Whimsical, delicate, feminine, atmospheric: the work of Hanieh Ghashghaei strikes an enchanting balance. Drawing inspiration from commercial illustration, Hanieh melds the simple with the iconic in each piece. Always at the center of Hanieh’s art is a childlike wonder that speaks volumes about her love for life and the world. Hanieh received her BA and MA from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna in Italy. She has exhibited her work in Bologna, Paris, and Iran, and she has been featured in the Saatchi Art Catalog.Step into a new world with this month’s One to Watch, Hanieh Ghashghaei.Tell us about who you are and what you do. What’s your background?My name is Hanieh Ghashghaei, and I was born in Iran. My artistic journey began with studies in graphic design and photography, but gradually, I found myself drawn to illustration, and my passion for it grew stronger over time. Moving to Italy and living in Bologna opened many opportunities, from exhibiting my work and connecting with remarkable artists to exploring printmaking and children’s books.My practice blends illustration with single-frame painting; works often depict women in imaginary worlds, dreams of flight, childhood memories, love, suffering, and fleeting beauty. My childhood solitude and quiet nature allowed me to connect deeply with images and develop a rich imagination. Nature, with its colors, light, and details, has always been a source of inspiration. I strive to bring these experiences and visions to paper, creating worlds where freedom, imagination, nature, and human life appear visually and poetically. This fusion of fantasy and reality guides and inspires every piece I create.What inspired you to become an artist?My inspiration to become an artist comes from my childhood and solitude. Quietness and difficulty connecting with others strengthened my imagination, allowing me to build the worlds I envisioned.My imperfect eyesight deepened this sense of separation. As a child, I avoided wearing glasses because I did not want to appear different. The world around me dissolved into scattered fragments of color rather than a unified image. In my mind, I separated these fragments of color, gave them rhythm, and placed them back together. I reshaped my surroundings not as they were, but as I wished them to be. Ancient Iranian literature, myths, and the poetry my grandmother shared with me also shaped my artistic voice. Their vivid imagery nourished my imagination. This personal, imagined world forms the foundation of my illustration and painting, giving me the freedom to bring my feelings, memories, and dreams to life on paper.Are there particular themes or ideas you’re drawn to in your work?Yes, many themes and ideas are prominent in my work. My paintings often explore childhood memories, women, freedom, and dreams, while reflecting both the beauty and the hardships of life. I am drawn to the small details—the simple, everyday moments that, when captured, reveal their own quiet beauty. It does not always take a grand event to make a scene worth painting.Womanhood, absolute freedom, dreams, and personal experiences are expressed visually and poetically in my work. Beyond these, my art is guided by my inner emotions, which often align with the rhythms and occurrences of my daily life. Sometimes these feelings touch on social or even political aspects of the world around me. As an artist, I never censor my emotions. Even when I aim for a poetic or lyrical mood, the human experiences, sorrows, and joys remain present. I translate them through my own artistic language—lines, colors, and forms—making these emotions inseparable from each piece.What is your process for turning an idea into a finished painting?My process for transforming an idea into a finished painting can be somewhat unique, as I work with a variety of techniques and materials. When an idea takes shape in my mind, I nurture it carefully, thinking and visualizing it until the image becomes completely clear and vivid. This stage can take a day or two, sometimes even longer, because I need to see the idea exactly as I imagine it before moving forward.Once the vision is clear, I choose the appropriate materials and begin with colored stains–marks that initially carry no meaning, formed purely from my imagination on the paper. Within these stains, the image gradually emerges, shaping its rhythm, form, composition, and perspective. Finally, I add details until the piece feels complete, until the painting reflects the idea in its full clarity, capturing the essence of what I first envisioned in my mind.What’s your studio like, and how does your environment influence your work?My studio is very small, and I work within this limited space, though I hope one day to have a larger studio. Even so, I have transformed this small environment into a calm and controlled space, where order and chaos coexist. Around me, the walls and surfaces are filled with my works, sketches, and experiments—from fabric sculptures to collages, printmaking, and acrylic paintings. I try to keep all materials and techniques within reach, so that I can bring each idea to life in the best possible way. Sometimes I work with music, letting its rhythm guide the flow of my process, and other times in silence, especially when my mind is full of ideas. This intimate environment allows me creativity to flow freely, letting imagination, memory, and emotion shape every brushstroke with focus and freedom.How do you know when a piece is finished?From the very beginning, the vision in my mind and the idea I have nurtured guide me toward the completion of a piece. As I add details and that mental image begins to take shape on paper, the connection between idea and execution becomes clear. This moment gives me a sense of the space being filled, a feeling that the work is complete—it tells me that it is time to stop; the painting no longer needs anything and is whole. In the beginning, only the imagined idea leads me to start, and the rest unfolds as a series of surprises, where the vision gradually emerges and, through details, reaches its final form.How do you see your work evolving in the next few years?I see the evolution of my work above all in the connection between art and people. Over the years, my focus has been simply on moving forward each day with painting and illustration, in a natural and continuous way, like any ordinary practice. This constant practice allows me to bring the visions, dreams, and inner struggles of my mind onto paper as faithfully as possible. My aim is for these images to be tangible and relatable to others, so that when people see them, they feel a sense of release and connection with what has taken shape in my mind. These images are not limited to me; they are my practice for creating an honest, shared dialogue through art.If your work had a soundtrack, what would it sound like?If I were to answer this now, the sound that comes to mind is Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20. Its opening is deeply poetic, like a memory rising from afar. The music carries both melancholy and fleeting consolation, mirroring the subtle sadness and moments of solace I seek to convey in my work. Its quiet ending fades like a memory, leaving reflection and calm.What’s the most memorable comment you’ve received about your work?The most memorable feedback I’ve received came from people who had lost loved ones. Astonishingly, my work brought them comfort and a sense of closeness. It was moving that images from my inner world and homeland could reach people across cultures, offering solace. I realized sincere art can transcend borders, connecting hearts in ways I never expected.Meet more artists like painter Hanieh Ghashghaei. Discover a new talent or hear from your favorites in our monthly One to Watch interview.The post Hanieh Ghashghaei’s Storybook Illustrations appeared first on Canvas: A Blog By Saatchi Art.