Want to get better at art? Shamsollah Saedi, an artist from Iran, can inspire you. Maybe you feel stuck or unsure about your style. Learning from artists like him can help.
You’re not the only one who feels this way. Many artists go through the same thing. But there’s always a way to move forward.
In this article, you will learn about:
- Shamsollah Saedi and his creative style
- How he blends old Persian art with new ideas
- What he learned from his hard times as an artist
Keep reading to find new ideas for your art. You may feel more confident and ready to try something new.
Let’s begin!
1. Shamsollah Saedi’s Biographies
Early Life
Shamsollah Saedi was born in September 1967. He is from Tuyserkan, a city in Hamadan Province, Iran. Tuyserkan is well known for its walnut trees.
He finished high school with a science diploma. Then he went to a teacher training college in Tehran, where he studied art. He got a degree that allowed him to teach art in schools.
In 1993, he continued his education. He studied Handicrafts at the University of Art and received his bachelor’s degree. After that, he earned a master’s degree in Art Research. This helped him learn more about art and its background.
Passion for Art
When Shamsollah Saedi was a child, there was a painting in his uncle’s shop. It featured beautiful Persian writing in two styles: Nastaʿlīq and Naskh. He liked it a lot and often tried to copy the writing from memory and by hand.
He also remembered a statue of a king in one of the city squares. For a school project, he used clay from the riverbank, which was soft and easy to shape.
He made the head of the statue, and because of the officer’s hat, people said it resembled the real one closely. The school displayed it in a case, where it remained until the revolution.
Education and Training
Shamsollah Saedi spent part of his teaching career in art schools and part at the university, with both experiences helping him grow as an artist. At the university, he taught more detailed subjects, whereas before, he had focused mostly on calligraphy and letter design.
At the university, he taught about geometric patterns, such as arabesques and knotwork, commonly used in decoration, borders, and tiles. Through his research and thesis, he explored many traditional Iranian patterns, incorporating them into his work and adding his style.
In his paintings, Saedi used elements like carpets and mud walls. In his calligraphy paintings, he also incorporated colors from tiles found in old buildings, but in his unique way.
2. Shamsollah Saedi’s Notable Artworks
Painting
Shamsollah Saedi has many memories from his childhood in a small town, where the houses had mud walls. He recalls seeing carpets hanging on the walls and washing them before the new year.
This inspired him to create art, and he painted about 60 or 70 pieces featuring old walls, mud bricks, and carpets from his hometown.
He continues working on this series today. One painting, in particular, is very special to him. It depicts a village similar to Masuleh, where the houses are stacked on top of each other, and all the houses have carpets hanging on their walls.
Calligraphy Painting
Another style Shamsollah Saedi uses is calligraphy painting. He combines calligraphy with shapes and words on the canvas, paying close attention to the space between the letters. By adding shadows and light, he makes the letters appear like pieces of Iranian tiles. Some of these calligraphy paintings are among his favorites.
See Also Iranian Folk Art
3. Shamsollah Saedi’s Exhibitions and Galleries
As mentioned earlier, Shamsollah Saedi began participating in exhibitions later in his career. He has held five solo exhibitions and his work has been part of many group exhibitions.
While curators contact him, he doesn’t always participate because some exhibitions lack quality. Although he hasn’t exhibited abroad yet, he hopes to in the future.
During his teaching years, Saedi didn’t have time for many exhibitions. He only joined a few, like one with university professors. His main focus at that time was teaching, not being an artist.
Later, Saedi decided to focus more on exhibitions. In his younger years, he joined public festivals, but around 2016, he began taking part in more specialized exhibitions.
The one at the Goya Gallery was particularly memorable for him. He had the chance to showcase his work to many well-known professors. He also participated in a group show at Shokouh Gallery, but he held solo exhibitions almost every year.
4. Shamsollah Saedi’s Artistic Style and Techniques
Artistic Style
Shamsollah Saedi’s art combines both painting and calligraphy. He uses a unique texture that helps bring out the feel of different materials in his work. This texture makes the surfaces, like carpets, look real.
A standout feature in his paintings is the straw texture he created. From a distance, it may appear like mud, but it’s paint that gives it this effect.
In his calligraphy, Saedi focuses on the empty spaces between the lines. He fills these spaces with traditional colors, creating a raised tile-like effect. He writes freely with a wide pen on a rough surface, with light coming from the left and shadows falling to the right.
Saedi also places great importance on the frame of his artwork. He always uses the golden rectangle, which has a ratio of 8 to 11. Many of the geometric and Islamic patterns in his work are based on this ratio.
Techniques
Shamsollah Saedi uses acrylic paint for all his artwork. His process starts with spreading fabric and applying wood glue to it. Then, he sprinkles dried, crushed straw on top and waits for a day to let it stick. Once the straw is set, he shakes off any extra.
After applying the first layer of color, he stretches the fabric onto a frame and lets it dry completely before applying a second layer the next day.
This method helps Saedi work faster. In the past, inspired by Reza Abbasi, he used a mix of glue, soil, and plaster to create wall-like textures on large canvases. However, over time, the plaster cracked and damaged the artwork during transport. That’s when he switched to using paint to achieve the texture.
See Also Famous Iranian Painters
5. Shamsollah Saedi’s Art Influences
Artist Influence
Shamsollah Saedi has been influenced by several artists, though his style remains distinct. He learned from Gregoryan’s carpet art, Parviz Kalantari, and Mahmoud Zanganeh, especially appreciating their color choices and folk art.
Additionally, Jafar Rohbakhsh’s work left a mark on Saedi, shaping his creative path.
Building Details
As a student, Shamsollah Saedi closely studied old buildings, including the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan. He focused on stone and tile carvings, drawing inspiration from the work of Gholamreza Esfahani at Shah Mosque.
These details influenced his art, and he incorporated broken and flowing calligraphy styles such as Nasta’liq and Kufic into his work.
Persian Art
Old Iranian art, particularly from the Seljuk and Safavid periods, greatly influenced Shamsollah Saedi’s ideas. The designs and colors from these eras provided direction for his painting and calligraphy.
Art Education
Art schools played a major role in shaping the art scene. The School of Fine Arts was especially significant, where Kamal-ol-Molk studied and became a key figure.
This school represented a peak in artistic education, and Saedi believes something similar should have happened again, though it hasn’t, and this thought continues to stay with him.
6. Shamsollah Saedi’s Challenges & Lesser-Known Stories
Hard Times
When Shamsollah Saedi was young, he lived through a war and a revolution, making life difficult. He had to be cautious with his art, often unable to express everything. In the 1990s, he created a painting of a woman for an art show, but it was rejected, despite his hard work.
This rejection was discouraging, and even today, Saedi faces challenges. In his calligraphy paintings, he often uses poems that reflect pain, struggles, or injustice. If he senses that people can’t accept criticism or see talented individuals leaving the country, he selects poems that express those feelings.
Art Must Change
Shamsollah Saedi believes in the saying, “If water stays still, it goes bad.” For him, art is the same. An artist shouldn’t repeat the same work over and over. That doesn’t bring joy.
Art must evolve, with fresh ideas and new forms. Saedi always strives to change and try something different, making this one of the key principles in his art.
Disappointing Stories
Selling art can be challenging for many artists. Sometimes, people promise that a show will be successful, but nothing comes of it. This can be discouraging and make artists question whether they should continue. Many artists experience the same problems.
Connections are very important in the art world. Some people ask for money to feature artwork in magazines, TV shows, or galleries, and well-known galleries often have high fees. Artists who live far from big cities might find it harder to get noticed.
Shamsollah Saedi often tells his students, “A good artwork will eventually be noticed.” However, in today’s fast-paced world, some artists may not want to wait. Money is necessary for art, as it helps with materials, exhibition spaces, and making connections. Without it, things can become difficult.
Shamsollah Saedi: A Recap
Shamsollah Saedi is a well-known artist recognized for his unique style in painting and calligraphy. He combines traditional Persian art with modern methods, often addressing social issues in his work.
His art speaks to both personal experiences and larger cultural themes, making a strong connection with people in Iran and beyond.
Despite facing many challenges, Saedi’s love for art and commitment to creativity have made a significant impact. His work continues to inspire both new and established artists, securing his place in contemporary Iranian art.