Ghanbari, Mokarameh Born in Darikandeh village"Mazandaran", Iran 1928 A self - confessed passion since childhood for creative patterns and designs , resulted in her experimenting with mud and clay . Her interest then extended to bridal make - up for women from nearby villages . Most fascinating of all , however , is that she began painting on paper , as she does today , at the ripe old age of 70 . unable to read and write , she began painting without any formal training . She even painted on the walls , doors and windows of her residence . Her painting of imam reza has found its way into the houses of many people of darikandeh village . A large painting of imam reza's shrine , which is about 150 * 100 cm , is kept in a local husseinieh ( shrine ) where it is respected and reverd by the local people . Mokarameh's first painting exhibition was held at seyhoun art gallery in 1995 in tehran .She subsequently held several such exhibition in the same gallery . She won the jury's special award at the roshd film festival along with a special prize of the art - literature village festival . "Mokarameh - dreams and memories " is the name of a documentry regarding her life and works , directed by well - known iranian director , Ebrahim mokhtari . It has been screened at several international festivals .