Today we’d like to introduce you to Mina Novian.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born in Tehran, Iran, and emigrated to a small town in New Jersey called Dumont. Not speaking English as a young child, I could only express myself through drawing what I wanted to relay. I found myself communicating through the world of images and colors, mesmerizing fellow kindergarteners with my budding artistry.
Apparently, art continued as a focal part in my adult life. The painter’s brush again became my form of expression when words could not express the depth of my emotions, and love and passion for life.
In fact, when feeling insecure through my adolescence, the only time I felt a sense of self-acceptance and belonging was when I was painting. The first time I recognized my talent was when I saw my watercolor painting in a showcase. This realization confirmed my aspirations as an artist. While attending high school, I fell in love with different forms of art and would use them throughout my academics.
I traveled extensively and gained an understanding of the ways, beauties, and richness of the world. Afterwards, I continued my education at UCLA, where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Design. Though I found those days at UCLA extremely challenging due to the hard work I had to put in, I consider them the best in my experience.
After a long search for the purpose of my life, I found answers in Kabbalah, a mystical study that appeals to one’s quest for answers to life’s deepest questions, and how to bring one’s highest potential to fruition. It was through these teachings that I discovered the joy in my love and passion for oil painting, especially impressionist paintings. I learned through my kabbalistic study that I needed to use my talents not only for my own fulfillment but more importantly, to ignite and touch the souls of all who encounter my art.
I developed a unique impressionistic style modeling after the master impressionist artists Monet and Renoir. My bright and vivid oil on canvas paintings are also inspired by Renoir’s theme of celebrating life. However, I set myself apart in the uniqueness of my paintings, by not only using brush strokes to paint my impressionist themes but rather, I mostly use the palette knife, even more than the brush, to portray the rich and thick textures of my unique impressionist art. This feature gives the viewer the feeling that my works are alive and filled with vitality and movement.
The creative fulfillment from painting gives me a feeling of oneness with the universe. I believe that through my art, I bring out the unlimited power of potential we all share. I truly wish that my unique visuals are able to awaken the spark of Light that we all possess.
I currently live in Los Angeles.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The hardest point in my artistic journey was when my career counselor at UCLA adamantly convinced me, unfortunately, not to major in Fine Art, and instead to major in Design. She told me that I would make a lot more money as a clothing designer, even though this area was not my passion, and it would be less of a struggle to succeed. Based on that advise, I went into the clothing design business after graduating with a major in Design. I went through many difficult jobs as assistant designer in Downtown LA. It was a harsh reality, designers knocking down other designers, and it was highly competitive. I was not happy working in that kind of atmosphere. I found out, after hard experience, that my true desire is to be a fine art painter of oil on canvas works. This was a big realization for me: Trusting and knowing oneself is difficult; and one must be honest and open to one’s real purpose in life.
A dramatic event that occurred in my life that changed and shaped the way I saw life and affected me in my art career was when my father had a stroke in the year 1993. I was shocked and devastated when this happened. He was a hardworking man, owned a wall-to-wall carpet store, and he pursued his mission as being a wonderful man and a great provider for his family. But unfortunately, he almost forgot about himself, his love and passion for music. A year before his stroke, my brother bought him a new violin to remind him perhaps of his lost long sweet companion, the violin. He was thrilled… but days passed too quickly and he had a heavy stroke that paralyzed half of his body; he lived nine years more with his stroke. We were happy to experience those days too; of helping him to recover; but for me, it was a wake-up call. It was a big lesson and my desire to help others through my gift of artistic expression was awakened.
Please tell us more about your art.
I am a fine artist who specializes in creating beautiful, serene oil on canvas paintings in the impressionist style. I’ve been in this field since 1996. I use a paintbrush to portray beautiful scenery, but what sets me apart is that I use mainly the palate knife when I paint, which gives rich and thick texture (almost a 3-D feel, like the subject matter is popping out of the painting). Many comment that my paintings feel alive and the observer feels the movement in my exquisite artistry.
My art stands out in the art world because as a student of Kabbalah, I truly put in practice what my study has taught me. When I paint, I use the highest form of meditation, which is called the “Ana Bekoach” by a Kabbalist named Nachunya ben HaKana, who wrote the words in the 2nd century. I also apply and scan the 72 Names of God, which is a powerful tool to rise above our limited consciousness (during the time that I am painting). I strongly believe my work is different in the sense that it relieves negative tension from day-to-day struggles; and my aim is to bring out the part of us which we all possess which creates good for all of humanity. We sometimes get caught into a job or career that leaves us miserable, but we believe it’s okay to stay in it because it helps support our family and makes ends meet… But unfortunately, we wake up too late to make any solid changes to affect our own ultimate happiness and to help others, from the work we are meant to do. Everyone has a unique purpose in this world. I know that my art through my meditations I use during the downloading of my creative process will benefit all my viewers. I believe that real creation is never ours, and all great work is from above. But we can become a channel for this great light.
I have also coined and trademarked a form of commission art called “Candid Canvas”, which I am very proud of. The idea of “THE CANDID CANVAS” is bringing a photo to life of an experience that is everlasting (and unposed). I provide this service, which is to have a candid picture of yourself and your loved ones transformed into a beautiful piece of art (oil on canvas).
Some things I will need to know in order to create the piece for you:
1. Why is the picture special to you?
2. What were you thinking when it was taken?
3. If the painting is about a particular person, please explain your relationship to the individual, and why the individual is important to you?
4. What inspires you the most in this world?
5. What does beauty look like to you?
For more information and examples of the “Candid Canvas”, please see this webpage on Mina’s website: https://www.novianfineart.com/candid-canvas/
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The words that come to mind are inspiration, spirituality, perseverance, and patience. Perhaps more importantly, when I inspire others through my art, I feel that all my work and labor are all worth every moment.
The most gratifying experience for me as an artist is when I affect change in my viewers. Recently, when a particular painting was shown to my client, she cried that she wants to go home and write poetry. I hear over and over again with a show or event, my agents and others will report that they had a dream about a particular work; and many more who never painted found an awakening to paint or leave their careers to begin something they are truly passionate about. It is just like any other form of art, music, writing, etc.; a musician or a writer can totally influence his or her audience and bring people closer to the creative force within. I truly believe my art is a powerful tool to bring people to their calling.
I would like my art to bring higher awareness and help people reach their true potential. Often in life, we struggle with many kinds of hardship, sometimes in our relationships, career, financial burden, health, etc. My aim and goal is to awaken the part of us to realize we can change and transform, as well as rise above anything. This includes all that seems dark, everything that seems difficult. We can choose to see the side that is good; and to choose to see the good in life. Kabbalistically, only through darkness can we reveal light. For example, in a sunny room, a candlelight cannot be revealed and show its potential; the lit candle can be revealed and shine only in a dark room. Basically, my aim is to awaken and ignite the light that is in all of us. My art helps us to realize that we are all one and must love and care for each other in a much deeper way. When we truly can start our day with the thought of how I can be a light for someone else today, then there begins a circuit of energy all around us. That same energy of kindness and love permeates back to us.
Pricing:
- My original oil on canvas paintings are priced anywhere between $5,000 to $8,000.
- The prints of my art range from $100 to $500.
Contact Info:
- Website: For sales of originals and prints, visit www.SaatchiArt.com/MinaNovian.
My website address is www.NovianFineArt.com - Phone: 844-NOVIAN-1
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minanovianfineart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MinaNovianFineArt/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/minaart
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/minanovian
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