Saim Caglayan was born in Istanbul, Turkey and came to the United States in 1968 to study Architecture. After three years his interest changed and he went on to complete his BA degree in Sculpture from California State University, Long Beach. He then took further graduate courses in art from California State University, Fullerton and the Art Institute of Southern California. For over twenty years he taught sculpture for Crafton Hills College and Golden West College and recently plein air painting at Irvine Valley College, and private painting classes in California and Kaua’i.

Saim has been plein air painting the landscapes of the California desert, coastline and Islands of Hawaii for many years now.

His goal as a painter is to capture the ever-transient light and its colors within a composition of balance and harmony.

In 1996 he founded LPAPA, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. His goal was to revive the tradition of the early California painters who had lived and painted in Laguna Beach. Today LPAPA has become a vibrant force in the art community of California with an impressive membership from Hawaii to Florida.

Saim, in 2003 with Pierre Bouret started KOPA, Kauai Outdoor Painters Association, in 2005 with Ronaldo Macedo ISLANDERS, a group of painters representing the Hawaiian Islands and in 2007 with Katalina Prince BSPAI, Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational. All these organizations and events promote plein air painting and benefit not for profit organizations in their respected communities.