What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
I loved painting since I remember myself. As a child, still at school in Germany, I participated in several local painting contests for kids, where I won several small presents (watches, books, pens..). I continued to paint without having in mind to become a professional artist. I knew from the reactions of the people which saw my paintings that my art had that something that makes people react in this very positive way. So I started to upload them. From then on everything happened very fast. I knew that this was what I love to do, to make people happy, to make them explore all these feelings by only looking at something.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
As an artist, I am self taught. From the very beginning, with a clear head I achieved to invent a painting technique where depending on light circumstances the artworks completely change appearance. So you may look at one of my artworks where someone can see a Vincent van gogh inspired painting of "The Starry Night" and as soon the lights go off, a completely other painting like the popart interpretation of Vincent van gogh's "Bedroom in Arles" appears, which was invisible before. My artworks also have a third stage where with the use of uv light specific areas glow or more shapes appear. I have named this unique technique "Progressive Multipaint ".
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
I think that the 3 aspects that differentiate me from other artist are: first and most important the invention of the "Progressive Multipaint technique ", second the very distinguished painting style which is completely spontaneous colorful and recognizable and last but not least beside my paintings my very unique sculptures which became a great success.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes literally from everything. I know this might sounds a little cliché, but my inspiration comes from my daily life. I start creating an artwork as soon I have the inspiration. I become unpatien and want to display my images and feelings on a surface.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
With my art most of the times a want to evoke positive feelings to the viewer. It makes me really happy to see smiles on faces and birth of discussions.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
My artworks are created very spontaneous. I even didn't know the time I leave one tube of colour which will be the next in my hand. This happens in matter of seconds. This doesn't mean that it doesn't take some time to finish the artwork. Primarily the Progressive multipaint technique takes a lot of time together with the "detailing" of an artwork.
Do you use a particular work technique? if so, can you explain it?
As mentioned I have invented the Progressive multipaint technique where depending on light circumstances the artworks completely change appearance.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
The innovative aspect in my works is the worldwide unique progressive multipaint technique and my very unique painting style.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why ?
I love to paint with acrylic colors because I like a lot how they behave. I use almost exclusively pallet knives to create my artworks. For me the acrylic colors I use are the best fit for my technique and painting style with very vibrant colors.
Where do you produce your works? At home, in a shared workshop or in your own workshop? And in this space, how do you organize your creative work?
I have recently build my new workshop/atelier here in Greece from scratch. The whole building is designed to accomplish my needs to create artworks and can be seen as an artwork because of his architecture where the front and one side are all glass so that artworks can be displayed and the back and one side are natural grey stone from the area of Chalkidi, build with ancient traditional building methods. In the under level is another 125m painting area where I have the space to create my artworks with custom made 3 meter doors to provide enough space to exit them. My new atelier helps me a lot with creating my artworks because of the space and qualities it provides.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
I have meet a lot of people and traveled a lot because of my work as an artist. I love this. I think it doesn't have to do with the quantity of people someone meets. In my case I got to know very interesting people with unique characters, beautiful souls and a lot of love for art.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
I don't think a lot about the future. I am very happy with my work and my life as I am now and I hope that everything in the future will be fine for everyone!
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
In my art I don't have boundaries about themes. My style is and has always been popart / street with a little touch of impressionism. I love bright colors, I want my art (most of the time) to represent joy, the joy that I feel during the painting process!
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
My most important exhibition experience was my first exhibition. I felt that I was exposing a part of my soul during this process of showing other people what I had done when I saw something and I got the inspiration, went to my atelier, played an Lp or Cd loud (I listen always to music when i create, i can not create without music) and created it. I feeled fear that people will not like my art or find it disturbing with all this colors. I was happy to see that exactly the opposite happened. I presented my Progressive Multipaint technique, where I turned off the lights and other paintings appeared on the same surfaces, everybody applauded! It was an extremely happy moment for me.
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why ?
If I could choose to have created a famous artwork this would be "The School of Athens" 1509-1511 by Raphael. As a Greek this painting represents all the greatest scientists from the classical antiquity, gathered together and sharing their knowledge. It has something mythical to me.
If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
If I had the opportunity to invite a famous artist I would invite Leonardo da Vinci. He had contributed so much to our society with his inventions and artworks. Of course there are other great artists like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and many more which I would love to have had the opportunity to meet but I chose Leonardo da Vinci because we know that little about this great Master.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
