is a message and emotion before it is just a drawing,” she said. “Through my work, I try to capture the details and feelings that make each person who they are.”
Her talent extends beyond faces. During a joint site visit organised by the Muharraq Municipal Council, Ms Mohammed found inspiration in both people and place.
“That day, I drew everyone – and even the historic sites we visited,” she recalled. “Now, some officials ask me to create merged paintings of the person and the place. But I have to see it myself to visualise how the two belong together.”
From left, Muharraq Municipal Council vice-chairman Saleh Buhazaa, Ms Mohammed, council chairman Abdulaziz Al Naar and Muharraq Municipality director-general Khalid Al Qallaf. The artwork reflects Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa House
One of her proudest moments came when she presented a charcoal artwork capturing part of Shaikh Isa Bin Ali Al Khalifa House to members of the Muharraq council, celebrating the kingdom’s heritage as part of the historic Muharraq development vision.
“That support meant a lot to me,” she said. “It made me proud to contribute, in my own way, to preserving Bahrain’s identity and history through art.”
Ms Mohammed says many of her subjects now recognise her work and even pause at her desk, curious to see if they have been captured.
“Some ask me, ‘Did you draw me yet?’” she laughed. “It’s become a lovely connection between me and the people who serve the public.”
Ms Iman, right, presented a portrait on Thursday to Works Ministry sanitary operation and maintenance director Abdulnabi Al Kufi during his visit to the Northern Municipal Council
Despite the growing recognition, Ms Mohammed’s dream remains deeply personal and heartfelt.
“I hope to see His Majesty King Hamad in person and draw him,” she said. “That would be a dream come true for me as an artist and as a Bahraini.”
Balancing work, family life and art is not always easy, but for Ms Mohammed, sketching is a form of peace.
“When I draw, I feel calm. It’s how I express appreciation for people and moments,” she said. “Even a simple expression on a face can tell a powerful story.”
In a busy municipal corridor where files move, meetings begin and officials come and go, Ms Mohammed’s sketchbook quietly preserves something more lasting – the human side of public service, one portrait at a time.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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