Life & Work with Emineh Noravian

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emineh Noravian.

Hi Emineh, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Art has always been a part of my life since I was young, I have always enjoyed creating things from nothing and finding solutions to problems by way of arts and crafts. As a kid, I found myself wanting the latest and greatest art sets and tools and not being afraid to just start creating whenever I felt the urge. I would draw characters, abstract designs, words and tape everything up on the walls in my bedroom.

I think I had every type of art set you could buy from the craft or toy store from spirographs to wood-burning kits. At summer camp, I was always in the Arts and Crafts building, and even as an adult. After high school, I attended graphic design college but I felt like I was missing the hands-on aspect of art that I really longed for so I decided to leave and attend culinary school and joined the baking and pastry program. That was probably the most excited I have ever been about attending school. The decorating aspect when it came creating cakes and desserts was what drew me to that field but I couldn’t manage to fully enjoy it due to the critical timing, science and execution that goes into baking, I found myself more frustrated with trying to complete and deliver orders especially because I was doing it all from home and really couldn’t enjoy it. I let that go and after six years of working a 9-5 office job I realized I wasn’t in my true element and wasn’t happy when I wasn’t able to use my creative brain. I felt robotic in my day-to-day routine and I realized needed to get back into art in some way for my mental and physical health. In January of 2019, I decided that by the end of the year I would leave my job and begin my new journey in the art world. I started out doing some chalk work in a local bar and ended up painting my first mural of Kobe Bryant after his tragic death at that same bar.

As the months went on and the pandemic kept us home, it gave me some time to work on some different types of artwork including canvases and customized creations. Using the techniques I learned in graphic design school an all those art sets as a kid I started to incorporate that knowledge into some experimental artwork to see if anything would really stick or get my brain going. As I posted my work on social media I began to get more orders and work for murals and knew I was on the right path. After a few months of creating and getting comfortable with the things I was doing, I reached a place where I knew I should say yes to everything and figure out how later. That plan has worked out great, and I will only say no to something I really know is not in my realm, but that has yet to really happen! I love that I took this leap and decided to do what makes me happy because I get up each day excited and eager to create and it doesn’t feel like work!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I started doing murals or custom artwork my biggest challenge was pricing and time management. I wanted to ensure that I wouldn’t get frustrated and unmotivated like I did with baking so I made it a point after each project I completed to sit down and review how I could have done it better for me. Now, after just three years I am glad I have found much better ways to accomplish the work. I really do learn something new with every project and it motivates me to do better on the next one. I am mindful of the work I am doing and how I am getting through it. The most important thing I have learned is to value my work, my time and stay confident in that.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
This is probably the most asked question I receive when I tell people I am an artist and it is also the question I never really have a straightforward answer to. There are a lot of artists, especially muralists, that have a special style or technique that makes them and their work stand out. I can’t say that I have a specialty, at least not yet. I think I always figured it would just show itself along my journey but I have since realized that I am okay if it doesn’t. In my short time of creating art as my career, I think I can say that I do enjoy working on murals and wall art the most because each one is different and each one brings me into a new place so it’s very refreshing to have that change, like having a new office each day. I really enjoy working in a multitude of styles and using different techniques and tools to accomplish the vision because it gets my creative juices flowing and keeps me excited and on my toes. I think being able to have experience in a different styles and techniques just makes me able to say yes to all kinds of work instead of limiting myself to particular things. I’ve always been the DIY type of person and I am proud of all my work.

A couple of things stick out for special reasons like the Kobe mural because it was the first one I did during a difficult time and I really feel like after I did that I was in the mindset that I could keep going and do this for a long time. I am also really proud of the murals I do that are in spaces for kids because I really want them to enjoy the space they are in whether it’s a school dentist’s office, therapy center or a room in their house. I’m also really proud of myself for just saying yes to getting on a boom lift in a construction zone and painting the outside of a winery that spans 200 feet wide and 30 feet high without having a clue as to how I would do it. I like taking the risk of saying yes and figuring it out when the time comes.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up I was always the kid who wanted to create something and entertain in some way. I was always drawing, making things, or trying to be funny and put on a show for people at my friend’s birthdays. I played soccer in AYSO starting at the age of four or five, started dance at the age of eight or nine and my interests in being active and creative never died down from there. I continued dance in high school and played tennis all four years. I played volleyball for a few years in my twenties. and have continued to create along the way. Art has shown up in my life in many forms and I hope it continues to blossom each day.

Contact Info:

• Website: eminehdesigns.com
• Instagram: eminehdesigns