Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ava Esmaili. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ava, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Growing up, I always looked up to my grandpa who is an architect and I was always inspired by his fine line drawings, which ultimately led me to art. Not only that but my mom also working in the toy industry has shaped a lot of my artistic upbringing. Being in a creative environment and growing up in a Persian household full of art always inspired me to do more. I learned to illustrate through my art classes at a young age and later in life, I attended ArtCenter College of Design. I majored in illustration and took a specific liking to a specialization in surface design, due to my liking of seeing others interact with my work in their daily lives. To speed up my learning process, I would say the most valuable thing was trying classes out of my comfort zone, which allowed me to learn skills that I would not have had any interest in learning otherwise. I’ve learned that the fear of not being good at something can be limiting, so I make a conscious effort to push myself beyond my comfort zone. I believe growth comes from taking on new challenges, even when they feel uncertain.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

From my days in preschool, I always knew I wanted to become an artist. I have always had a profound love for bright colors, and that has never changed and has only weaved its way into everything I do and own.

Whether that be my clothes, food, or art, I am always searching for the colors in things. Being an Iranian-American illustrator heavily inspired by Persian rugs, Rumi’s poetry, and Persian mosaics ultimately led to my love for surface design. My work is described as cultural, and playful, and I continue to try to push the boundaries within surface design. Whether using sustainable printing practices or trying new things, my love for surface design is never-ending. Being able to fill homes and closets with color in so many different ways is what attracts me to it. Not only this, but it is so valuable to share my beautiful culture with others through illustration and teach them something they may not have known before.

Through some of my children’s books such as Nowruz with Pashmak, I teach kids about Persian New Year, and the importance of traditions which is something I would like to continue.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to be able to spread joy through my work, teaching others something new about my culture. It is also important to me to focus on issues that I can help spread awareness of through my art.

I’m passionate about storytelling through leading and directing projects, so I would say that is definitely driving my creative journey, and my ultimate goal is to design for my own lifestyle brand.

It has always been a dream of mine and I hope to accomplish it soon, as I am in the process of building it now.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a designer is seeing people interact with my work in their daily lives. Whether displayed in their homes, worn, or shared with loved ones, it’s fulfilling to know that my designs become part of their experiences.

Not only this, but it is also rewarding to see my growth as an artist and how I continue to evolve, change, and improve. Lastly, to learn new techniques and ways to express myself, which is what I love so much about being creative. I can always improve my skills or find something new to learn. It is rewarding in so many ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.avaesmaili.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyavaesmaili
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AAva%2BEsmaili&s=relevancerank&text=Ava+Esmaili&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1