April 2024 – beA mAhAn

Faux Lithographs

It’s been a while since I’ve had access to a printing press, and I really miss it. However, that hasn’t stopped me from seeking out new ways to experiment with handmade printing. I recently came across the geli plate technique and have discovered a whole new world for creating very special monotypes. I love how versatile it is, allowing for the creation of various textures and expressive charcoal strokes. The final result reminds me of a genuine lithograph, which is why I’ve named this collection “Faux Litho”. The main theme of this collection is the secret garden, which is a part of my creative inspiration with flowers and gardens.

You can find some of them listed them on my website, you can also contact me and ask for the entire catalog.

Poetic Birds

Last year, I shared how memories fuel my art, and guess what? My bird collection follows that same vibe. It’s pretty amusing – I never planned to paint birds, but they just sort of popped up on my papers. Then, it hit me – it’s all about my mother. She adores birds, always lost in a dreamland watching them. It’s like she sees them in this pure, childlike way – noticing colors, spotting them everywhere. I can tell they move her, transport her to some far-off contemplative place, maybe into her own memories.

We’ve never really talked about it, but I’m sure her emotions somehow found their way into my paintings – a connection from another life.

These delicate vintage papers act like a gateway to old, secret stories we all carry inside. Every stroke on that aged paper brings back memories, seamlessly blending the past with these vibrant “Poetic Birds.”

These are original paintings on french vintage embroidery patterns dated 1906-1913, a treasure ! Some of them are available on my website. Please contact me if you want to see the entire catalog.