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Orwa Dawood | Artist & Illustrator

@orwasdiary

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🎨 Turning random ideas into pretty things
🌎 20 countries•20 illustrations
✍️ Islamic art + calligraphy
☕ Creating. Overthinking.
💌 Commissions+collabs

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Some places are beautiful to look at. Others make you feel something, even through a drawing. 🕋💛

For number: 6 of my 20 Illustrations, 20 Countries series, we’re travelling to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦✨ — to Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, home to the Holy Kaaba, the direction Muslims around the world turn to in prayer.

I wanted to capture the beauty of this sacred place in my own illustration style — the towering minarets, the golden details, the grand architecture, and the Kaaba standing at the heart of it all.

But the more I worked on this piece, the more I thought about what the Kaaba represents to millions of people. Imagine standing there, surrounded by people from every corner of the world, speaking different languages, carrying different stories, yet turning toward the same place. 🥹

There’s something so powerful about that kind of connection. Different countries, different cultures, different lives… one shared direction.

As an artist, I love illustrating places that hold meaning beyond their architecture. And this one feels especially close to the heart. 🤍

Created on @procreate
Creative hours: 5

💬 Your turn: Have you ever visited Masjid al-Haram, or is it a place you dream of visiting one day? Tell me in the comments. 🕋

And if you’re enjoying this little journey around the world, follow along for country num: 7! 🌍🎨

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#MasjidAlHaram #SaudiArabia #Makkah #IslamicArt #muslimartistsunite

Masjid al-Haram illustration
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Saudi Arabia art A stylized digital illustration of Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, featuring the Holy Kaaba in the foreground, surrounded by cream and gold mosque architecture, tall minarets, domes, and a deep teal sky. Part of a 20 countries, 20 illustrations art series. taken in Kaaba by @orwasdiary

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3 days ago

Imagine walking through Madina centuries ago… 🌴🕌

No modern buildings. No busy roads. Just sun-baked mud-brick homes, palm trees swaying in the warm desert air, and the beautiful green dome rising above the old city.

For this chapter of my 20 Illustrations, 20 Countries series, I wanted to take you somewhere special: Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia — but not the Madina we know today. I imagined the city in an earlier era, when its architecture was simpler, its streets were quieter, and life moved at a different pace.

I pictured myself walking between those earthy, clay-coloured homes, looking up at the minarets, and catching a glimpse of the Green Dome in the distance. Imagine hearing the adhan echo through the old city as the golden sunlight falls across the rooftops. There’s something so beautiful about imagining a place before the world around it changed.

Madina is more than a place on a map. For millions of Muslims, it holds a special place in the heart — a city connected to the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Islamic history, and a sense of peace that words can hardly describe.

As an artist, I love using illustration to bring places, cultures, and histories to life. I know this isn’t a historical reconstruction of one exact moment; it’s my artistic interpretation inspired by the traditional architecture and timeless atmosphere of old Madina.

🎨 Swipe to see the finished illustration and the original line art before the colours brought the scene to life!

Series: 20 Countries. 20 Illustrations.
Created on @procreate
Creative hours: 10

Now I want to know something…

💚 If you could step back in time and visit one historic city in the world, which would you choose?

And if you could visit old Madina for just one day, what would you want to see first?

This is country #5 in my 20 Illustrations, 20 Countries journey. 🌍 Follow along as I turn places around the world into little illustrated stories.

#Madina #SaudiArabia #IslamicArt #DigitalIllustration ArchitectureArt Historic Madina, Saudi Arabia, digital illustration featuring the Green Dome, mosque minarets, traditional mud-brick houses, palm trees and blue skies, inspired by old Madinah architecture and Islamic heritage. taken in Al Masjid an Nabawi المسجد النبوي Madina Munawarah المدينة المنورة by @orwasdiary

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9 days ago

🇯🇴 Jordan

Series: 20 Illustrations, 20 Countries
Created on @procreate
Creative hours: 23

#4 / 20 — JORDAN 🇯🇴✨

I wanted this one to feel like stepping into another world.

There’s something about Jordan that feels almost unreal — ancient stone, dramatic architecture, warm desert colours, and layers upon layers of history everywhere you look.

For this illustration, I wanted to capture that feeling rather than simply recreate a place. I played with terracotta reds, burnt oranges, golden light and deep burgundy shadows to give the architecture that warm, almost dreamlike feeling I associate with Jordan.

And honestly… this one took me somewhere while I was drawing it. 🥹

Jordan is #4 in my 20 Illustrations, 20 Countries series 🌍

Four countries down… 16 more to go.

Now I want to know — if you could pick ANY country for me to illustrate next, where would you send me? 👀🌎

Drop your country below. I might just choose one of your suggestions for a future illustration. ⬇️

Save this post if you love travel + art, and follow along because the next destination is already waiting. 🤎

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#Jordan #JordanTravel TravelArt IllustrationArtist 20Illustrations20Countries

Jordan art, Jordan illustration, Jordan travel, Jordan architecture, Jordanian architecture, Middle Eastern art, Middle Eastern architecture, ancient architecture, Petra Jordan, Jordan travel inspiration, travel illustration, travel artist, digital illustration, architectural illustration, cultural art, world art, countries through art, 20 illustrations 20 countries, artist series, art travel series, travel inspired art, destination art, Middle East travel, Jordan aesthetic, terracotta architecture, ancient ruins, historical architecture, fine art illustration Black and white detailed line-art illustration of monumental ancient architecture in Jordan, viewed from a dramatic angle and surrounded by flowing organic shapes and clouds. taken in Al-Khazneh, Petra, Jordan by @orwasdiary

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15 days ago

POV: You’re watching a little piece of your heart come to life, one stroke at a time. 🕋🤍

Some places are more than just places. They hold memories, prayers, dreams, and feelings that are hard to put into words.

I’m bringing the beauty of the world to life through my 20 Countries, 20 Illustrations series, and this time, I’m illustrating one of the most meaningful places in the world — Makkah. ✨

Just me, my iPad, Procreate, and a whole lot of love going into every little detail. 🥹

Now I’m curious… 💭 Is visiting the Kaaba on your bucket list, or have you already been blessed with the experience? Tell me in the comments. 🤍

Follow along as I bring more places, cultures, and stories to life through art. 🌍🎨

#Makkah #Kaaba #IslamicArt #ProcreateArt #MuslimArtist
Kaaba digital illustration
Makkah illustration
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Mecca Saudi Arabia
Spiritual art
Islamic art and design taken in Masjid Al Haram Makkah by @orwasdiary

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an hour ago

Lahore, Pakistan 🇵🇰
20 illustrations. 20 countries. 🌍✨
3/20

I’ve always loved the way a city can tell its story through architecture.

For this illustration, I wanted to capture Androon Lahore / the Walled City of Lahore — the narrow streets, old balconies, colourful façades, hanging fabrics, little everyday details… and of course, the incredible Badshahi Mosque rising above the city.

I started with nothing but lines and slowly built the scene layer by layer. ✍🏼

There’s something so special about drawing places I visited and left with them in my heart and the ones I haven’t necessarily experienced in person, but can still connect with through their architecture, history, colours and culture.

Series: 20 illustrations, 20 Countries 🌎 (3/20)
Created on @procreate
Creative hours: 18

Lahori friends 🇵🇰 — did I capture the feeling of Androon Lahore? What should I draw next?”

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#lahorepakistan #pakistanart #travelillustration #architecturalillustration #illustrationart

Lahore Pakistan, Androon Lahore, Walled City Lahore, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore architecture, Pakistani architecture, Pakistan art, Lahore illustration, Pakistan illustration, Islamic architecture, Mughal architecture, South Asian art, travel illustration, cultural illustration, architectural art, city illustration, illustrated cities, world art, travel through art, 20 illustrations 20 countries, art series, artist, digital illustration Fully coloured travel illustration of Androon Lahore, Pakistan, featuring warm terracotta and earthy buildings, deep blue sky, cream mosque domes, tall minarets, traditional arches, balconies and Badshahi Mosque. taken in Androon Lahore by @orwasdiary

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19 days ago

sorry i lied... 🫶🏻

loveeee this trend sm so I had to hop on it. exposing the truths (in the best way) 🫣

which ones do you relate to?!

#sorryilied #hottake #artist #illustrator #visualartist Artist paint brushes in warm golden sunlight with dramatic shadows, creative studio aesthetic, contemporary artist workspace, painting tools, art inspiration, creative process, visual artist. by @orwasdiary

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25 days ago

20 Countries. 20 Illustrations. 🌍🎨
Country #2: Palestine 🇵🇸

You chose Palestine. So I drew Jerusalem.

I started this piece with nothing but lines — the rooftops, the old stone streets, the trees, the minaret, and that unmistakable golden dome standing above it all.

Then came the colour.

I wanted the final piece to feel warm, lived-in and full of life — the kind of place you can almost imagine wandering through, getting lost between the old buildings and looking up at the sky.

For me, this illustration is about more than drawing a place. It’s about the feeling a place can carry — history, memory, faith, beauty and belonging.

This is my little illustrated window into Palestine. 🇵🇸❤️

From rive to the sea Palestine will be free!!

Created on @procreate
Creative hours: 39

You picked the country. I brought it to life.
Which country should I draw next? 👀🌍

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#PalestineArt #Palestine #JerusalemArt #DigitalIllustration ArtChallenge

Palestine illustration, Palestine art, Palestinian art, Jerusalem illustration, Jerusalem art, Dome of the Rock illustration, Al Aqsa art, digital art, digital illustration, Procreate art, travel illustration, cultural illustration, Middle Eastern art, Islamic architecture, Islamic art, 20 countries illustration challenge, art challenge, country illustration, artist process, art transition, illustrated world, contemporary illustration Black and white digital line drawing of Jerusalem, featuring the Dome of the Rock, mosque minaret, historic stone buildings, trees, clouds, and layered rooftops. taken in Palestine by @orwasdiary

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a month ago

Taaadaaa ✨🪄

Series: A world in Art { one world, 20 illustrations }
Created on @procreate
Creative hours: 39

#arttransition #procreate #illustration #palestine #digitalart
20 countries illustration challenge, art transition, digital art, digital illustration, Procreate art, illustration process, drawing challenge, art challenge, travel art, world art, country illustration, cultural art, artist process, satisfying art transition, before and after art, creative process, digital artist, illustrator, art reel, art transformation, art inspiration, travel illustration, illustrated world, artist journey, 20 country challenge taken in Palestine by @orwasdiary

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a month ago

This trend is so much fun. I wanted to give it try with my current project and ofco my coffee which is always a must 😂😏

Tell me your fav country for my next painting !

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#illustration #procreate #process #cairo #egypt taken in Cario, Egypt by @orwasdiary

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a month ago

A glimpse into Cairo, late 1800s — through my imagination. 🌙✨

I wanted to capture the feeling of wandering through a Cairo bazaar in the late 19th century — surrounded by intricate Islamic architecture, towering minarets, domes, ornate balconies, carved details and warm light spilling from the buildings.

This piece began as nothing more than black ink on a blank page. Slowly, colour transformed the architecture into a moonlit Cairo scene — deep indigo skies, glowing windows, warm golden domes and the quiet presence of the mosque rising above the bazaar.

There’s something about historic Cairo that feels almost dreamlike. The architecture carries stories, the narrow streets invite you deeper, and every little ornament feels like a piece of history.

I wanted this artwork to feel less like looking at a city and more like standing inside it.

Swipe through to see the artwork evolve from linework → colour study → final scene. 🎨

Would you hang a piece inspired by old Cairo in your home? 🕌🌙

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Cairo art, Old Cairo art, historic Cairo, Cairo bazaar, 19th century Cairo, Egyptian art, Egypt inspired art, Cairo illustration, Islamic architecture, Islamic architectural art, Islamic art, Middle Eastern art, Egyptian architecture, mosque illustration, mosque art, minaret artwork, architectural illustration, architectural line art, detailed line art, digital illustration, historical art, cultural art, Middle Eastern architecture, Islamic patterns, vintage Cairo, old city artwork, contemporary Islamic art, collectible art, art collectors, limited edition art prints, original artwork, fine art, Canadian artist, Saskatoon artist, emerging artist.

#CairoArt #OldCairo #EgyptianArt #CairoBazaar IslamicArt IslamicArchitecture MiddleEasternArt EgyptInspired ArchitecturalArt ArchitecturalIllustration MosqueArt MinaretArt HistoricalArt CulturalArt DigitalIllustration LineArt ContemporaryArt ArtCollectors ArtCollector CollectArt FineArtPrints LimitedEditionArt OriginalArtwork EmergingArtist SaskatoonArtist CanadianArtist ArtOfInstagram ArtistsOnInstagram ArtProcess ArtLovers Detailed black-and-white architectural line drawing depicting a late 19th-century Cairo bazaar, with ornate Islamic architecture, mosque domes, tall minarets, balconies, arched windows, palm trees and intricate decorative patterns. taken in Cairo, Egypt by @orwasdiary

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a month ago

🌾 Holding on to Summer

As winter slowly approaches, I find myself wanting to hold on to little glimpses of summer a little longer. ☀️🌾

This piece was inspired by a drive from Calgary to Saskatoon — those beautiful Prairie views that somehow make a long road trip feel peaceful. I remember passing endless golden fields, stretches of greenery, wind turbines turning quietly in the distance, little farmhouses tucked into the landscape, and the warm glow of the setting sun. 🌅

I took a few of those moments I saw along the way and brought them together into one imagined Prairie landscape — almost like a collection of memories from the road.

So, before the fields turn white and the days get colder, I painted this as my little way of hanging on to a glimpse of summer. 🤎

Created digitally in @procreate
Creative hours: 5

A little piece of summer, saved forever. 🌾✨
Leave me a little yellow emoji 💛

Whats your season ?

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#DigitalArt #ProcreateArt #ProcreateArtwork PrairieArt SaskatchewanArt SaskatoonArtist SaskatchewanArtist CalgaryToSaskatoon CanadianArtist PrairieLandscape PrairieSunset LandscapeArt DigitalPainting CanadianPrairies SaskatoonArt ArtOfInstagram ArtistOnInstagram ProcreateIllustration PrairieLife SummerMemories GoldenHour FarmLandscape ContemporaryArt OriginalArtwork

Saskatoon artist, Saskatchewan digital artist, Procreate artist, Prairie landscape art, Saskatchewan artwork, Canadian Prairie art, digital landscape painting, Prairie sunset artwork, Saskatoon art, Calgary to Saskatoon road trip, Canadian landscape artist, Saskatchewan scenery, Prairie fields artwork Digital Procreate artwork of the Canadian Prairies at sunset, featuring golden wheat fields in the foreground, rolling farmland, green trees, small farmhouses, wind turbines, and a warm orange and yellow sky. Inspired by a road trip from Calgary to Saskatoon. taken in Saskatchewan, Canada by @orwasdiary

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a month ago

Saskatoon Sky Diaries ☁️🌅 { Week 01 }

A little photo dump of the skies I got to see around Saskatoon this week. From dreamy clouds and golden sunsets to those little moments that make you stop and look up. 🌙✨

Saskatoon skies really know how to put on a show. 🤍

Save this for your next Saskatoon sky appreciation moment & follow along for next week’s Saskatoon Sky Diaries. 🌅

📍 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
☁️ Saskatchewan skies • Saskatoon sunset • Saskatoon photography • prairie skies • Saskatchewan sunsets • sky photography • sunset photography • Saskatoon aesthetic • prairie life • Saskatchewan landscape
#SaskatoonSkyDiaries #Saskatoon #SaskatoonSK #Saskatchewan #SaskatchewanSkies SaskatoonSkies SaskatoonSunset SaskatchewanSunset PrairieSkies PrairieLife SaskatoonPhotography SaskatchewanPhotography SkyPhotography SunsetPhotography CloudPhotography SaskatoonLife ExploreSaskatoon SaskatoonPhotographer CanadaPhotography CanadianPrairies SkyLovers SunsetLovers PhotoDump WeeklyPhotoDump AestheticPhotography A beautiful Saskatoon sunset with soft pink, orange, and golden clouds filling the evening sky over the prairie landscape. taken in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan by @orwasdiary

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2 months ago