Meet Our Artists
Craig Alan
Born in 1971 in San Bernardino, California and raised in the Atlanta area, Craig first recognized his creative drive via crayons on his parents' walls, like many inspired young artists, and by the age of 7 his capacity for detailed visual interpretation became undeniable. After excelling in an introductory drawing class in school, Craig continued to develop technically and conceptually through his own diligent studies while always planning to pursue a formal art education.
Craig is humbled as he sees his work inspiring creativity among enthusiasts in various forms, including commercials and advertisement. He asserts, "Art needs to be responsible to its purpose; to inspire and enhance." To beginning artists he says encouragingly, "be yourself and do what YOU want to do, not what someone else advises or suggests," and in the words of his Pepaw, "Don't ever quit!"
Inam
Inam was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, and learned the fundamentals of sketching and painting at a young age under the tutelage of a dedicated art teacher who encouraged him to pursue his obvious artistic talent. Later, Inam decided to get a taste of the world and went traveling, attending three different art schools in London, Istanbul, and Atlanta, Georgia. The approach to art and creativity was very different at each school, and Inam gained immensely from the breadth of perspectives that he gained at these institutions, all of which contributed to his unique and original style, which has been dubbed “magical expressionism.”
Inam now resides in the United States and debuted as a professional artist in 2001. He has exhibited his work in cities ranging from Karachi to London to Las Vegas and his art is widely collected around the globe.
Mani
Mani Mustafa is the son of the world-renowned impressionist, Inam. Mani was able to learn the fundamentals of oil painting from his father at a very young age. Mani spent the majority of his early art career as an extension of his father. Though he was a painter, Mani never considered himself an artist at this point in time. After over a decade of painting landscape after landscape, it wasn't until 2014 that Mani discovered his own voice.
Mani was heavily inspired by the likes of Rene Magritte, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and Leonora Carrington. He believes the human imagination to be the most powerful tool on the planet. His art is an attempt to showcase simply how vast, absurd, and magical our imaginations really can be.
Shelley Helms Fleishman
Shelley Helms Fleishman is a writer and an artist. Her art reflects her linguistic interest in the juxtaposition of made/found, but makes tactile connections with paints, papers, and the unexpected.
She is currently represented by several regional galleries and teaches workshops in mixed media and encaustic techniques. Although blogs seem to be a thing of the past, Shelley writes one contemplating parenting and making art.
Shelley’s art journey is constantly evolving. Her explorations result in a variety of mediums and techniques, making her work a junction of science and art. Look to her collections for pieces in beeswax, oil, acrylic, paper, and other mixed media.
Shelley now lives in Marietta, GA with her husband and two kids, in a house filled with other people’s art.
Sabine Maes
Sabine is an abstract artist from Belgium (1964). She tries to let her work speak to those who like modern minimalist design. Her life as an artist began long before she actually started painting. As an autodidact she started out creating her first piece of an art in 2002.
She is mostly inspired by nature, with all its different whims, colours and surfaces. By painting layer after layer; she generates a balanced and unflustered composition. While her paintings might be quite untamed, the shades she uses are often subtle yet charismatic. If she had to choose one word to describe her art, she would have to say ‘wabi sabi’; a Japanese term for “imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete”.
Her studio is her sanctuary. In her studio she often experiments in a playful and messy way with different tones, different consistencies and mixes of paint and materials. To obtain unique structures in her work, she has crafted her own painting brushes using a wide range of dried tropical leaves, branches and rope.
Sharla Rae
Dr. Chouaieb Saidi
Born in Tunisia in 1965, Chouaieb Saidi's artistic journey began within a family rich in talent and creativity, nurtured by the vibrant Mediterranean surroundings. His deep-rooted passion for visual arts was further honed through academic pursuits at Sorbonne University in Paris, where he immersed himself in rigorous training for seven years, culminating in a Master’s degree in graphic design from the Technological Institute of Arts, Design in Tunis, along with diplomas from prestigious institutions in France. With over three decades of dedicated practice and global exploration, Saidi's expertise in visual arts blossomed, gaining recognition as a distinguished portrait artist in Paris, among the renowned artists of Montmartre. Relocating to Atlanta, Georgia in 1999, Saidi continued his artistic endeavors, balancing his roles as a professional visual artist and esteemed fine arts instructor.
His notable works, such as a monumental acrylic portrait of James Brown, have garnered international acclaim and found their place in esteemed museums, television broadcasts, and prestigious events. Acknowledged with numerous awards both domestically and internationally, Saidi's artistic prowess is celebrated across various mediums, actively participating in exhibitions and showcasing his work globally while fostering creativity and collaboration within the artistic community.
Sharla Rae is a dedicated Encaustic artist, embracing an art form dating back to the ancient Egyptians. Encaustics involve the use of beeswax, damar resin (tree gum), and colored pigments to craft a unique wax paint. Despite its hardness, akin to a crayon, the palette of colors available is vast.
The discovery of painting with Hot Wax™️ ignited her passion. Encaustics, meaning "to burn in," involves melting the wax to 200°F and fusing it with various heated tools—yes, including a blow torch. After cooling, she buffs away the dull bloom, akin to her grandmother waxing the kitchen floor. This transformative moment, the big reveal, showcases the wax's luminosity.
Sharla Rae finds allure in applying melted wax to a wood panel. Manipulating the wax with a blow torch to explore the evolving textures and forms captivates and delights her. Grounding her art in the use of natural elements serves as a reminder of the co-creation she feels blessed to be a part of.
Sun Sohovich
Sun Sohovich, an accomplished oil painter, is celebrated for her diverse artistic endeavors, with a particular focus on landscape paintings. Her work has garnered recognition and accolades, including participation in prestigious exhibitions such as the Oil Painters of America Salon Show in 2018 and the American Impressionist Society 21st Annual National Juried Exhibition in 2020. In 2023, her talent was acknowledged through inclusion in the Annual Associate Member Online Exhibition.
Sun’s artistic journey has been one of self-discovery and growth, learning from master artists such as Quang Ho, Laura Robb, and Phil Starke. Her preferred genres span landscape, seascape, figure, and still life, skillfully capturing vibrant light and nuanced shadows whether in her home studio or plein air. Rooted in continuous improvement, Sun’s evolving style reflects her passion for capturing life’s fleeting moments. Affiliated with various prestigious art organizations, Sun Sohovich’s dedication to her craft shines through her expressive and evocative artworks.