Misha Zadeh for Chai & Conversation Summer 2024 Learn Persian Bootcamp

Followers will know that over the last few years, I've been putting my focus towards working with companies (and on projects) whose goals and values align with mine. Naturally, I was thrilled to be asked to create the artwork for Chai & Conversation's Learn Persian Bootcamp for the second summer in a row. It's a wonderful language course with beginner and intermediate tracks, an inspiring leader (Leyla Shams), and a super supportive community of students from all around the world. Highly recommend!

This year, I drew inspiration from a place I have only seen in photos: The Pahneh Bath in Semnan Iran. The elegant tile work inside and outside the traditional bathhouse features deep blues and whites, yellows, and touches of pinks. Feminine and masculine faces dance around paisleys and decorative florals. Lion and Sun motifs can also be seen on the facade.

Using these as a starting point, I painted my artwork in acrylic ink, and assembled the vignettes digitally. The nature of the designs led themselves to a number of repeat patterns and a variety of compositions that will hopefully delight students as they move through the program.