Szilvia Banki: I have always loved drawing and painting

What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)

I have always loved drawing and painting. My father had a gallery where I could always see new paintings and sculptures and meet the artists. As a child, that was a defining moment for me.

What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
I graduated from art school in Budapest and was taught by renowned painters. I also studied painting techniques that I hope I have retained. My absolute favourite paint is oil paint, which in my opinion is the most malleable. Lately I have started to experiment and work with acrylic colours and acrylic textured paints.

What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?

Painting is a meditative state for me. As a a balanced person by nature, my paintings reflect a feeling of calm, balance and joy.

There were times when I missed that my painting didn't reflect social issues, but my paintings are more harmonious than that. Judging by the feedback, this is what people need.

Where does your inspiration come from?

I have always been fascinated by the landscape and nature is definitely an inspiration. I also follow the work of other painters, they inspire me too.

What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?

My paintings are partly impressionistic, modelled on nature and partly expressive when I bring a certain feeling or mood to the canvas. The colours also evoke a feeling in the viewer, and it is always interesting for me to see which of my paintings, which colour or shape captivates and enchants.

What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?

I use several techniques. I build up oil paintings from several layers, often with acrylic underpainting. I create my abstract paintings mainly with acrylic paint, using acrylic texture paste as a primer. I apply the colours to this layer.

Do you use a particular work technique? if so, can you explain it?

I use acrylic texture paste, which can be used to create very interesting textures. Of course, a lot depends on how the colours are distributed on the surface.

Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
Lately I've been mixing different abstract techniques that I pick up here and there and combining them in my abstract paintings. For the landscapes I use more the traditional techniques, so to speak, brushes and painting knives. And with abstract landscapes I often combine both techniques.

Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why?

Over the years, landscape painting has accompanied me, which has evolved into abstract landscape painting, and it seems that this theme will remain for some time to come. The combination of oil and canvas has been in my palette for many years.

 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 my own studio, which means that a friend and I rent a studio. That's where I've been painting recently. I also have a corner at home that I can retreat to at any time to work on a painting. I've organised it so that I paint the oil paintings in the studio and the abstract acrylic paintings at home. That way I don't have to carry the right colours from one place to another every time. That's how I've organised it at the moment, but that can still change.

 Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?

For this reason, I rarely travel, but when the opportunity arises, I like to take part in an event.

 How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?

Art will definitely be with me for the rest of my life, as long as I can hold a paintbrush in my hand. I would love to find more collectors who love my art and of course fund my career.

 What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
Lately I have been creating abstract landscapes in my studio, always with a theme that inspires me.

Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?

I moved to Vienna with my family 10 years ago and feel honoured to be able to exhibit solo and group exhibitions in the city's gallery.

If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why?

If I had the choice, I would have been Monet and painted the Rouen Cathedral series, for example. Monet's paintings are simply fantastic.

If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?

Having just mentioned Monet, I would have loved to talk to him on a walk through his gardens at Giverny.