What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
What is painting for me? Painting for me is a natural occurrence. Painting for me is a preconceived ability. I started drawing from the age of 2-3, so drawing for me is a natural thing, and creating art is a seventh sense. I went to an official art school at 12, was quite a bright student there, dreaming to proceed with art studies for the whole of my life, but by the time to enter the art academy – the country I lived was ruined, not only the regime, but the system, economics, establishments, modus vivendi. So, I did international economics and marketing diploma and then had my post graduate masters in psychology. And completely forgot that I was an artist once.
One fine day my father was turning 75, and for his birthday present he asked me to create a painting, but not just splash abstract, but realistic marine paisage. I haven’t had brushes in my hands for 25 years! I bought art materials and then… magic started to happen! Every day I tried to paint, and I did well, as if my fingers had the memory… So now my dream could come true and I had a chance to enter art academic studies. I received the master academic art education quite late, at the age of 47, I was right away accepted in the Union of Artists and right after (literally in a week ) I moved to Europe ( via UK to to the south of Spain).
As a result of personal experience of moving from Easten to Western Europe, from Northern pearly colour pallets to southern bold screaming exuberant colours, my identity as well as my artistic language was exposed to a huge transformation. Contemporary culture, contemporary art language and rich art heritage of Andalucia is now absorbed in my culture code, and I continue studying it.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
My artistic background is academic realism with the note of impressionism. Perceptions are different from country to country. We were taught to use greyish-blue-silver light palette, as the light of the skies was moderate, pearly. We were taught to avoid screaming out with colors. Here in Spain the sky is vibrant blue, the greenery is bald, the flowers have energetic pink, red, orange strokes. The brightness is quotidian and, hence, justified. So now I use only bright colors, so my paintings make you feel alive and energized. Before I was mostly figurative, now I add a lot of decorative and wish to go to abstract.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
As an artist, I explore the connection between figurative and decorative art.
A figure is usually called a closed, protruding, attention-grabbing part of the phenomenological field, and everything that surrounds the figure is a background. But the ratio of the subject and the background is a dynamic ratio. What is currently related to the background may become the subject after a while, and what was the subject may become the background. Ornamental decorative elements become part of the composition, part of the plot, of the subject.
What interests me is the dialogue between realistically depicted figures and forms and dynamic, abstract or decorative backgrounds.
Thick energetical passionate strokes of bright exuberant colors.
Trembling and vivant lines of my silhouettes.
Where does your inspiration come from?
The “Magic of Andalucía”, colourful flowers, tropical gardens, fabrics of flamenco dancers, spices of Morocco…I live in Marbella, Malaga, Andalucia..the very South of Spain. Some days you can vividly see African cost across the sea. Characterized by the clash of cultures in a region inhabited since prehistoric times by Phoenician, Punic and Roman settlements, with later Visigothic, Byzantine and Muslim presence, the city of Marbella is in a key region in the history of the Mediterranean. Sun 300 days of the year, sea, ocean and mountains, and blue blue blue sky…The real definition of Paradise.
I have found myself relating with the term “Paradise”, from an idealist’s representation of “Paradise” to an everyday perception of smaller “paradises” of my heroes and their dreams.
350m from my home there is a place called Heaven Beach , just nearby there is an area called Paraíso.
My artistic concept could be centered around the idea of creating a visual representation of a personal paradise. My paintings could be a reflection of the beauty, joy, and positivity that I believe is possible in life with the help of our heavenly curators, faith and a positive mindset.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
My life concept as well as an artistic one is focused on the idea of manifesting dreams and desires.
I inspire people to believe in the power of positive thinking, following a dream and the possibility of creating their own personal paradise. My paintings could serve as a reminder that anything is possible if a person wants to grow and is willing to put in the effort.
My artistic concept is a celebration of life, positivity, and the belief in miracles. My paintings bring energy and happiness to people's homes and serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for those who view them.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
I do a lot of sketches, from tiny outline of the idea - to a bigger one with silhouettes, and then I start to compose. Composing takes most of the time. Though we were taught to paint a la prima – right away on the canvas, I prefer to do drawing fist. Then it is time for layers, layers of oil, 4,5,6 layers, the primary layers are thin, and then I do doughy pastose ones, putting a lot of oil substance on the canvas.
Do you use a particular work technique? if so, can you explain it?
I paint with thick pastose strokes to make each painting more profound, more “tangible”. Texture is important to me, I can put as many as 7 layers with the purpose of creating depth, this depth expresses a unique personality and the aura of a living thing. This also means that every time you look at my painting – you will see different facets: - glimpses of light and color…….in my point of view, what it is all about.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
After short period in Spain I developed my own style, grounded in fundamental principles of academic realism and adding decorative, collage-like elements to the paintings. I call this style Marvelous Realism. I work with figures but use abstract techniques and decorative elements. Each painting is a combination of life and artifacts. My marvellous realism It is not a fantasy, it is not a fiction, it is combination of a very original figurative and magical decorative context all together. I merge figurative and decorative art, translating figurative images into the abstract realm.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why?
Oil is my delicious medium.
I’m very happy with oil pains, I tried acrylic several times – no, it is not mine. I’m also comfortable with pencil and ink drawing. As for canvases I prefer portrait orientation 130x100, 116x90. I am thinking of doing larger works, but it is so uneasy to deliver them in a car. So format is about practicality. Also the prices for shipping the artworks have risen so much, that you have to think now… to do 90x90 and to have a reasonable shipping quotation, or to produce the bigger canvas and to meet clients unhappiness with a delivery price.
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 work in a huge covered terrace in my apartment. Thanks to the wonderful weather in Costa-del-Sol I can work all year around outside, and with the natural light. Brr, I am so happy that I don’t have to freeze in dark art classes anymore, nor use electric light. I’m so grateful for what had happened to me with my immigration, that each day I enter my “studio” with a smile in my face, and work is becoming a miraculous endeavour.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
Yes, I have to travel to participate in art fairs. When you live in the village away from the rocking art-life cities, you must travel. Though I don’t fancy it, I’m a happy hermit, so I prefer my favorite online art galleries do all the sales for me.:).
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
Integrity - Recognition- Demand. I intend to find a steady flow of incoming orders.As for the future I am constantly working on my strategic art career and the goal is to reach the sales in art auctions.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
This is the serious of paintings “Vases with resourses” within my Marvelous Realism style. A “vase with resources” is a hypnosis technique that allows a person to create a so-called source of vital resources and access it as needed. In this case, the visual symbol of the source is a vase. In fact, it is a powerful anchor for positive moments in a person's life, the memories of which he can use as psycho-emotional nourishment if necessary.
I believe that art should elevate the spirit. I want to share my summer paradise to my the audience, to shift their reality into vibrant colorful world that I’m living .
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
I think this exhibition is yet to come! To tell the truth I was astonished with my exhibition in Estepona in the townhall 2 years ago. People came into the Casa de las Tejerinas and … stayed, they were not running, not doing photos or selfies, they meticulously stepped from one painting to another, spending time in front of each artwork. Like we do in museums. I was so honored, so touched!
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why?
Gustav Klimt. The Maiden, 1913. The painting touches on various topics of human life, such as love, sexuality and regeneration that are depicted in cyclical shape. The virgin's gown with its many spirals of blue and purple metaphorically indicates fertility, continual change and the evolution of the universe. It has realistically depicted silhouettes and modernist decorative ornaments; it is full of symbolism and live colours.
If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be?
How would you suggest he spend the evening? Pablo Ruiz Picasso, of course! In Malaga, his hometown, in a traditional wine restaurant. I would ask him how he managed to be so commercially successful while changing stiles and themes all through his life, and still be recognizable Picasso.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
