We had the good fortune of connecting with Rojin Surreah Shahverdi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rojin, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
For me, pursuing a creative career always felt as essential as the need for breath itself.

I’ve known since my youth that my greatest offering would be the gift of my art. It’s the state in which I feel most aligned, fulfilled, and generative. While I worked a plethora of other jobs prior to starting my business at 25, I knew that choosing anything but a creative career would stifle my vocational horizons and constrict my soul.

I truly believe that there is an underlying natural order within the chaos of the world, and if we are able to tap into our highest calling and share it with the world, we will inevitably benefit and elevate the world around us.

Creativity and free expression are among the greatest flow states of the human experience. I still have a ways to go to fully harness and grow my potential, and my journey has been anything but easy — but I’m grateful that I took the crazy leap into a self-directed, creative path.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
L.A. is truly a jungle of endless possibility. It oozes culture and creativity, and you can choose your own adventure as you go, sipping on so many different flavors along the way. (But lest we forget the endless traffic that accompanies the pursuit… so we’ve gotta be strategic about all this.)

I think the Getty is one my favorite places to take someone to. It’s free, it’s gorgeous, and the architecture is so stark and commanding, all while giving you such a macro-view of the breadth and beauty of L.A. It’s a quiet place where you can truly bask in the grandeur of the city, while taking pause from the chaos.

I’m also a huge fan of Grand Central Market. It really never gets old for me, because people eating together is so quintessentially *human*. I love the bustling noise, the old school neon lights, and being able to choose what you want to eat but still eat together. The array of different cuisines is a hallmark to the diversity and intersection of L.A’s cultural mélange. The communal feeling of this space is grounding in a time where everything is so individualistic and disparate in our society.

Lastly, I’d say obviously Venice Beach. In a concrete entanglement like the City of Angels, there’s so much value in being humbled by the expanse of the Pacific. It’s an indispensable part of any L.A visit, and the sun drenched boardwalks and gentle breeze are a nourishment we often crave when in a city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One of the people that deserves the highest praise when it comes to my business is my best friend, Patrick. He’s my A1. Patrick holds a Business degree, and is the person who has sat with me for countless hours, helping me to see myself more clearly. He has a macro-oriented and poetic mind which has helped me see the flow of my business in a way that is more palatable to my artistic brain. The best part is, we’ve sometimes traded tattoos for business coaching sessions!

I also have to mention my parents, for endlessly supporting me despite their initial hesitancy when I first started my business. No doubt they had certain concerns as I stepped into an industry in its infancy at the age of 25… but they’ve ultimately always had my back, and beamed their love at every milestone.

Among this are all the angelic friends who spread the word and shared my work, who lent a hand with installing decorative shelves in the studio at 11 p.m, and countless sources of inspiration whom I have been guided by.

And of course, all of the clients who’ve instilled their trust in me, supporting the pursuit of my artistic craft and offering as my livelihood.

Website: https://rouge.ink

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rouge.ink/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rojin-surreah-shahverdi-bb49761a5

Facebook: https://facebook.com/rougeink1/

Image Credits
Maia Anstey Photo Tim Laks Photo Karolina Turek Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.