Meet Amin H Sharif

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amin H Sharif. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amin, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Building resilience and consistency in one’s artistic journey is a gradual process. It requires years of dedication, practice, and keen observation to discover one’s true artistic niche and achieve stability in work. In my case, undergoing successive migrations—from Iran to Italy, back to Iran, and finally settling in California—adds an extra layer of challenge to maintaining work stability, particularly when dealing with new cultures and languages. Adapting to these changes demands a significant amount of an artist’s energy. I’ve learned to approach my artwork with patience and a steady pace, focusing on slow but consistent progress. In my opinion, more than optimism, we need motivation to keep going in work and life.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Born in 1979 in Tehran, Iran, I live and work in the USA. I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Graphics from Azad Art & Architecture University of Tehran in 2005, followed by a Master’s degree in illustration in 2010. In 2006, my journey as an illustrator took flight with the publication of my first picture book, “Moon Hunters,” by Shabaviz. I continued to work as a graphic designer and art teacher in Iran until 2011. Seeking artistic growth and international exposure, I moved to Italy to study illustration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna. There, I penned and illustrated my first children’s story, “The Blue Tree,” published by Kite Edizioni in 2014 and translated into several languages. To date, I have published approximately 16 children’s books.
When I come up with an idea for a children’s book, I draw, think, and reflect a lot. It’s like playing a movie in my head, trying out different situations for the characters until the idea becomes clear. I build and rebuild it several times until I’m excited about the result. Creating each new book feels like making a whole new world, and it never gets tiring for me.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Enthusiasm, perseverance, and patience.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with various international publishers on several projects, which has been an enriching experience. Now, I’m eager to extend my creative reach and connect with American children’s book publishers and editors, or seek representation through a literary agency. I believe this step will not only expand my artistic horizons but also create opportunities to bring my stories and illustrations to a wider audience, fostering a deeper connection with young readers in the United States.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Nazli Tahvili

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