Omar is a Glasgow-based illustrator and printmaker from the Canary Islands. Under the pen name Imidak Art, he creates and shares work that celebrates the simple pleasures in life, like the appreciation of nature’s little creatures, whimsical playfulness, and carefree peace and relaxation. His art practice is multidisciplinary, with a focus on linoprint and digital drawing. He also facilitates linoprinting workshops for beginners, so others can learn and enjoy this art medium.

See Omar’s work as part of our exhibition of work by emerging artists, Starter Pack, curated by gallery intern Hope Reynolds. Starter Pack is many things: it’s a grass roots opportunity for artists to begin, or expand on, their repertoire of exhibitions, to connect with other artists in Glasgow, to further their understanding of working with galleries and curators, and to gain publicity. Starter Pack runs at Six Foot from August 12th to August 26th.

Hi Omar! What is your chosen medium, why do you enjoy working with it? 
My favourite medium is linoprinting; I love the process of carving out my design, as well as the look of the final prints. I find that with every new print I learn a bit more about lino, whether it is what shapes or compositions work best together, or how to use my tools in order to carry out the ideas in my head. Plus, there is something magical about the carving stage. I tend to struggle when it comes to focus or patience but I can spend hours carving into a piece of lino and it’ll feel like it’s been 15 minutes.

How do you overcome creative blocks?
I draw. A lot. It doesn’t feel easy at first but I just remind myself that there is no purpose to these drawings other than to get the ball rolling, which means whatever I do will already be a success. So I’ll just fill a page with little characters, or go outside and pick a building to sketch, or draw thumbnails around some idea. Even if I end up binning everything I drew, it’ll usually get me in the mood to work on my projects.

Tell us about your creative process. From the origins of an idea, to the outcome of creation.
Normally, my inspiration comes from my surroundings: the places I visit, the conversations I have with friends, or the music, books and video-games I enjoy. When I encounter an idea that I would like to explore, I tend to turn it over in my head for days or weeks, slowly polishing what elements or emotions I want to capture. Once it feels concrete enough, I will fill a page or two with small thumbnails and sketches that help me figure out my design without getting bogged down in the details. In my case, the actual creation of the final piece tends to happen in a short period of time, where I will marathon through an entire print or illustration over a day or a weekend rather than do a little each day. It helps me keep a clear idea of what I want to do, and I am able to capture it and put it to paper before the image dissipates.

Can you elaborate on the themes you explore in your work?
Keen-eyed viewers might ask what’s with all the skeletons anyway? when they look at my work. In most of my personal work, I tend to represent people as skeletons rather than (pardon the pun) fleshing out details and characteristics, and I think this is my way of connecting to the human experience in general. A skeleton is, in my eyes, ‘just a person’ – as seen after all preconceptions and appearances are cast aside. Anyone can see themselves as the skeleton, as it doesn’t depict gender, ethnicity, age, occupation or status. I began doing this during my Illustration HND, when I was really struggling with a series of self-portraits as part of an assignment. I was uncomfortable focusing on myself and my appearance, almost as if suddenly there was a big spotlight on me but when I started including skeletons in my pieces I felt like I could see myself better in them. I hope that everyone can see themselves in my art in that way, without any external conditioners or expectations.

What emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they see your work?
I get inspiration from my lived experiences and the things I enjoy, and I try to honestly represent my feelings in a way that can be related to. To me, it is as if I could bring someone along with me so they can experience what I am experiencing, and share with them through my art. And so, if I design a print in a moment of peace and bliss, I hope to put those emotions to paper so that the viewer can get a taste of that peace. Similarly, if I just think a bird is really pretty and I love looking at its beautiful colours, I’ll draw that bird trying to make the viewer feel just as happy to see it. I think that form of connection is really magical, and I feel very privileged to be able to do it.

Can you share a glimpse of your next project?
I love board game design, and vampire fans will probably enjoy the things I have in mind. That is enough of a glimpse for now!

Find out more about Omar’s work on Instagram or via his website imidak.carrd.co. Starter Pack runs at Six Foot Gallery until Tuesday 26th August 2025.