What made you turn to art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
I was born an artist. I've been drawing all my life, always and everywhere. My first teacher was my grandfather, who taught descriptive geometry at university. After I received a higher education in drawing and painting I became a professional artist.
What has been your artistic path, the techniques and subjects you've experimented with so far?
There was a period when I worked as a headdress designer and I really enjoyed it. Then there was a four-year phase in photography and that too was fascinating. At the same time I have always drawn, both creatively and on commission. But it was like a hobby. Gradually, my husband and I began to come to the conclusion that my skills and abilities should be put to maximum use in art. That's how our gradual immersion into contemporary Art and the search for new ways and our own style began. We experimented a lot with materials, coatings, techniques. We liked copper the most. Especially the way the paint lays on its smooth surface and the orange hue of copper glows from within.
What are the 3 aspects that distinguish you from other artists that make your work unique?
Own style of painting : a combination of realism and painterly quality
Material. I paint on a unique copper canvas. Our team has been working on them for 6 years
Motivational orientation and maximum relevance to the subjects of paintings.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I am inspired by current reality, current news, unlimited opportunities that we now have, as well as the biographies of successful individuals. The world is changing at a breakneck speed. Only yesterday we were using pagers, and today we have iPhones. The desire to be on the wave inspires me to create contemporary art.
What is the intention of your art? What visions, feelings or sensations do you want to evoke in the viewer?
In recent years, pop art has become very primitive and monotonous. Everyone seems to have forgotten how interesting and beautiful this trend used to be. Artists like Tom Wesselman and Morton Wayne Thibault created complex and expensive Pop Art. I want to contribute to that direction: to reflect current reality, but in a complex, classical oil painting way. This is expensive Pop Art. It's important to me to make it beautiful for the viewer! I also maintain the theme of purpose and success. Often the characters in my paintings are focused on achieving what they want, endowed with a resilient character and have an unbreakable will to win. They are resolute and successful characters who are fortunate.
What is the process of creating your work? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technique, inspiration from the classics of art or other)?
I take the process of creating sketches for paintings very seriously. I like the poster (poster) style of composition. Each painting has its own storyline. I don't like complex allegories and believe that the viewer should read the message in the first seconds of studying the painting. When one is speeding down the highway, one has only three seconds to catch the message of the billboard. I follow the same rule when I compose my paintings.
What techniques do you prefer? If so, can you explain it?
I create my paintings in the classical style of the old masters. I paint exclusively with oil paints and I believe they are the only ones that can give depth and complexity.
Is there an innovative aspect to your work? Can you tell us which ones?
My team and I have developed a unique metallic canvas that is completely resistant to the environment. We call it "gold bullion" and we keep the details of its development a secret. There are no analogues in the world and unlikely will be, because the process of creating it is very complex and multistep.
And it really is an innovation in art!
Where do you create your work? At home, in a shared or private studio? And how is your production organized in this space?
We have a spacious and bright studio. The main part of course is taken up by the painting space. But our studio is not only for creating paintings, but also for filming the video / photo creation process. So we have photo equipment, backdrops and flashes.
There is a makeup room where I get ready for photo shoots, as well as a closet with the necessary accessories.
I paint in oil, which is a serious technique that takes time to dry. That's why the studio has a separate chamber for drying paintings.
A place to rest and a small kitchen.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, to exhibit? If so, what do you get out of it?
Art does open up wonderful opportunities to travel and make new acquaintances and projects. We have received so many offers from galleries all over the world (France, Norway, Singapore, Taiwan, Israel, Canada, England, Switzerland and Italy among others). We are gradually beginning to work with them and of course we plan to visit these countries and get to know the galleries.
Collectors and gallery owners also visit our studio and we are always happy to have visitors!
How do you envision the evolution of your work and your figure as an artist in the future?
I want to create a new spin on contemporary pop art. Bringing the complexity of classical painting back into fashion, but also capturing the current moment. I am confident that my paintings will go down in history and leave a mark for posterity.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest work of art?
My last painting on a current theme is "OIL".
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
I can tell you the most interesting experience was the last exhibition, which was held in Taiwan from June 14-17, 2022 ART TAIPEI.
What was surprising to us was that the artworks are not on the classic stands, but are spread out in rooms on the beds in the TAICHUNG Forest Hotel.
But this exhibition was also a great success as almost all my paintings were sold.
If you could invite a famous artist (deceased or living) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he/she spend the evening?
Of course it would be my favorite crazy Salvador Dali! I'm sure my suggestion of plans for the evening would be too primitive and he would definitely suggest something more exciting!
"At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since."
-Salvador Dali
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
