What made you approach art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
My mother; she started her career as a theater artist, then continued as an illustrator, sculptor, doll maker and pursued many other mediums. I’ve been surrounded by her artwork for as long as I can remember and I had no choice but to start drawing before I learned to talk.
What is your artistic journey, techniques and subjects you have experimented with to date?
While attending art school in Russia, I had experimented with oil painting, drawing, sculptures, photography, and graphic design. My first job, creating illustrations for books, allowed me to develop my abilities working with pastels and watercolors. When I immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1990, it posed a new challenge to be able to serve my artistic abilities in a new country. I began to expand my horizon with acrylic painting, advertisements, wooden and metal sculpting, interior design, and making a career out of graphic design that brought me to my latest medium; graphic collages.
What are 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
The technique. I’ve never seen any artwork made out of car plates or music albums in the manner I have.
I’ve always tried exploring different art techniques to create something unorthodox.
The style, which is known as computer collage pointillism, looks like a complete picture from afar, but only up close you can see it’s much more than that.
Where does your inspiration come from?
It came from a collection of my experiences across all ages. In my younger years, I became a forever fan of rock’n’roll music, and since then I wanted to create the greatest musicians' portraits in unique way.
For many years I also worked as a private adventure tour guide for Russian clients looking to explore the United States, Canada, Central and South America. I tried to show people from other countries the spirit of old America – historical towns and landmarks, hidden villages, national parks and everything they could possibly restore from the American or Canadian way of living since the 19th century. The car plates of varying years are an excellent material to grab attention and dive deep into the times of exploring America on wheels.
What is the intent of your art? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
I have a desire to express and convey feelings in an ordinary picture with an attention-grabbing, non-ordinary style to bring about a nostalgia of older times.
What is the process of creation of your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technique, inspiration from art classics or other)?
There is a long preparatory process: I have to search for the old posters, paintings, photos etc., categorize and differentiate the colors of the car plates, albums, labels etc., combine and assemble the picture, and detail and finish the collage in Photoshop.
What techniques do you prefer? If yes, can you explain it?
Computer collages. It’s a strong and expressive way to show what I want to say and a medium I have been working with for many years.
Are there any innovative aspects to your work? Can you tell us which ones?
As mentioned above - the technique. I have yet to see artwork made out of car plates or music albums to the extent like mine.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? If yes, why?
When it comes down to it, I will get myself comfortable with anything when the desire to create hits me. Although because I have worked as a graphic designer for many years, I believe I have become incredibly familiar with computer art in that time.
Where do you produce your work? At home, in a shared or private studio? And within this space how is your production organized?
My main studio is my office which I have decorated extensively using a papier-mâché technique to create an ocean-themed environment. But in reality, I truly just need my laptop in my hands while traveling or staying home (and a big desktop display when possible).
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for shows or exhibitions? If so, what do you gain from it?
For my graphic art specifically; no, as it can be shared digitally and it’s easier to gain exposure this way.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your figure as an artist in the future?
I want to create more non-standard and eye-catching works with different subjects.
What is the topic, style, or technique of your latest artistic production?
My graphic collage artwork has continued to be my main focus.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
I have not had any exhibitions for many years since I left Russia. I’ve done a lot of work for private clients, churches, books and magazines.
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why would you choose it?
I would choose at least several hundred different pieces. Let’s say - Botticelli (Venus), Claude Monet (The Truth of Nature), Van Gogh (Starry Night), Albrecht Durer (Dante's Inferno) and much more. All of them are inexplicably fantastically beautiful in very unique and different ways.
If you could invite a famous artist (dead or living) to dinner, who would it be? How would you propose him/her to spend the evening?
There are too many artists from different eras that I would like to invite to my place. It's hard to choose just one. I know one thing - we would naturally chat about everything except art. I'm interested in their worldview, and their paintings speak for themselves
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
