We at Rough Draft love peering the minds of musicians, singers, and songwriters. However, we enjoy every aspect of art, whether it be music based or not. As such, today we’ll be taking a detour and stepping into the world of precision and paint. Though he isn’t exactly a songwriter, Ashkon sings stories through his paintings with style and grace. What was once an activity done out of boredom has turned into a passion, a mode of expression, and an opportunity to broadcast his talents to the world. 

Born and raised in the Near West Side neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, Ashkon Haidari grew into the talented artist he is today. Although, it wasn’t always clear where his path was headed. Chicago is known for its art and architecture, but during his youth, Ashkon was more interested in drawing on loose leaf than painting on canvas. Rather than a passion, art started out as a way for him to pass time at his parent’s restaurant and drown out the “problem child” reputation his school attributed to him. In fact, Ashkon’s disinterest caused him to fail every art class he took. However, in high school, one of his teachers recognized his potential and acted as a mentor towards him. Now, the once boring art museums have become his oasis and the paintings within them his source of inspiration. 

When it comes to how Ashkon sees his art, he describes it as more traditional. Though he respects the current movement of art and believes it has its own unique value, he sees himself more in line with artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, who were able to revolutionize the craft through traditional methods. The influence of these two icons can be seen in Ashkon’s painting style. Surreal scenes filled with contorted and distorted figures are splashed with vivid and cool colors. Each one of his paintings is filled with detail, so much so that it would take hours and a magnifying glass to find them all. Ashkon’s work is either done in bursts of inspiration that compel him to completion in a single sitting, or in a fashion comparable to the construction of a skyscraper, one step at a time. 

One would assume that such a talented person was sought out like one would the rarest gem, but Ashkon’s transition into the public eye was actually quite accidental. At the age of 16, after failing an art test, he made a drawing on the back of the piece of paper. He visited a friend’s house and happened to show the drawing to his father, well-known artist Tony Fitzpatrick, who asked if he could have it. Thinking nothing of it, Ashkon gave Fitzpatrick the drawing. A few weeks later, Fitzpatrick invited him to a gallery show, and to the budding artist’s surprise, the drawing he made was framed and on the wall as a part of the show. Not only did this experience boost Ashkon’s confidence in himself, it gave him the opportunity to work with a renowned professional in the field he would later be a member of.

Currently, Ashkon is working on another project, even amidst the chaos the coronavirus pandemic has caused in the country. At the time of our interview, he had recently returned from a group show in Seattle, thankfully just before the coronavirus had reached critical mass. For him, the pandemic has given him a much needed break, and also more time to enjoy his art and the process of making it. Rather than giving in to the negativity that has surrounded this year, Ashkon has continued doing what he loves, which truly shows how passionate and dedicated he is to his craft. It truly goes to show that you never know where your path may lead you. A dislike can turn into an interest, and lead you down a path to greatness.