At which age did you start creating art? And why do you feel compelled to create?
I have been interested in art since I was a child. I was brought up with music in the house, so I picked up the guitar at age 6 and wrote my first song at age 7. I also used to take photographs on my toy polaroid camera when I was about 6. That was probably the first time I took photographs. I feel compelled because it's the main thing I love. I live and breathe art-I am obsessed with multiple forms of it.
What are you inspired by? And who do you look up to?
For photography, my main inspiration is Diane Arbus, because of the raw way that she captured society. However, I have found many photographers on flickr that truly inspire me, such as Olivia (Bee), Chrissie White, Laurence, and Eleanor Hardwick. Though they are not much older than I am, I truly look up to their photographic art.
I have been interested in art since I was a child. I was brought up with music in the house, so I picked up the guitar at age 6 and wrote my first song at age 7. I also used to take photographs on my toy polaroid camera when I was about 6. That was probably the first time I took photographs. I feel compelled because it's the main thing I love. I live and breathe art-I am obsessed with multiple forms of it.
What are you inspired by? And who do you look up to?
For photography, my main inspiration is Diane Arbus, because of the raw way that she captured society. However, I have found many photographers on flickr that truly inspire me, such as Olivia (Bee), Chrissie White, Laurence, and Eleanor Hardwick. Though they are not much older than I am, I truly look up to their photographic art.
Which influential artist would you like to ask for advice?
That is a quite difficult question. I would like to ask Diane Arbus if she was alive.
If you had to put up one piece of artwork on your wall and stare at it for a year, who would it be by and why?
It would be this picture by Elena. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorellana/2956558066/
That is a quite difficult question. I would like to ask Diane Arbus if she was alive.
If you had to put up one piece of artwork on your wall and stare at it for a year, who would it be by and why?
It would be this picture by Elena. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorellana/2956558066/
Tell us about your creative process.
I take photographs whenever I feel like it. I often use my front or back gardens as backdrops, for they are the most accessible and versatile nearby 'locations' for my photographs. My garden reminds me of the garden in the film "The Secret Garden." My photos in it are generally full of whismy and are ethereal, for that is how I see my garden to be.
Do you ever find weird connections between life and art?
Yes. I feel as though art is just a representation of one's mind, the way they view the world. For me, I try and weave in the emotions I myself have experienced in life, into my photographs.
Yes. I feel as though art is just a representation of one's mind, the way they view the world. For me, I try and weave in the emotions I myself have experienced in life, into my photographs.
As an artist, are you Technical or passionate?
I am passionate. I can be technical, but I try not to worry about details all the time. For example, I break photographic rules often, such as taking out-of-focus or grainy photographs, or letting my film photos recieve light leaks from exposing the film.
I am passionate. I can be technical, but I try not to worry about details all the time. For example, I break photographic rules often, such as taking out-of-focus or grainy photographs, or letting my film photos recieve light leaks from exposing the film.
How do you determine when a work is finished? Or is it ever finished?
With photography, it depends. Sometimes I take a batch of photos and then pick one or two that I really like. I often don't do much editing. Most of my editing takes just a few minutes-contrast, saturation, temperature. Mostly dealing with bringing colors out, or making my black and whites more contrasted.
With photography, it depends. Sometimes I take a batch of photos and then pick one or two that I really like. I often don't do much editing. Most of my editing takes just a few minutes-contrast, saturation, temperature. Mostly dealing with bringing colors out, or making my black and whites more contrasted.
Do you think there are boundaries you would never cross in your art making? There are boundaries that I won't cross at the present, as I am still young, but I think that I as I get older, I will cross many more. I will be more mature, more confident from the years of experience.
What frightens you most about your art?
How much emotion I put into photographs. Sometimes I look at a photograph of mine, and I realize how I can truly see how I was feeling when I took it. There's something about eyes, my eyes in my self portraits read more than my pose or any of that.
How much emotion I put into photographs. Sometimes I look at a photograph of mine, and I realize how I can truly see how I was feeling when I took it. There's something about eyes, my eyes in my self portraits read more than my pose or any of that.
Do you have any magic cures for creative blocks?
Unfortunately, no. I have gone through some before, and I just continue to look at art on flickr, look at fashion magazines, sketch. Often the blocks end once I have gained enough inspiration from what I've viewed to start again. And once I've realized that I am imperfect, and that not everything I create will be great.
Unfortunately, no. I have gone through some before, and I just continue to look at art on flickr, look at fashion magazines, sketch. Often the blocks end once I have gained enough inspiration from what I've viewed to start again. And once I've realized that I am imperfect, and that not everything I create will be great.
Do you dream about your artwork?
I generally daydream about photography, about shoots in the woods with cloaks and masks. Once however, I had a dream that involved a photography exhibit/competition that I didn't win.
I generally daydream about photography, about shoots in the woods with cloaks and masks. Once however, I had a dream that involved a photography exhibit/competition that I didn't win.
Which of your own works are you most proud of/ is most meaningful to you and why?
I love this one "I want to be a forest" (http://www.flickr.com/photos/_throughthelookingglass_/3109004111/in/set-72157604887569223/) dearly. The crop I did and the editing I got spot-on. I also love "I think I've seen the place where dreams are formed" http://www.flickr.com/photos/_throughthelookingglass_/3423426982/in/set-72157604887569223/ because it's just a photograph out of a plane window, yet it seems to be a representation of what dreaming really is, and how magical clouds can look. I have never been so happy with a disposable camera photograph. Lastly, I've always loved this film photograph of my mother http://www.flickr.com/photos/_throughthelookingglass_/2408326988/in/set-72157604887569223/ "dreaming in cinematic trees." It was from when I took a photo class at my school, hand developing my own black and white film photos. It was the one good photo on the roll, and the expression in her face blows me away. I didn't tell her to pose, she just closed her eyes from the blinding sun and positioned herself in the branches.
I love this one "I want to be a forest" (http://www.flickr.com/photos/_throughthelookingglass_/3109004111/in/set-72157604887569223/) dearly. The crop I did and the editing I got spot-on. I also love "I think I've seen the place where dreams are formed" http://www.flickr.com/photos/_throughthelookingglass_/3423426982/in/set-72157604887569223/ because it's just a photograph out of a plane window, yet it seems to be a representation of what dreaming really is, and how magical clouds can look. I have never been so happy with a disposable camera photograph. Lastly, I've always loved this film photograph of my mother http://www.flickr.com/photos/_throughthelookingglass_/2408326988/in/set-72157604887569223/ "dreaming in cinematic trees." It was from when I took a photo class at my school, hand developing my own black and white film photos. It was the one good photo on the roll, and the expression in her face blows me away. I didn't tell her to pose, she just closed her eyes from the blinding sun and positioned herself in the branches.
Which art mediums and brands do you prefer to use?
I love film, film over digital. I have been shooting film lately because the mood film gives to photographs is something I have never seen in digital.
I love film, film over digital. I have been shooting film lately because the mood film gives to photographs is something I have never seen in digital.
What kind of art education do you have? Do you think it is important?
I have taken one year of photograph classes, last year. It really helped me understand the technical aspects of photography as well as teaching me how to use a darkroom. I loved it.
I have taken one year of photograph classes, last year. It really helped me understand the technical aspects of photography as well as teaching me how to use a darkroom. I loved it.
What kind of career do you ultimately want? And what kind of career do you think you'll end up having (or already have) realistically?
I would love to do something to do with music. I am a musician, I sing, play guitar, and play piano (as well as writing songs. I have a myspace page for my music http://www.myspace.com/431899206). I want to do photography on the side as I really love it, but don't want to do it as a profession.
I would love to do something to do with music. I am a musician, I sing, play guitar, and play piano (as well as writing songs. I have a myspace page for my music http://www.myspace.com/431899206). I want to do photography on the side as I really love it, but don't want to do it as a profession.
Is your family supportive of your art? Who influenced and nurtured your creativity most?
Yes. They are extremely supportive of my love of the arts. My father is involved with the arts, as he is an independent film director. He has influenced and nurtured my creativity the most, as he used to be a photographer. He has taught me about photography, as well as bringing me up on good music and cinema.
Yes. They are extremely supportive of my love of the arts. My father is involved with the arts, as he is an independent film director. He has influenced and nurtured my creativity the most, as he used to be a photographer. He has taught me about photography, as well as bringing me up on good music and cinema.
Who are some of your heroes outside of the visual art stream?
In the performing arts realm, my great heroes are Bob Dylan (a master songwriter), Jimmy Page (whose guitar skills blow me away), and outside of that realm, my parents are my heroes. My father, though growing up in Tehran where science and mathematics was suggested in accordance to career options, he chose to become a film-maker. He stood up for what he believed in in high school, being a sort of peaceful rebel. He listened to 'foreign' music that he loved, and fought his way to go to a top-notch film school in London. My mother, is a composed and kind-natured soul, her attitude inspires me as a person.
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Thank you! I love this blog to bits and am so happy & appreciative to be a part of it.
ReplyDeletewow, her work is wonderful!
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