Lubis, an accomplished drummer as well as a painter, used the many locations in which he lived as inspirations for his artwork. His style ranges from winding, ornate designs to simple shapes and brash colors, depending upon his current surroundings. Because of the different roles he played in each location (head of his clan, son of the chief, or artist), he focused on using colors rather than struggling to portray societal realities like many of his contemporaries.