From Computers to Paint Brushes: Artist Amad Eslami on his Inspiration

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I put a lot of feeling in my art; I paint what is in my heart,” said Amad Eslami, a local artist who moved to the United States to pursue a career in art.     

When Eslami first went to college in Iran, he studied computers. He said that the computer was never his passion; that art was.  However living in Iran, he was not sure if he could sustain a living.

“I came to the USA twenty-four years ago to see my friends,” said Eslami.  When he came to the States he realized that he wanted to pursue his passion. He stayed and worked as a Domino's Pizza driver while attending college to study art. He attended Pierce College to improve his English and accidently sat in on an art class.

In 1995 Amad Eslami was involved in a car accident.  He said to God, “Please kill me or help me.” His first painting after the accident was called Paradise. It was his inspiration to pursue his dream as an artist.
“After that in 1998, I decided to major in art. I sold my first painting to my art professor for $300,” Mr. Eslami said.     
When Amad Eslami first started painting, he was painting post-modern expressionism. He later got into contemporary modern art.  He was inspired by Richard Diebenkorn, a contemporary artist. “His painting inspired me because of the color and the emotion he put behind his work,” Mr. Eslami said.  “Richard Diebenkorn paintings are not what most people think when they think of works of art, but his paintings spoke to me.”
Amad Eslami studied art at California State University, Northridge where he got his Masters in 2003.

“Art comes from deep inside, and I try to paint the way I feel,” Eslami said. “This is why I enjoy contemporary modern art because it allows me to paint what I see and feel.” He said that he rather focus on the color and texture of the painting rather than the form.

Amad Eslami had shown his art in many galleries. A painting he had done called Rams, which was inspired by a trip to his grandfather’s farm, was shown at his friend’s gallery. The focus of his gallery was global warming.  “I try to let the painting speak for itself,” he said.

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