Stay Positive and Enjoy Creating Art, NYC-based Visual Artist Pegah Naserifar

Pegah Naserifar is a Visual Effects MFA graduate from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her works mainly create physics-based effects such as fire, smoke, water, and various kinds of destruction for advertising, films, and games. She is a VFX artist based in NYC.

We’d love to hear how you got started. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and bred in Tehran, Iran. I got my B.Sc. in Computer Science, it was the place I started to love exploring technology in the first step. Later I moved to England to get my M.Sc. in Multimedia and 3D technology, where I got more familiar with the 3D and Visual Effects industry. And after working in the animation industry I decided to back to school one more time to get my master’s degree in Visual Effects, so I moved to the US and got my M.F.A in VFX from SCAD.

What ideas are you exploring in your practice? Is there a theme you are currently addressing?

What makes me more passionate about visual effects is all we are creating, the basis will almost always refer to a real-world simulation or object. Because of that, having a great eye for motion, as well as an analytical mind, and also being perseverant and patient is the most important characteristic that all good VFX artist should have. Visual Effects combines artistic and technical skills to make stories and communicate with audiences.

Do you have a mentor or a piece of advice that influenced your practice?

I do have my mentor and at the same time, I have some mentees. What my mentor emphasized in our first sessions was that never scare of expressing yourself. If you are not familiar with something and have the enthusiasm to learn that, let people know that in order to help you. The second most important piece of advice was to keep practicing. It’s the only way that makes you professional.

What does “community” mean to you? Has your local community inspired you as an artist?

Community to me is being part of a group of people with the same interests but various perspectives, which makes it really precious. Being surrounded by creatives and professionals who always inspire us to be our best is not only as an artist but also as a human could all happens in a community. Community gives us a chance of being supportive and having others’ supports. One of the most important goals of all kinds of art is to make the world a better and more beautiful place to live, this does not come true unless we are being united and connected.

Is there any advice you would like to share with others?

Find things that you enjoy doing the most, despite how difficult it is. Keep doing that, even you failed several times, finally, you find your way and your style. No matter how hard or complicated the world is, as long as you enjoy yourself, you can make your best. Believe in yourself as an artist, you are creating your art every day, so stay positive. Never stop exploring other artists’ artworks, they always inspire you in many ways.