Behind the Buck: Jim Afroukhteh Returned to Art After a 20-year Pause

1) Tell us about your Buck. 

This was one of the most interesting projects I have done recently. I liked this buck because it allowed me to be very creative. The end result was very satisfactory to me and it seemed everybody else liked it as well. I feel like my Buck represented the police force in a good fashion.

2) What inspired you to approach your Buck this way? 

It was very challenging to incorporate a civil service motif into an art object without being too serious. What inspired me was this challenging idea. 

3) In general, where do you find the inspiration for your art?

I usually find my inspirations in nature and people.

4) How did you become an artist? 

I've been painting since I was a kid. I had to stop for about 20 years simply because I was faced with various challenges in life. However, I always felt like I had a big hole in my heart and soul so I would still paint off and on. About 7 years ago, I decided to go back to my painting career and take it seriously this time. Now it’s my main career and I have never been happier.

5) Is there anything else you'd like to share with Buckhead Patch readers? 

I like to make a difference with my art. Nothing makes me happier than to paint for a cause. I feel the biggest joy when people tell me how peaceful and serene my art is. And that’s all I always want to create.

To see galleries of Afroukhteh's traditional and abstract oil paintings, go to his website.

This article is the latest in a series of Buckhead Patch conversations with the creators of the "Buck" statues stationed around the neighborhood. Do you know other creative people in Buckhead who deserve to be profiled? Email us with the details!