Soheila Keyani: Workshops


	Comments from past participants “This was fun and a good start for the weekend” “I would like to do this again!” “Excellent support and feedback” “[I learnt that] we all have the talent” “Brilliant session. Would like something similar more often!” “Keep up the good work – amongst all the hustle and bustle life throws at us we need a reminder to chill & express!” “Painting made me feel relaxed” "[I learnt] to be free in my expression. Thank you I had a super time" [I enjoyed the workshop] very much. Relaxed, good good energy, warm environment, creative mood, engaging facilitators” “Excellent workshop – this is really very wanted. More more more. “Modern” life doesn't allow us to be in touch with our spontaneity and creativity and so high levels of frustration abound – often with us not knowing why. Thank you for this experience.” One to one, individual coaching: "My name is Samuel Sherwood. While studying for the MA History of the Book last year (2006) at University of London I became acquainted with Soheila Keyani. We became friends and during my visits with her I became interested in her work helping those with no artistic background to realise their potential to create art. The subject for my dissertation was science fiction book illustration, and when I began to entertain the idea that I would like to create an original illustration of my own for the cover of the work, I approached Soheila to help me. I was looking to produce a science fiction illustration that would in some manner encompass all the styles of eighty years of science fiction book cover illustration. I was not an artist and I had no confidence that I could create an illustration that was not laughable. This was a challenge for her as well because I desired a more specific image (an image incorporating the dissertation title and theme: City at the Edge of Time) than others with whom she had worked. She gave me confidence immediately though, by telling me that she would, "…stay with me until I had the image that I wanted." This seemed an impressive commitment to me considering my skill level. This she did, however, placing no limit on the number of our sessions. She began by having me work with a variety of painting mediums, painting quickly on impulse. As well, she had me paint with both hands, with my feet, my teeth, and even blind folded. I complied with all of this, but it was difficult because I could not imagine how I would come up with an appropriate image this way. Amazingly, however, these off-the-cuff pieces (which she insisted that I keep and continue to look at) began to inspire me, and allowed me to see what I wanted to create in entirely new ways. In fact the exercise that seemed the most useless for me, painting blindfolded, ended up giving me a perspective that became a vital part of the finished work. There also appears to be a broadening of an individual's creative spectrum when encouraged to work in ways that might seem uncomfortable or bizarre, at least that is what I experienced as a result of these sessions. Soheila continued to "stay with me" as I refined the image that I created. I was concerned about the final image having a certain confident polish. This concern was expressed in the type of paints I would use for this final image, and how to work with them specifically, the type of canvas or board it would be painted on, and since this final work had mixed media elements, how to matte them properly. I should also mention that there was a time limit on this process. We had one week from when I began to when I had to turn in the dissertation and leave England. Soheila continued to help me patiently through all this, even coming with me to the art store several times, and going well beyond the call of duty in helping me to find the appropriate place to have the final work scanned for the best price. I am grateful to Soheila for these compassionate efforts on her part. The image that graces my dissertation has been complimented by several knowledgeable people since then, including Jane Frank – art agent and the force behind the internationally famous Frank Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art, and Brooks Peck, who is in charge of creating and building the displays for the Museum of Science Fiction in Seattle, Washington. I have also continued to paint and have completed several other illustrations I am preparing for an illustration portfolio. This all goes well beyond what I would have thought was possible when we began the process. It is a salute to Soheila's personal commitment and skill."

Comments from past participants

“This was fun and a good start for the weekend”

“I would like to do this again!”

“Excellent support and feedback”

“[I learnt that] we all have the talent”

“Brilliant session. Would like something similar more often!”

“Keep up the good work – amongst all the hustle and bustle life
throws at us we need a reminder to chill & express!”

“Painting made me feel relaxed”

"[I learnt] to be free in my expression. Thank you I had a super time"

[I enjoyed the workshop] very much. Relaxed, good good energy,
warm environment, creative mood, engaging facilitators”

“Excellent workshop – this is really very wanted. More more more.

“Modern” life doesn't allow us to be in touch with our spontaneity
and creativity and so high levels of frustration abound – often with
us not knowing why. Thank you for this experience.”

*One to one, individual coaching:*

"My name is Samuel Sherwood. While studying for the MA History of the Book last year (2006) at University of London I became acquainted with Soheila Keyani. We became friends and during my visits with her I became interested in her work helping those with no artistic background to realise their potential to create art. The subject for my dissertation was science fiction book illustration, and when I began to entertain the idea that I would like to create an original illustration of my own for the cover of the work, I approached Soheila to help me. I was looking to produce a science fiction illustration that would in some manner encompass all the styles of eighty years of science fiction book cover illustration. I was not an artist and I had no confidence that I could create an illustration that was not laughable. This was a challenge for her as well because I desired a more specific image (an image incorporating the dissertation title and theme: *City at the Edge of Time*) than others with whom she had worked. She gave me confidence immediately though, by telling me that she would, "…stay with me until I had the image that I wanted." This seemed an impressive commitment to me considering my skill level. This she did, however, placing no limit on the number of our sessions.

She began by having me work with a variety of painting mediums, painting quickly on impulse. As well, she had me paint with both hands, with my feet, my teeth, and even blind folded. I complied with all of this, but it was difficult because I could not imagine how I would come up with an appropriate image this way. Amazingly, however, these off-the-cuff pieces (which she insisted that I keep and continue to look at) began to inspire me, and allowed me to see what I wanted to create in entirely new ways. In fact the exercise that seemed the most useless for me, painting blindfolded, ended up giving me a perspective that became a vital part of the finished work. There also appears to be a broadening of an individual's creative spectrum when encouraged to work in ways that might seem uncomfortable or bizarre, at least that is what I experienced as a result of these sessions.

Soheila continued to "stay with me" as I refined the image that I created. I was concerned about the final image having a certain confident polish. This concern was expressed in the type of paints I would use for this final image, and how to work with them specifically, the type of canvas or board it would be painted on, and since this final work had mixed media elements, how to matte them properly. I should also mention that there was a time limit on this process. We had one week from when I began to when I had to turn in the dissertation and leave England. Soheila continued to help me patiently through all this, even coming with me to the art store several times, and going well beyond the call of duty in helping me to find the appropriate place to have the final work scanned for the best price.

I am grateful to Soheila for these compassionate efforts on her part. The
image that graces my dissertation has been complimented by several knowledgeable people since then, including Jane Frank – art agent and the force behind the internationally famous Frank Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art, and Brooks Peck, who is in charge of creating and building the displays for the Museum of Science Fiction in Seattle, Washington. I have also continued to paint and have completed several other illustrations I am preparing for an illustration portfolio. This all goes well beyond what I would have thought was possible when we began the process. It is a salute to Soheila's personal commitment and skill."