Interview with Anita Mottaghi

Meet NUNUM's Contributor: Anita Mottaghi

8/25/2025

NUNUM

Blending Flash Fiction & Art

Interview with Anita Mottaghi

What was the first book you remember picking and reading yourself?

I honestly don’t remember the exact title, but I do remember the feeling—being completely drawn into a world made of images. It was one of those moments where I realized that pictures could tell stories just as powerfully as words.

What was the last book you read that made you say damn, that was a good book?

“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” I had seen the film before, but reading the book felt like falling into a completely different world—a strange, playful, and deeply emotional journey into childhood and the fears and wonders it holds. It really moved me.

Which artists have influenced your current artistic direction?

Beatrice Alemagna. Her illustrations feel alive—full of freedom, imperfection, and honesty. She’s my favorite.

Is there an artist in your local community that you would recommend people check out?

Yes—Alireza Goldouzian. He has been a mentor and a guide in my journey as an illustrator. His works are full of life and imagination. I highly recommend discovering his art.

What advice would you give someone just starting to send their work to journals?

Don’t wait for your work to feel “perfect.” If it feels honest, it’s ready. Rejection is not a failure—it’s just part of the process. Keep going.

What techniques do you use in your work, and how do they affect your creative process?

I mostly work with traditional techniques—acrylics and other mixed media. I feel more connected and free when working with my hands. Digital tools haven’t yet given me that same sense of rawness and release, though I might explore them more in the future. For now, I enjoy the slowness and unpredictability of manual work—it keeps me grounded in the process.

Where do you find your inspiration?

From films, books, poems, visual studies, and nature. But mostly, I pay close attention to the behavior of people and animals. I try to step into their minds and see the world from their perspective. That shift often leads to new ideas, stories, and ways of drawing.

What is your goal in making picture books?

I deeply hope that my work, whether while I’m alive or even after, can leave a small impact on someone’s life. Through images, I want to share something meaningful—something that invites both children and adults to pause and reflect. For me, the most magical moment is when a child reads a book once, and then again and again, each time discovering something new. That sense of wonder is everything.

Anita is a 27-year-old Iranian illustrator, visual artist, and writer based in Tehran. She has written and illustrated a picture book that received international recognition, winning awards at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition in China, and the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava.