Lion In Waiting Painting

Growing up in Iran until I was 12 and 1/2, my life was filled with colour, energy and an ever flowing abundance of fresh food. In autumn as children we would pop in to our next door neighbour's house, knowing we were always going to be offered sharon fruit freshly picked from the tree in the courtyard, shades of deep orange, fleshy and juicy. Years later I still feel and savour the pleasure and sensation. In spring streets are wildly ablaze with pink and white blossoms. In winter, clear moonlit skies reflecting on the vibrant white snow, creates a cosy mystical, romantic atmosphere. In spring, we ate the first fruits before they became ripe: green, crunchy, velvety almonds; in winter we warmed our hands with freshly cooked deep, red, juicy beetroot from the street-seller. In summer in the fruit orchard, while adults rested from the heat, we played and watched the shimmering sun rays in the transparent air. My paintings are all about colour, texture, and energy in motion - impressions of all things I see, hear and feel, from past, present and future. As a friend, Candace, said recently, if feelings and emotions could be a picture, your painting are it." As an artist, I also work with people in my creativity coaching workshops to help them get in touch with their own innate creativity and unique voice. Soheila Keyani 4 October 2013