I am Zahra Reihani, a self-taught artist and creator of Termeh Handcrafts.
Since childhood, I have had a passion for creating and I have been always been interested in learning new things. I also love painting on canvas, glass, creating decoupage, and leather crafts.
I am a full-time nurse with a passion for art, design and craft, and I find inspiration for my designs from almost everything around me. While creating, I am separated from the world, my spirit and heart are soothed in the creation process.
I hope each piece shows my feelings and makes you happy as well. While creating these pieces of art, I do my best to make every item unique and pay close attention to the details.
My paintings are based on direct observation. I take my French easel out into the city I call home, Houston TX. The subject matter, although always changing, is often the confluence of what I love about Houston; it’s buildings, bayous, highways, tree-lined streets and lush parks and gardens. I hope you can see the beauty of Houston in my Urban Landscapes. 713-305-6626 https://deatlyart.net@deatlyarthur
Downtown Conroe during German Fest” 16×20” acrylic on canvasphoto by Zoe Tucker
Even though I’m from Houston I received my BFA from Kansas City Art Institute. I was influenced by a professor that said art started and ended with Cezanne. My style is based on the plein air approach of painting from direct observation much like Cezanne approached his subject matter. I go out every week and paint the city I live in, It is my honest response to what I call the Beautiful Ugly that is Houston a place built in a swampy mosquito-infested marshland designed based more on greed happen chance than esthetics. Highway byways bayous and buildings.
Each animal has been inspired by literature or poetry. Whether I am responding to ancient mythology, classic fairytales or modern stories, each character represents aspects of our humanity. These creatures are young and old, simple and layered, vibrant and subdued, royal and common. Animals have a way of connecting us, uniting our differences and blurring political divisions. Even if only for a moment, we feel the freedom to let our guard down. We can simply step back, look into the animals’ eyes, take a deep breath, smile, express gratitude and believe that there is hope for the day when peace returns.
Seeing beauty in the design and aged patinas of ancient objects, Modern Artifacts looks to juxtapose unique textures with a modern aesthetic. I draw inspiration from my experience working on an archaeology dig in Houston’s Historic Freedmen’s Town, as well as my time as a Curatorial Assistant for the Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Stone Fort Museum of Nacogdoches.
I received my BFA from Stephen F. Austin State University where I studied a variety of cultural and historical metalworking techniques as well as advanced chemical patination processes, now specializing in creating my own patinas that I paint on with a torch. I work with sold 14K gold and gold filled materials, sterling silver, nu-gold, bronze, copper, and shibuichi and transform the materials into anthropologically inspired contemporary jewelry.
Conflict free raw blue and black diamonds, fossils, geodes, lapis lazuli, buffalo turquoise, and other stones are sprinkled into my work to enhance the minimal yet bold look of the collection.
Using crisp lines and simple geometry as a vehicle to celebrate the beauty of the raw materials in different states, the pieces appear both polished and new, as well as worn and aged. Whether using patina, a sandblaster, or 23K gold leaf, contrasting finishes define my work and give it the graphic quality which lends it its identity.
I am a professionally trained artist having earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Houston. Since then I have continued practicing my craft exploring various styles, materials and techniques creating highly detailed pieces. While my work is diverse both in choice of medium and subject matter, it centers around nature and organic forms.
I’m an old hippie whose jewelry making began 20 years ago when on a dare my wife signed me up for a beginner beading class at a local bead shop. I was hooked pretty quickly and began making women’s jewelry using silver, stone and crystal beads and constantly learning techniques to make better pieces. While beading is still a passion, most of my work now is with chain and wire wrap.
Five years ago on yet another dare, I began making rings from old silver coins. I don’t cut or solder the coins. One coin makes one ring and the detail from both sides of the coin is preserved and visible. I fell in love with working metal, and am constantly learning new techniques and exploring the boundaries of turning old coins into cool jewelry. Taking something like a 100-year-old coin and turning it into something it was never intended to be has been an unbelievably rewarding journey, and I love that the possibilities are endless.
