THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH,SEPTEMBER 29,1996. An Eclectic Mix by Diane Rietman. Marilene Sawaf's art is a blend of bright colors and designs taken from the Mediterranean. Born in Egypt and raised in Italy and Lebanon, she has combined traditional techniques of the countries where she has lived to create her style. Her tall, slim "ladies," as she calls the series of paintings of women, have the influence of African and Egyptian art, of the Middle East from the fabric designs and architecture, and of Italian landscapes in the window scenes that are the background of much of her work. "It started when I was 6 years old. My father had business cards and I would draw and paint on the back," Sawaf said. "In high school I was involved in a correspondence course with a school in Paris. During the week I concentrated on my school studies and the weekends were for my art." The correspondence program was divided into different lessons, which were sent back to Paris and returned with criticisms, along with her next lesson. She went on to study interior design while living in Lebanon before her marriage and eventual move to the United States. "The thing that was so wonderful about our teachers was that they were Italian," Sawaf said. "They came in with so many new ideas about approaching your art. They told us to be different and express our own ideas." When she moved to Nashua 15 years ago, she made the decision to paint landscapes because they were popular in the area. Her heart, however, wasn't in those works. It took a gallery director to point her back to the path of work she enjoyed most: the ladies. "I was at the Powers Gallery in Acton (Mass.) and was showing my landscapes and brought one slide of the ladies," Sawaf said. "They said they'd rather show the work of the ladies. "There were so many painters doing landscapes. When I do this, I'm different." Much of her inspiration for the design in the clothing and background is inspired by Oriental carpets as well as Medieval and Renaissance paintings and designs." "I like painting the ladies because I can use my imagination creating a look based on an oriental carpet design. Their clothes can be beautiful, " she said. "I try to create an illusion and mystery that makes you wonder who they are and what they are doing." Sawaf says she was inspired by French artist Leonor Fini, who creates a similar setting in her paintings. "It's very mysterious and it makes you dream when you look at the painting. It has rich color and design," Sawaf said. "I miss it when I don't paint," Sawaf said. "When I'm painting, time goes by and its very relaxing." Sawaf's work has gotten attention since winning an award several years ago at a competition at the Currier Art Gallery in Manchester, after she made the move to oils. Her initial paintings of the ladies were done in watercolors, but she wasn't able to get the rich colors she sought. The move to oils gave her the freedom to build color on top of color to create depth and richness in the painting. Sawaf's canvases have also shrunk: They are now 8-by-l0 inches, which she says allows her to be more detailed.