When Pictures Say More than the Text Ever Could | Our Artsit of the Month Ava Farahani
We’re excited to introduce Ava Farahani, an illustrator based in Florida, as our Artist of the Month on the Women in Arts Network. She is an artist whose work explores the meeting point between the outside world and what we feel on the inside.
In this conversation, Ava shares how she builds stories through shape, mood, and texture, and how her surroundings often guide her creative direction. In the interview, she discusses what helps her overcome creative blocks, how she knows when a piece is complete, and what it means to her to be recognised as Artist of the Month. Through her words, we learn how illustration can convey a great deal without ever needing text, and how sometimes stepping back is just as important as leaning in.
I’m Ava Farahani, and I’m an illustrator based in Florida. Growing up, creating has always been at the centre of my life, with art being my lifelong passion. I enjoy creating illustrations that play into specific moods and tell a story. I love playing with texture and organic shapes. The world around me and inner worlds inspire me, as I love portraying abstract emotions and experiences visually.
1. Ava, what do you enjoy most about telling stories through illustration?
What’s beautiful about illustration is its ability to communicate without words. What I enjoy most about storytelling through illustration is devising ways to convey a narrative creatively and engagingly.
My illustrations are where the outer world and the inner world meet.
Ava Farahani
2. How do textures and soft shapes help you bring a certain mood into your work?
I love using texture to add visual interest in my work, and it shapes the overall look of the illustration. Shape language also plays a big role in creating the mood of the piece.
3. You often draw from both outer and inner worlds—how do you balance those two in your process?
I draw a lot of inspiration from the world around me, and my surroundings influence my work. Even when illustrating internal emotions, the outer world continues to shape how I express them. In many ways, my illustrations are where the outer world and the inner world meet.
4. What do you usually turn to when you’re stuck or feeling out of flow creatively?
I find that when I am desperate to make an illustration work or can’t come up with any ideas, taking a step back usually helps. Ideas often come to me when I am doing nothing related to drawing, so I usually force myself to take a break.
What I enjoy most about storytelling through illustration is coming up with ways to portray a narrative in a creative way.
Tina Bopiah
5. When you’re working on abstract emotions, how do you know when a piece feels “finished” to you?
When finishing an illustration, I, of course, take into account technical aspects such as value structure, composition, colour, etc. However, when illustrating an abstract emotion, I want to ensure that the message is conveyed effectively. An illustration is finished for me when all technical aspects of illustrating come together to express that emotion.
6. Congratulations on being featured as Artist of the Month by the Women In Arts Network! How do you think opportunities like this help elevate your career and open new doors for your creative journey?
Getting your work out into the world is essential for artists. I hope to gain exposure from being featured!
Ava Farahani’s illustrations demonstrate that stories can be conveyed through mood, shape, and texture just as effectively as through words. Her work brings together what she sees in the world around her and what she feels within, creating images that carry quiet meaning.
Through this conversation, we’ve learned how she uses both structure and instinct to guide her process, how stepping away can sometimes move things forward, and how simple elements can hold more than they seem. Her journey reminds us that creating is as much about observing as it is about doing.
To learn more about Ava, visit the links below.
