Saya Behnam

07/01/2024

These photos were taken last month at the Holiday Fest when I had a demonstration 'Making Natural Colors for Painting". Photos taken by Laura Hatcher Photography. https://www.facebook.com/laurahatcherphotography/
at the Torpedo Factory Art Center Torpedo Factory Art Center (studio 229).
Thank you, Laura!

11/12/2023

Installation in Progress:
It is over 2 weeks I am working on this large site specific installation for the Gerorge Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria as part of new project residency by the City of Alexandria Office of Art with two other great artists Bex Novak and Lex Marie. As part of A Very Mary Very ALXJazzFest event. I am excited to show it on Saturday Dec 16th at 5-7 pm . The installation is based my Biophilic design, consists of 10 ft painting panels, plants and floral preserved and gathered from Alexandria and Northern VA

21/11/2023

Dyed silk fabric with Mushroom and painted with minerals and gold leaf hue

21/04/2023

In this creative and unique workshop you’ll spend an early summer day in the glorious natural world of the Shenandoah Mountains at a beautiful mountain chalet just one hour away from Washington DC area. We’ll begin the day with gentle meditative movements with Lana that will prepare you to come into a relaxed, creative space. Saya will then guide you to forage for special botanicals, and you’ll learn how to make the inks from natural plants, ending the day with your own artistic creations to take home. Organic plant-based, gluten-free lunch and snacks are included to round out the day. No artistic Backgrounds required. See my bio to register

08/04/2023

https://youtu.be/RxEAdVKc--g

This video is the process of taking down the installation of “The Cycle of Nature and Time.” that I had it for 4 months at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. If you happened to visit the installation, this ritual is part of my message and the process. If you haven't, please check my bio to see the detail of it.
The ritual shows nature’s impermanence, the concept of the non-attachment and transitory fact of nature—building, destroying, and separation which is part of this installation’s purpose and meaning. It is very similar to the act of monks and ruining the Mandela's they create. The ritual is to remember and practice how we need to dettach and leave. All is about the moments of creations, and our journey and experience. How we keep and hold that experience in mind and heart. (music from adobe creative suite reliablfree # installation

This is to show the taking down of my installation." The Cycle of Nature and Time". The ritual shows the detaching act and the impermanence aspect of nature...

16/09/2022

My recent commission for a young collector in New York. These round painting series have a sacred geometry in the middle and free fantasy story around it. I purposely didn’t elaborate my fantasy creatures in this one for her. I wanted her to find them every day she looks and be a reflection of her days. For good days a lot of flowers, birds and sun and for some days find fantasy monsters like how you see in clouds. (Size 16x16 mineral and mud pigments)

30/07/2022

“Hestia and Hermes Fantasy “ 46 inches in diameter. The Greeks worshipped Hestia and Hermes. In addition to being the name of a goddess, Hestia was also a noun designating the domestic hearth. They are Greek imagination of Motion and place.
As I explained in my other pieces I start with free brush strokes let shapes form and then like looking at clouds I find them and elaborate them. Please scroll to see details

22/07/2022

Small round series (Please Scroll)
1- A New Fantasy (12 inches in diameter)
2- A New Fantasy 2 (10 inches)
3- Circle of Beauty ( 10 inches)
All on paper

13/07/2022

The piece”Orderly Chais” will be installed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C. next Friday. This is my honor to have my piece there. I will post more photos and info after installion completed. Many thanks to CAH Washington DC. #

03/07/2022

I start my work with free brush strokes without any specific shape in my mind (just with a basic composition) then when the free flow of strokes finished, I start looking back and like how you look at clouds and find shapes, I discover forms and shapes in my work. I elaborate them, and help them become live. This imaginary play is so relieving for me. See my imaginary creatures: blue flying horse, strange bird, giant man, large flowers and so on all in okay with each other.
I added Bentone clay to my pigments to give them more body texture and flow more like oil or acrylic.