Sheyda Mehrara
Man repeller protege, ladyboss, or Persian Francophile.
Take your pick.
But, honestly, painting was a way to find a slice of calm in the clusterfuck that was 2016. It's no secret that we are living in weird times, but if you are going to survive you have to find daily reminders to break away from the "reality" our society has Frankenseined together. Painting allows me to meditate without an app, without incantations, without a youtube video. I wanted to literally illustrate what gave me joy - my adoration for France (other parts of Europe sometimes), my Persian heritage, my growing curiosity of architecture, my attraction to the color blue.
For so long, I didn't know what to do with the rush...no the flood of emotions I felt so often. I marked it as a curse I would live with for the rest of my life. These paintings allow me to face those feelings & confront them. Instead of punishing myself for those sentiments, the brushstrokes allow me to turn it into a positive self-dialogue. It's all in effort to learn who I am and what I stand for.