Hayam Elsayed is a portrait artist based in London. Hayam loves to paint the ordinary, analysing simple subjects that will encourage the viewer to look more closely at the many wonderful and beautiful things surrounding us daily. Since Hayam was young, fine art has been her passion and she finds inspiration in life and nature. As a realism artist, her approach to a subject matter is to portray it as it really appears in life.
1) Which art movement do you consider most influential on your practice?
Contemporary Realism.
2) Where do you go and when to make your best art?
In my studio. I try to let go of perfection and allow myself to have whilst silencing my inner critic.
3) How do you describe your 'creative process'?
The pictorial sample focuses on the theme of portraiture. By conceiving painting as a healing tool, as a true balm for the soul, my painted portraits are almost obscure yet never vague; inviting and yet never approachable. Instead, they have the power to hold your gaze and share their story in silence that gently whispers tales. A portrait can showcase the emotions expressed in the human features, which have a majestic element to it. Moreover, drawing a portrait makes me feel and understand the portrait as if it's another soul with me but captured in a painting. In other words, when a painting is finished, it could transfer positive feelings to the viewers. Whilst drawing a portrait I feel intrigued to finish it at a fast pace, motivated by the feeling that the soul is revealed throughout the beauty of the painting.
4) Which artist, living or deceased, is the greatest inspiration to you?
Vincent Van Gogh is one of my favourite artists. Other favourites include American artists Georgia O’Keeffe for her flower paintings and Thomas Kinkaid for his realism. I became fascinated with the realism of Renaissance portraits from the likes of Leonardo and Botticelli, Michelangelo. I love specifically love Michelangelo's skillful style of painting that uses light to dramatically highlight specific points in his compositions.
5) If you weren't an artist, what would you do?
I would like to be a musician as music is an art that helps express creativity. The movement whilst listening to the music just gives that extra little bit of creativity needed to turn your artwork into something more.
6) What do you listen to for inspiration?
I enjoy classical music because it’s soothing. It's full of so much passion and soul that helps me to feel and express my inner self. I also enjoy listening to pop music because I find it relaxing and entertaining.
7) If you could own one artwork, and money was no object, which piece would you acquire?
'A Young Girl in Profile' by William Bouguereau, 'Lady Agnew' by John Singer Sargent, and 'Portrait of a Little Girl' by Diego Velazquez.
8) If your dream museum or collection owner came calling, which would it be?
National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C.
9) What is your key piece of advice for artists embarking on a fine art or creative degree today?
Paint only that which interests you in the way you choose to paint it. Don't change your approach to gain sales, popularity or acceptance. You will never do your best work if you do. Avoid competitions, contests and measuring yourself by how many shows you've gotten into or awards you've won. Seek validation internally - you will never please everyone. Give up comparisons - you are always going to be better at some things than other people, and worse at other things. Dwelling on either isn’t going to get you anywhere - it can stifle your creativity as an emerging artist to compare yourself to someone who is twenty years into their career, and it can stunt your growth to compare your work to someone who is just starting out. Instead of focusing on how you stack up next to someone else, invest that energy into comparing your recent work with the work you made six months ago, a year ago and five years ago. Have you grown? And where do you want to see yourself six months, a year, and five years in the future?
10) What is your favourite book of all time (fiction or non fiction)?
'Forty rules of love' and 'A New Earth' by Eckhart Tolle
11) If you could hang or place your artwork in one non-traditional art setting, where would that be?
Hotels and kid’s hospital.
12) What was the biggest lesson your university course or time studying taught you?
Is to allow yourself to soar, believe in your own abilities and to go with your natural intuitive instincts in both your spiritual work and also in your everyday life. You are a dreamer looking for that arrow that points you in the right direction and yet you do not need to look, for you are already where you are meant to be. You only need to know that you are there and you are on the right pathway. Sing your own song, and don’t try to be someone else. Your voice is very powerful and you give from your heart and soul and you should be proud of your achievements.
13) And finally, if we were to fast forward 10 years, where would we find you?
My future vision is a me that still explores, still is imaginative but has reached a point where the freedom of my creativity has reached a pleasant and successful cohabiting place! I can see myself Hopefully, having had a significant number of solo exhibitions at significant galleries and/or museums, nationally or internationally, whilst gaining regional, national and or international recognition through a major museum, publication or a publishing house.
Learn more about Hayam and discover her collection of paintings.
