We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Afsaneh Oroojnia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Afsaneh , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I’m actually the happiest creating, designing and providing a heartfelt service.
I always knew that I was born to be in arts, to paint, draw, write poetry and lose myself in classical compositions, but not until 2017 that I truly felt it in every single cell in my body.
I was working on a large painting one day and was listening to Vivaldi. As always I was in my elements and suddenly my paintbrush took over my hand and I started painting over what I was already working on. My whole body became an instrument and my hand was tuning into every note, I wasn’t just listening to music, I was part of it and “My Universe With Vivaldi” was born.
Later I was able to tune into the texture of melodies and compositions. While painting “When the Two Worlds Meet” by Henry Purcell, I designed a red silk dress that accompanies the artwork.

Nothing can compare to how magical the feeling was and still is. I was so blown away by the experience that I wanted to experiment more! I started listening to other composers that I loved… Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, Henry Purcell, Shumann, Handel, Mozart and so on… and every single painting took a life of her own.

As I was painting with Bach one day, something else happened. I felt my chest opening, wide open, and I felt universal LOVE…that real kind of love that can not be explained but only experienced.
This vast and unending heart of mine had so much love to give and it was pouring into my paintings. So, I kept painting and experimenting with rock, new age, ethnic, world and pop music.. Of course some tunes expand my heart way more than others and I only experience this magic while painting.

In my gallery showings, there’s always at least one person that asks me if I’m under influence or like some I need to “get a buzz” to create. I chuckle and say, I have never done either, ever. :)
And I have people tell me that my paintings give them a sense of calm and makes some cry.

There is a real and pure happy feeling that we can experience when we know that what we do is making a difference or is leaving an impression in present and future time… it’s like leaving a part of ourselves, our essence, for others to see and feel even when our physical body is long gone.

Afsaneh , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I knew of my love affair with art and beauty when I was very young. I embraced it, but like so many creatives was warned about the “starving artist” syndrome.

As a teen, I apprenticed under a well known artist, but found myself frustrated every time he took my pencil and went over my art destroying it. So that summer was the first and last.
Art and science go hand in hand I believe so I went back and forth with medicine and art in college and finally decided to pursue art.

My artwork comes from my heart and not my mind.

All the elements that I have enjoyed since childhood that fueled me, came together to assist me into becoming the kind of creator that I have always wanted to become. Music, poetry, color, design, florals, movement and meditation are all part of my process. When I’m asked where I see what I paint, honestly I don’t even know myself. It feels as if a portal opens and I’m given permission to express what’s there, the mystery, the mythos.

I paint with love and passion and I pour my heart into what I do… Even as a floral designer, I listen to classical music, and I clear my mind way before I hold my tools. I tune into the spirit of everything beautiful and take deep breaths and get to work!
I like to believe that as an active creative, every aspect of my life is touched by some kind art.

It’s important to me to treat my body and mind with respect every day even when I’m not engaged in making things. My daily rituals consists of a good one hour hike every single day, rain, snow or shine.. followed by a good stretch and some weight training. I write briefly in my journal while sipping my delicious Matcha tea. I have limited my exposure to social media and watch zero TV.

I believe that in order to live a wholesome life and to be truly in touch with our abilities, it’s important to clean and clear the path with intention and mindfulness.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driving me!

When I was in college I wanted to become a professor and teach art the way I wanted to be taught. I ended up teaching younger kids in grade school and fell in love with how they viewed their world. It was easy to walk into a classroom and immediately spot the artist and watch them bloom and grow and explore. I watched their captivated curious minds and beautiful twinkles in their wondering eyes.

I still work with children of all ages and the amount of joy that is being exchanged is immeasurable. My goal or mission is simple. It’s sharing and showing beauty in an uncertain and sometimes gloomy world and ultimately living the creative life I want to share.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I was born and lived the first 9 years of my life in a beautiful country that valued and celebrated arts, artists, music, poetry and history. I remember sitting with my dad singing songs into a microphone as he recorded our voices. I remember watching my dad recite poetry and my mom fill our house with beautiful colors and vibes.

Right before my 10th birthday, all that vanished. Iran was taken over by dark and ugly faces and agendas. We all lost every single right and freedom one by one. No more music, no more dancing, no more free expression of any kind. Soon after, an eight year war followed. The memories of that assault and insult that we endured for many years follows me to this day and it hurts me to say that nothing has gotten any better in my home country and I’ve been watching all that for over 30 years even from here.
I’m asked often how I stayed so hopeful and optimistic and kept my spirit high and bright. I know my resilience and optimism has a solid root in my exposure to arts, the beauty that surrounded me as a child and the world I wanted to create being a creator.

That hope is still strong and is paving my path one brush stroke, and design at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: afsanehoroojnia.com and Sedonaflora.com
• Instagram: @sedonaflora and I.paint.music