[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 30–A Wonderful Night at the Raqs Party / アメリカ絵日記30 Raqs Partyで素晴らしい時間を過ごしました！

 

  Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hi everyone!
This is Nisreen — how are you doing?

こんにちは、ニスリーンです！皆さんお元気ですか？

On 6 December 2025, I had the privilege of being invited to the Raqs Party in Bloomington, organised by Donna Carlton. The hafla/show has been held every year since 2005. It was heart-warming to be part of such a beloved event alongside the wonderful local dancers for the second time. The host dancers, All About Bellydancers, always welcome us with warm hospitality.

私は先日、2025年12月6日にブルーミントンにて、Donna Carltonさん主催のRaqs Partyというイベントにパフォーマーとしてお招きいただきました！このダンスイベントはなんと、過去20年間毎年開催されているそうで、私は2度目の参加です。とても暖かいイベントで、地元ダンサーの皆さんとご一緒できて嬉しかったです。ホストのAll About Bellydancersの皆さんはいつも優しくゲストを迎えてくださいます。

I performed a solo piece to the live music “Zeina”, played by Indy Raqs. My goal was to bring the elegance of Samia Gamal — known for performing this classic song with her distinct coquettish style — into my own dance style. It was also lovely to dance to the beautiful oud improvisation by Andy Smith.

私のソロパフォーマンスでは、Indy Raqsの皆さんの生演奏で名曲Zeinaを踊りました。Zeinaといえば、伝説のダンサーSamia Gamalのパフォーマンスが有名ですから、彼女の優雅で茶目っ気のある雰囲気を自分のスタイルにも少しでも取り入れられたらいいなと思いながら踊っていました。Andyさんのウード即興で踊らせていただけたのも素敵な経験になりました。

PC: SJ Images

I also had the chance to perform a group piece, “Move Your Belly”, as part of Troupe Oasis — I love the dramatic song and the choreography by Dahlena. It was a joyful experience to dance with such lovely dance mates. The drawing below is my attempt to capture the harmony we felt while performing together.

I will also share the performance videos once I have access to them!

また、Troupe Oasisの一員として、“Move Your Belly”という曲で踊りました。情熱的で私のお気に入りの曲です。振付もDahlenaさん作のとても華やかな振付で、素敵なダンス仲間の皆さんと一緒に踊るのは幸せな時間でした。

下の画像は、みんなで一緒に音楽に身を任せて踊る調和の感覚を捉えようと描いたものです。

ダンス映像をいただけましたらまたシェアいたします！

Love,

Nisreen

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep7 Why NANA Readers Should Watch Riot Women /ポッドキャスト S3: Ep7 NANA 読者が Riot Women を観るべき理由

     Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to episode seven of season three. Today I’m talking about the new BBC series Riot Women. It came out last month, and I loved it so much. The story follows a group of women in their forties and fifties who start a punk-rock band to reclaim their voices — classic sharp, emotional Sally Wainwright writing.

As I watched, it reminded me of NANA, the iconic 2000s manga by Ai Yazawa, which I discussed in a previous episode. The settings couldn’t be more different, yet the parallels are surprising. So today, I’ll share five reasons why NANA fans should watch Riot Women — and why Riot Women viewers might enjoy NANA. There will be spoilers, so feel free to come back later if you need to.

Please find the episode below, available in video on YouTube or audio on Buzzsprout. It's also on Apple Podcasts , Spotify On YouTube, I also share my process of drawing the thumbnail art for this episode.

YouTube

Audio

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 29–I Was Invited to a Visual Analysis Class / アメリカ絵日記２9ー視覚分析のクラスにゲストとして登場しました

  Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hi everyone!
This is Nisreen — how are you doing?

こんにちは、ニスリーンです！皆さんお元気ですか？

Today, I had the privilege of being invited to a visual analysis class at a university as an artist.

The professor—who happens to be my husband—asked me to bring seven pieces of my artwork and answer questions from the students about art, sharing insights into visual language.

It was a wonderful experience to hear the students' fresh perspectives and to contribute to their education through my creations!

今日は大学での視覚分析のクラスにゲストとしてお招きいただき、アーティストとしてお話する機会に恵まれました。

教授（私の夫でもあります）のリクエストで、7枚の作品を持参し、学生からの質問に答えながら、視覚言語をどのように使うかについてお話をしました。

学生の皆さんの新鮮な視点を聴くのはとても楽しく、また自分の絵を通して教育に携わることができるのはやりがいのある経験でした！

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 28– I have Donated My Artworks/ アメリカ絵日記２８ー私の作品を寄付しました

 Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hi everyone!
This is Nisreen — how are you doing?

こんにちは、ニスリーンです！皆さんお元気ですか？

I’ve donated my original greeting cards and paintings to Artists for Climate Awareness (ACA), on view and available for purchase at Bloomington Fine Art Supply from December 1 2025 through the end of January 2026.

最近私は、オリジナルのグリーティングカードと、絵画を Climate Awareness (ACA)へ寄付しました。12月1日より、Bloomington Fine Art Supplyにて展示および販売が開始されます。

This special art sale is coordinated by Art for Earth and hosted by Bloomington Fine Art Supply, with 100% of proceeds benefiting ACA’s mission — to reverse environmental destruction and support the Earth’s healing.

Please stop by if you’re in or near Bloomington, or if you have a chance to visit!

この特別なアート販売はArt for Earthの取り仕切りにより、Bloomington Fine Art Supplyが開催しています。売上はすべて、環境破壊を食い止め地球の回復を志すというACAの活動のために寄付されます。

Bloomingtonおよび近郊にお住まいの方、またはお近くにいらっしゃる機があれば、是非お立ち寄りください！

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep6 Why All Artists Should Watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend /ポッドキャスト S3: Ep6 全てのアーティストが「Crazy Ex-Girlfriend」を観るべき理由

         Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen!
Welcome to the sixth episode of season three of my podcast — it’s lovely to be speaking with you again.

Today, I’d like to talk about one of the most underrated dramas in TV history: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend! This American musical TV series was created by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna, and it aired from 2015 to 2019. Bloom herself plays the lead role.

The show has a playful, comical tone and is packed with original musical numbers. I have to say, this seemingly light-hearted romcom is a must-watch — especially for artists. And by “artists,” I mean anyone who expresses themselves through creative work: drawing, singing, dancing, writing, or any other form of art.

In this episode, I’ll break down the reasons why I think so into five key points. I’ll avoid spoilers until the final section — and don’t worry, I’ll give you a warning before we get there!

Please find the episode below, available in video on YouTube or audio on Buzzsprout. It's also on Apple Podcasts , Spotify On YouTube, I also share my process of drawing the thumbnail art for this episode!

YouTube

Buzzsprout

Visual Diary 27– Huge Problem with Tiny Cloth

 One cultural difference I can never get over is how people in the West use the same cloth to clean countertops and to wipe their wet hands. I know this sounds petty, but every time I see it, my inner Japanese obāsan dies a little inside. (lol)

If you’re not familiar with why, it’s because in Japan there are distinct terms—and distinct cloths—for different purposes: tefuki for hands, daifuki for the table, fukin for dishes, and zōkin for the floor or ant dusty surfaces. Think about it: the cloth is already dirty after wiping the counter—why would you then use it to dry your freshly washed hands or, worse, your dishes? To me, it feels extremely unhygienic.

This cultural difference even stirred controversy in my marriage. My husband complained that there were too many different names to keep track of. Our solution? We bought a brightly coloured towel used only for drying hands—a visual signal to him not to use it for anything else. Problem solved (mostly).

[Bilingual post] My Artwork is Featured in Goddessarts Magazine!/ Goddessarts マガジンに絵を載せていただけました！

 My artwork is featured on page 24 of the 19th issue of Goddessarts Magazine!  Please have a look!

https://www.goddessartsmag.com/magazine/issue19

私の絵をGoddessarts Magazineの19号に載せていただけました！24ページにありますので是非ご覧になってみてください。

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep5 How to Visualise Autumn Song/ポッドキャスト S3: Ep5 秋の詩を描く方法

        Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to the fifth episode of Season Three of my podcast. It’s lovely to be speaking with you again.

Today, I’d like to try something a little different, and share a little about the process of drawing the thumbnail art to this podcast. It was inspired by the poem Autumn Song by the French poet Paul Verlaine.

When we look at the history of art, we often see connections between the visual arts and other forms of expression, such as literature, music, and dance. I’d love to explore those intersections here, and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

* The thumbnail for this episode is my drawing.

Please find the episode below, available in video on YouTube or audio on Buzzsprout. It's also on Apple Podcasts , Spotify 

YouTube

Buzzsprout

[Bilingual post] I’m a Finalist in the Goddessarts Prize/ Goddessarts 賞のファイナリストになりました！

 I woke up to the wonderful news that I’m a Finalist in the Goddessarts Prize with the theme “Goddesses”! ✨ Thank you so much Goddess Arts Magazine.

My artwork will be featured alongside the other finalists in the Finalists’ Exhibition online, opening next week.  I’m so excited to share this!

Goddess Arts MagazineによるGoddessarts 賞のファイナリストに選ばれたとのお知らせをいただき、とても喜んでいます！来週から、私の絵も他のファイナリストの方々と一緒にオンライン展覧会に掲示していただける予定です。ぜひご覧になってみてください。

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep4 Learn How to Grieve with Art/ポッドキャスト S3: Ep4 アートで学ぶ「失う」ということ

       Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to the fourth episode of Season Three of my podcast. 

As many artists and art lovers know, art is not only about aesthetic delight—it also offers profound insights into how we can face life’s challenges. Today, I’d like to share three paintings that explore loss and grief, and reflect on the lessons they can teach us. I hope you enjoy this journey.

* The thumbnail for this episode is my drawing named Sorrow.

Please find the episode below, available in video on YouTube or audio on Buzzsprout. It's also on Apple Podcasts , Spotify 

YouTube

Buzzsprout

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 2 6–My Favourite Things from an American Supermarket/ アメリカ絵日記26 アメリカのスーパーマーケットで好きなもの

 Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

I drew quick sketches of little things I’ve found in supermarkets since moving to the US, and have grown fond of.

アメリカ合衆国に引っ越してから、スーパーマーケットで見つけてお気に入りになった小さな物をスケッチにしてみました。

Burt’s Bees Shea Mango Butter

This keeps my skin nicely moisturised. It smells lovely too.

保湿に良いです。それに香りもいいです。

TUMS Chewy Bites

When my stomach is upset, these help. They also taste a bit like a sweet.

お腹の調子が悪い時に効きます。普通のおやつのような味です。

Carol`s Daughter Goddess Strength Fortifying Shampoo

This is hands down the best shampoo I’ve ever used. My hair feels very smooth and has a sweet coconut scent after using it.

今まで使ったシャンプーの中で一番良かったです。洗髪後、さらさらになります。ココナッツの甘い香りがします。

Zep Glass Cleaner

It doesn’t leave any streaks. It works perfectly on mirrors, windows, kitchen surfaces, the bath, and more.

ガラスを磨く際に吹き付けると跡が残らなくていいです。台所やお風呂、窓や鏡などいろいろな場所で活躍します。

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 25 – I Am Happy When I`m Covered in Dogs / アメリカ絵日記25 犬に埋まる幸せ

Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

I made these goofy sketches, remembering the night our dogs piled on top of me.

犬に埋まるのは幸せなものです。そんな夜を記録するために緩い絵を描いてみました。

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep3 What All Artists Can Learn from Michael Jackson /ポッドキャスト S3: Ep3 Michael Jacksonから学ぶアートの鉄則

      Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to the third episode of Season Three of my podcast. It’s lovely to be speaking with you again.

Today, I’d like to talk about one of the most influential figures in music history: Michael Jackson. Even 16 years after his passing, he’s still widely recognised as a legendary entertainer.

So, the question is: Why is his work important from an artistic perspective? And as artists, what can we learn from him? In this episode, I’ll break it down into four key points.

* The thumbnail for this episode is my painting inspired by We Are the World lyrics written by Michael Jackson.

Please find the episode below.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify and YouTube as well.

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep2 Read Adolescence from Visual Art Perspective /ポッドキャスト S3: Ep2 「アドレセンス」を色彩から読み解く

     Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to the second episode of Season Three of my podcast. It’s lovely to speak with you again. Please note that there will be spoilers for the show Adolescence throughout today`s episode.

* The thumbnail for this episode is my painting inspired by the last scene from Adolescence. 

Please find the episode below.

This podcast is available on

Apple Podcasts , Spotify and YouTube as well.

[Bilingual post] Podcast S3: Ep1 Three Pieces of Art about Death /ポッドキャスト S3: Ep1 「死」をアートはどう捉えるか

    Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to the first episode of Season Three of my podcast. It’s lovely to speak with you again.

The other day, I was searching online for a definition of art. Even though I identify as an artist, it’s difficult to define art because it depends so much on cultural context. One theory presented in an Encyclopaedia Britannica article resonated with me, though. It states, quote unquote, “Artists past and present keep alive for us humankind’s natural potential for beauty and power and help future generations to examine the fundamental mysteries of life and death, which we both fear and desire to know.”

Today, I’d like to talk about three pieces of art that explore these mysteries in profound ways: one painting, one manga, and one piece of literature. I hope you enjoy it!

* The thumbnail for this episode is my study of painting ` Death and the Maiden` (1908) by Marianne Stokes.

Please find the episode below.

This podcast is available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify and YouTube as well.

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 24 – I Received an Honourable Mention at the Exhibition Distant Thunder / アメリカ絵日記24 展覧会Distant Thunderにて特別賞を受賞

  Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hi all,

This is Nisreen!

I was so delighted to receive an Honourable Mention at the art exhibition "Distant Thunder", hosted by Artists for Climate Awareness. Thank you so much for selecting my painting, and to the Arts Alliance Centre for sharing such a beautiful space to raise awareness of climate change!

The painting captures the journey of self-reflection and discovering inner peace, intertwined with the serenity of flowing water in nature.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nisreen's Art World (@nisreensartworld)

こんにちは、ニスリーンです！

Artists for Climate Awareness主催のアート展 "Distant Thunder "でHonourable Mention（特別賞）をいただき、とても嬉しく思っています。Artists for Climate Awarenessgが私の絵を選んでくださったこと、また気候変動への意識を高める展覧会に、このような美しい空間を共有してくださったアーツ・アライアンス・センターに心から感謝します！

この絵は、自分自身を見つめ直し、内なる平和を発見する内省の旅路を、自然の中を流れる水の静けさと重ね合わせて描き出したものです。

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 23 – Norwescon 2025/ アメリカ絵日記23 Norwescon 2025 の思い出

 

     Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hi all,

This is Nisreen!

The other day, my love Subodhana Wijeyeratne’s sci-fi novel Triangulum was nominated as a finalist for the prestigious Philip K. Dick Award!

こんにちは、ニスリーンです！先日、私の大切な人Subodhana WijeyeratneのSF小説Triangulum が歴史ある文学賞 Philip K. Dick Award候補に選ばれるという嬉しい出来事がありました。

This gave us a great opportunity to attend the nomination ceremony and panel discussions at Norwescon in Seattle.

Though Subo didn’t win, I was so proud to witness him reading his work and connecting with his readers, alongside all the other fantastic nominees!

おかげでシアトルにて開催されたNorwescon というコンヴェンションに招待いただき、受賞発表およびパネルディスカッションに私も一緒に出席する機会に恵まれました。

受賞はなりませんでしたが、素晴らしい他の候補者の方々と並んで堂々と自作を読み上げ、またパネルとしても活躍している彼の姿に私も誇らしい気持ちでした！

What struck me about Norwescon was how family-friendly it was—I saw kids, dogs, people in wheelchairs, gender-nonconforming folks—everyone coming together and sharing their passion for science fiction and fantasy.

In my home country, Japan also has remarkably vibrant “nerd” cultures and communities, such as the Tokyo Comic Market I once had a peek at, but I always get the impression that their primary targets are loner adults, not families.

Norwescon 全体で印象に残ったのは家族連れに優しく開放的な雰囲気です。小さな子達、犬連れ、性別表現が色々な方々、車椅子の方など幅広い方々がSFやファンタジーへの情熱を分かち合うようにして集われていました。

母国日本も多種「オタク」「ファン」文化に関して非常に熱い国ですし、私も東京コミックマーケットはいちど覗いたことがありますが、知る限り日本においてのそれはちょっとアングラな大人の楽しみとしての側面がより大きいような気がします。そのためこの家族連れ大歓迎な環境は新鮮に映りました。

It was also lovely to be warmly welcomed as my big nerd’s plus-one by the community, and to see him glowing as he nerded out during the discussions too!

ディスカッションでは、Suboが歴史オタクぶりを発揮して輝いているところを見ることができ、コミュニティの仲間として私まで暖かく迎え入れていただいてとても楽しい経験になりました！

 I did this sketch in my hotel room!

これは私がホテルの部屋で描いたスケッチです。

Love,

Nisreen.

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 22 – I Had a Blast at Habibi Dancers’ 41st Annual Spring Workshop & Concert / アメリカ絵日記22 楽しかったHabibi Dancers 春のイベント

     Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello  this is Nisreen, how are you?

On April 12–13, 2025, I had the great opportunity to attend all three workshops led by the London-based Turkish star Mr. Özgen at the Habibi Dancers’ 41st Annual Spring Event. I also had the joy of performing a Turkish pop duet with my dear dance friend and Troupe Oasis director, Deborah Kull.

こんにちは、ニスリーンです！皆さんお元気ですか？

2025年4月12日から13日にかけて、ハビビ・ダンサーズの第41回目春のイベントで、ロンドンを拠点に活躍するトルコのスター、Mr. Ozgenが指導する3つのワークショップすべてに参加するというとても贅沢な週末を過ごしました。

また、私の親愛なるダンス仲間であり、Troupe OasisのディレクターであるDeborah Kullさんと二人でターキッシュ・ポップの演目を披露する機会に恵まれました！

I originally learned the choreography Kadehinde Zehir Olsa from another wonderful Turkish teacher, Serkan, in Tokyo about five years ago, and performed it with my dance mate Farhana in Yokohama. It was wonderful to revisit and improve my performance this time around, and such fun to share and practise it with Deborah.

Kadehinde Zehir Olsa という曲の振付は、5年ほど前に東京でもう一人の素晴らしいトルコ人ダンサーSerkan氏から習い、横浜でダンス仲間のFarhanaさんとパフォーマンスした思い出の振付です。

今回、あらためてこの素敵な振付を練習し直し、以前よりも技術的に向上したと思えて良かったです。また、Deborahさんに振付を共有し、一緒に磨いていくのも本当に楽しい時間でした。

With Deborah 

Although I have taken online classes with Mr. Özgen before, this was my first time meeting and learning from him in person. His dance style is like a kaleidoscope – graceful yet energetic, masculine yet feminine, classic yet creative – a beautiful diversity embodied in one person. His arm movements, especially, were even more mesmerising in real life.

As I danced in the same room with him, I found myself reflecting on the meditative aspect of dance. As a serious dancer, it’s easy to fall into the temptation of categorising everything in a cut-and-dried way, but the free energy he brought to both the studio and stage reminded me that dance can liberate both body and spirit in a way that transcends borders or labels.

Mr. Ozgenのオンラインレッスンを受けたことは以前にもありましたが、実際にお会いして学ぶのは今回が初めてでした。

彼の踊りのスタイルは優雅でありながら力強く、男性的でありながら女性的、古典的でありながら独創的、と一見矛盾する要素が万華鏡のように共存しているところが本当に魅力的でした。

特に彼の腕の動きは、実際に見ると映像以上に美しかったです。

彼の存在を近くに感じながら、私はダンスの瞑想的な側面について感じ入っていました。

ダンサーは学ぶことに熱心になるに従い、ダンスにおいて何が正しくてそうでないのかを杓子行儀に決めたい誘惑にかられることがあると思うのですが、

クラスと舞台にMr. Ozgenが運び込んだ自由なエナジーの鮮烈さは、国境など様々な垣根を越え身体と精神を解き放す、ダンス本来の可能性を思い出させてくれるものでした。

With Mr. Ozgen and Deborah

I am so grateful to Mr. Özgen for travelling all the way from London, and to the organiser, Garnett Kepler, and the Habibi Dancers for putting together such an amazing event!

はるばるロンドンからアメリカ合衆国までいらっしゃったMr. Ozgen、そしてこのような素晴らしいイベントを企画してくださった主催者のGarnett Keplerさん, Habibi Dancers のみなさんに感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。

The image below is my drawing of Mr. Özgen.

下の画像は私が描いたMr. Ozgenの絵です。

Love,

Nisreen.

[Bilingual post] Podcast S2: Ep20 – How to Appreciate Belly dance Performance - Tanyeli /ポッドキャスト S2: Ep20 ベリーダンスパフォーマンスの読み解き方－Tanyeli

   Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Hello, this is Nisreen! Welcome to the 20th episode of Season Two of my podcast! It’s lovely to speak with you again.

The other day, I heard some tragic news: legendary Turkish belly dancer Tanyeli had passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 54. I have been performing and teaching belly dance for years now, and Tanyeli has always been one of my dance icons.

Today, to celebrate the memory of her legacy, I’d like to highlight three aspects of her style that made her stage presence so unique. I hope this will help a broader audience appreciate her artistry, beyond just the belly dance community.

The thumbnail of this episode is my pen drawing of Tanyeli. Please find the episode below.

The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts , Spotify and YouTube as well.

ベリーダンスってハーレムで王様を誘惑するために踊られていた踊りなんでしょ？

こんにちは！オリエンタルを日々是研究、ベリーダンサー、Nisreen(ニスリーン）です。

今回のよく訊かれることシリーズは「ベリーダンスってハーレムで王様を誘惑するために踊られていた踊りなんでしょ？」です。

こんなイメージでしょうか？ヨーロッパの東洋趣味（オリエンタリスト）の画家による作品です。確かに魅惑的なイメージですね。

Painted by Jean Leon Gerome

Painted by Otto Pilny

タイムマシンがない限り、過去のことはいつも私たちの想像をかきたてます。
でもこの推論については、残念ですが明らかに「ハズレ」だと思います。