ABOUT THE ART
Are these original paintings? Or prints?
Arte de Sofia sells both original handmade paintings, and digital prints. We are also creating a line of print-on-demand products that are shipped from global fulfilment centers for clients outside of Pakistan, and local vendors within Pakistan. The product description will share which is which, please read carefully and do not hesitate to reach us in case of confusion.
Does Sofie do all the work or do you help her?
I trained Sofie using the same techniques that AI are trained with, by feeding her core data, ideas and concepts, and letting her put those together. Once fed with those bits and pieces, she put them together to channel her own creativity. She sets her own direction and flow once I make a channel for her. In the rate instance that one or more of her paintings went south, I helped her fix them or gave her ideas. Next time she outpaced me by a factor of 20-50. I will take the credit for the technique I used to teach her, but she is gifted and many traits are genetic.
Can I commission art?
Thank you. Art commissions will open soon, and will be tested in order to ensure that the artist is comfortable with the process. We prefer family wellbeing over market, and also would not want to short-change any clients, so this service will be provided when we are ready. Thank you.
Did you create this art yourself?
Yes. Sofia created all her art herself, a couple of paintings here and there have been touched up, corrected or advised by her Mother; around 97% of the art is fully generated by her. Make the 98.5%.
What media are you using to create art?
Our medium are watercolors, acrylic, color pencils, gauche, and sometimes mixed media–for paintings. Toys are made of air-dry clay, some from paper (papier mâché) and others from found and recycled materials. Not all these are presented at the store immediately.
Where did she learn it?
We started schooling right when she was a baby by keeping her in a natural environment where she observed things through 6+ senses. It was at the time of the pandemic that we bought art materials, checked out a few courses online and started practicing. She also saw products that we could not buy at the time and started making them herself, chiefly Felt BusyBooks. She has been painting since much earlier though, when we lived in a village. Or actually, since she was 1.5 and put lipstick marks on the walls of our room!
ABOUT THE STORE & LOCATION
Where are you based?
We are physically based in Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan but move around in the mountain regions. For several years we were based in Hunza but moved just prior to COVID and got settled in Gilgit. We tend to move with the seasons and as the nature of our work and research evolves, and sometimes for safety reasons (primarily cold-related, as cold is a hazard at our altitude!).
Is there a physical store we can visit?
No. Not yet. Passing travelers may arrange to pick up the products from a pre-determined location, but please be aware that service personnel are not trained or reliable in the region and if there is a chain of people involved, commitment and delivery can be chaotic.
Is there a physical store in the works?
No. We will only be in a position to create a physical store after we have created our business processes.
SHIPPING ETC.
How long does it take for me to receive my shipment?/ I have not yet received my shipment?/ Have you dispatched it?
Stuff shipped from Gilgit takes at least five days to reach the rest of the country, there is no “next day”” or “overnight”, there is only “Mountain Time”. If you have bene sent a receipt, please follow up with the courier, this helps us both. When we dispatch, we inform the client. Sometimes, it takes up to a week to dispatch.
Where are you shipping from?
Our art is shipped from Gilgit, where we live and make it. Our herbal products are also shipped from here. We have a website for books, which are printed in and shipped from Karachi.
Is Cash-on-delivery (COD) option available? Why not?
No, we do our work honestly, do not have a mechanism to handle returns. We are conscientious about fulfilment, and have an outstanding track record with our online businesses. In case of anything going wrong, we will cooperate to have your expectations met or exceeded, to the best of our ability. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR A TINY BUSINESS LIKE OURS TO HAVE HEALTHY CASH CYCLES and safety and security of mind, and advance payment assures us that safety.
But that means a risk to me?
You should be willing to engage in taking this risk in what is admittedly a risky market. The bigger risk is a stressed-out producers who crashes due to business pressures and the lack of space to handle COD. Cash in our hands means happy, swift art in your hands. Thank you for understanding.
DONATIONS, CHARITY, THE WORKS
I am a blogger/influencer. Can you send me a few product samples? A PR package?
No. We are a small home business and our marketing is “done” through our service, values, product and integrity. Plus, we are not able to handle a large volume of orders arriving from any sort of advertising. Any quality blogger who wishes to give us coverage or interview us may however be welcome based on our evaluation.
However, we do business alliances with people who we have known for a while and have organically been close to. Thank you.
Will you make some free art for…?
No. In fact, consider sponsoring us or gifting to the hard-working young artist whose current aim is to build a home of her own. Amen.
Can you loan me some art for…..?
No. However if you are the owner of a posh shop or cafe and feature art to sell, we may be interested. Likewise for gallery owners.
Will you lend a helping hand to….?
Not right now, we are rebuilding our family and work after the devastation of COVID.
Would you sponsor….?
No.
You should work for free.
You should pay our bills and provide house cleaning and cooking services.
You are rude.
We are a fragile family who are extremely busy, doing groundbreaking climate work, doing a lot of social construction behind-the-scenes, and have our health and expenses to care for. We take care of our primary tasks in a world where people forgo duty, so our virtue may not be seen, but it is there and therefore we don’t need to do superfluous actions while we are working hard to discharge fundamental duties. Amen.
“TEACH ME/GUIDE ME”
Can you source things (raw materials etc.) for me?
No.
Become my supplier?
No.
Tell me where to get stuff?
No.
Help me replicate your business?
No. We may sell business kits going forward, and those will be available on our sites. First, we work on our core business, which is to give happy, hopeful painting to our clients. Then, we expand into all kinds of side projects. Thank you for asking though, we feel appreciated and agree that such teachings are needed.
I am interested in the same business. Can I send you a few questions? Can you teach me how to do this?
No. Some of our businesses however have courses on our sites that “teach” the interested how to do what we do. That information is available on or sites and stores, when and where available.
Can we meet you?
Currently, no. When we have set up business, yes. This is because we have had stressful experiences wtih demand and attention.
Can you teach my child?
Aw, this one tugs at our heart because we loved teaching, but at the moment, no. We currently do not have the capacity as most of our energy goes in homemaking and establishing business. We also record courses and teachings to be published online, where you can find them when and if they are available. We wish your child the best and trust they will learn by watching.
I am a student. Can I come over for help in an assignment/to interview you?
Most likely not.
PERSONAL
Weren’t you doing a herbal business?
Yes. That business did all too well and could not be scaled, which is what the next phase is. We are documenting our work and may resume it under a different arrangement than an kitchen-top herbalism shop.
Will you relocate to….?
No.
I know you. Can I get a discount?
Nope. You shoulg gift some art materials and send a greeting card to your niece, Sofie.
Can you give a presentation in my office? Can you give a guest lecture in our institute?
We are currently working on setting the foundations of our practice and homestead-life, Insha’Allah. I am available for digital meetings, and preparing to travel or appear in persons in a few months. For environmental and health reasons, I do not travel much at all since COVID.
This website is maintained by and all content written by an adult, and the child artist does not come in contact with the site as of yet. All dealings are between public/users and the Mother of the child artist.