What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (Events, feelings, experiences...)
Basically, I started drawing from childhood. In the first school classes, the students always gathered around me to watch me draw. As I grew older, the desire to draw did not disappear. Now I draw every day, it's my job and hobby in one. I can't imagine a better job in the world
What is your artistic background, what techniques and themes have you experimented with so far?
In classical art school, we work realistically, where objects and shapes are recognizable and understandable to everyone. I have always been a fan of realism and I hope to remain so. By realism, I also mean impressionism and classicism. At this point in my life, I am interested in a person as the subject of my painting, especially the female image. In the past this was landscapes, sea or scenery. What will interest me in 5 years, I don't know, but most likely it will be realism as it is now.
What 3 aspects distinguish you from other artists and make your work unique?
Well, it's hard for me to say what makes me different from other artists. I am probably very traditional and even conservative in my painting. I don't think my work is very original, but I judge subjectively. I like the classics, both in painting and in music. But I also love new trends, abstraction, avant-garde and so on.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Inspiration comes spontaneously, it can be a movie, a book, smell, weather, mood and everything that surrounds me. An idea can come and go without landing on the canvas. Sometimes I start drawing, but I begin to understand that the interest in that particular subject has already disappeared. It happens, and often it does.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
Oddly enough, but the first thing I want to evoke in the viewer are the most ordinary everyday feelings such as joy, sadness, euphoria. I don't set too difficult tasks for the viewer yet, but in the future everything can be like that
What is the process of creating your works like? Spontaneous or with a long preparation process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
Before I start painting a new picture, I prepare the canvas in the right size, because it is very important for a good composition. I always make a reference before I start painting, I use Photoshop but I always draw by hand on canvas, I don't use squares or a projector because I like the process of building a composition. That is, the preparation process can take a whole day before I start painting in color.
Do you use a particular working technique? if so, can you explain?
Usually it is a drawing with a brush directly on the canvas. I also use grisaille. I can wait until the drawing dries, or I can start working with paint immediately.
Are there any innovative aspects to your work? Can you tell us which ones?
I don't think so. And although I have ideas to combine different styles like realism and abstraction, I am not satisfied with the result so far. In any case, I'm working on it, because in my opinion, to create something innovative in art is the dream of every artist.
Do you have a format or medium that you feel most comfortable with? if so, why?
I prefer medium sized canvases, but in the future when I have a large studio, the canvases will be large as well. I like big paintings. And of the mediums, I prefer oil paints. For me, this is the most durable material with which to realize a wide variety of ideas in paintings.
Where do you produce your works? At home, in a shared workshop, or in your own workshop? And how do you organize your creative work in this space?
At the moment at home, in a separate room that I have converted into a studio. There are inconveniences, but I think with time I will find a solution to these problems.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
I like to travel on my own and not for work. Currently, I sell my work exclusively online. But every year I exhibit 1-2 works at an exhibition in Tai Pei, Taiwan. Almost every week I receive emails with invitations to exhibitions, which are expensive paid exhibitions in the US, Europe, Australia. The problem is that I sell successful paintings so well and quite quickly. And for exhibitions these works should be intentionally not exhibited in online galleries, which is not very advantageous for me, because I earn and live mainly from the sale of paintings.
How do you envision your work and career as an artist developing in the future?
For me it is very important that I am satisfied with the image created. That's the whole problem, because I am very critical of my work, thinking each time that it will be better the next time, and so on, without end. I see in the future the creation of complex compositions on complex themes, where the paintings will touch on various philosophical questions of our existence.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
At this stage of my creative career, the female image is the main theme of my paintings. I prefer realism, but I tend more and more to more impressionistic paintings, where there is more play of colors, but less understandable details, especially in the background of the picture.
Can you tell us about your most important trade show experience?
I usually send pictures by mail, but I am not present at the exhibitions myself. Therefore, unfortunately, I can't say much here.
If you could have created a famous work of art history, which one would you choose? And why?
A very difficult question, since I have hundreds of artists and their paintings that I really like. Probably it will be Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio with his work The Capture of Christ. This masterpiece always triggers a storm of emotions in me and a lot of questions about how the master created this painting. I love his work very much.
If you could invite a famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
As I answered before, it will be Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. First I would ask the master about his technique, how he composed the composition, about the working steps. Of course, for my painting, I would ask for advice on what to look for first, what mistakes are best to correct.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
