Check Out Ariana Ziae Mohseni’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariana Ziae Mohseni.

Hi Ariana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up in Laguna Niguel, California I was used to sticking out like a sore thumb. Besides the fact that I was “an other” in a predominately white demographic, I was also the one weird artist who wore my grandma’s turtlenecks, painted my nails neon green and played my viola at lunch rather than playing with the other kids during recess. Knowing at the age of six that I wanted to be an artist, I never really took school seriously. I rarely did my homework or studied and instead I’d spend my time doing embroidery, painting, crocheting, sewing and gardening.

This in turn meant I was pretty much always in summer school, taking side classes at Kumon and working after hrs with my teachers to develop reading and comprehension skills. Sometimes I felt guilty for my lack of effort in school. It definitely worried my parents and did not instill the trust that I could be a serious artist. Luckily my mom believed in my ability and talked my dad into allowing me to go to Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. While at Otis, I discovered Digital Art and switched my major from Fine Arts Painting to Digital Media with an emphasis in 3D. From there, I was able to get two internships as a CG Artist and have been working consistently ever since.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
This is something I think about often…I think a lot about how I was raised by an immigrant father from Iran and a Puerto Rican Mother and how this unique combination gave me a vastly different home life from my rich white group of “friends” in High School. I think the way I expressed myself was foreign to most and in turn frowned upon by peers and teachers. So much so I was consistently told my thoughts and ideas were irrelevant or unwanted. Art wasn’t seen as a worthwhile passion or career choice. I realize now that this is probably why I never put in effort in school. I became an angry person filled with anxiety around social interactions. I was terrified to go to college and didn’t think I was capable of being successful. Luckily I saw going to Otis as a new beginning for me and that’s when I developed this mantra, “I have no choice but to be successful”. To this day, I still struggle with seeing my value and voicing how I feel in all aspects of my life, but I’ve learned that I am capable and now have a good support system that I can rely on.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Currently, I work as a CG Artist at a commercial studio called a52/Elastic. There I specialize in Lighting and Texturing and have also led a handful of jobs. Throughout the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with talented artists on jobs like the Season 8 Game of Thrones Titles, HBO Catherine the Great Titles, Comcast Xfinity “ET Returns”, and teaser trailers for Gears of War. I am also a teacher at Otis College of Art and Design where I teach a beginner CG class for Sophomores. We focus on learning the fundamentals of Maya and how they can use 3D as a tool to enhance their artwork regardless of if they decide to pursue a career in CG. As for my personal art, I frequently work with textiles. I sew, crochet, and embroider and I’m beginning to use natural dyes in my work for a more sustainable practice.

Lastly, I dedicated a chunk of my day to tending to my communal Guerrilla Garden. This project was started by my two “sisters” and I to fulfill our dream of having a pumpkin patch, but it later transferred into a project where we hope to encourage our surrounding communities to support a sustainable future. We commandeered land by the freeway in my neighborhood and where we spent three days weeding, tilling and planting out the space. We’ve relied on people donations of money and time to help sustain the space but a majority of the time it’s just my hand watering the 700 square foot space every morning before work. Currently, we are taking a break but will have it up and running again this spring!

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t know if I believe in luck. Maybe I do in very small instances? I work hard, am kind to others and actually care about the product I’m producing, whether that is my personal work, my garden or work I create with a52. I think those efforts are what provided me with these opportunities and not luck.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.arianazm.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threesisters_garden/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.threesistergarden.com/

Image Credits
Screen Grabs from Behind The Scenes of E.T Commercial – “A Holiday Reunion”