What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
I like living as an artist. It gives me an opportunity to express myself through creativity, to create and add new forms and meanings to the reality.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
I like to be in the flow, to experiment and try something new. Currently, in my work I’m developing in two directions – abstraction and figurative painting. I work with oil on canvas.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
I use my own technique. I like how emotionally sensitive aspects are expressed through painting. Incompleteness, ambiguity and metaphor are the main features of my artistic style.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Most often, my images come from the subconscious, but sometimes I am inspired by vivid impressions or deep inner experiences or insights.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
In my work, I seek to convey pictures from my inner world more precisely and sincerely. I therefore establish contact with the viewers, because, according to the principle of empathy, they perceive the visual information and see their own experience and reflection in my artwork.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
Usually everything starts with a spontaneous, emotional outburst, which takes shape with colour and texture, and then I work on composition and meaning. Sometimes I work with a specific image. In general, this is a complex and very deep internal process, more related to intuition than to logic.
Do you use a particular work technique? if so, can you explain it?
There are some specific techniques and stylistic methods that I use. Most often it is colour filling and using a palette knife. The main criterion is lightness, colour saturation and expression in the perception of my artworks.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
In addition to technical experiments in my paintings, I like to complement the visual perception with unexpected titles that include a new vision of the work and the hidden meanings.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why ?
I work with different formats.
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 a very cosy workspace in my studio, with creative ambience and a long artistic past. It is filled with conversations about art, the smell of turpentine and paint hanging in the air. Usually, I need some time to get ready before work, about half an hour or an hour, then I get actively involved in the creative process.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
I enjoy showing my work in a new space and interacting with new audiences. This helps me to refresh my vision of my artwork, look at it from a different angle in the context of contemporary art.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
Despite the fact that in the creative process I am guided by an inner voice, I am interested in integration and interaction with other artists. This opens up a new level in my work. I am interested in contemporary art which speaks on a variety of topics, from very personal to symbolic, timeless values.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
Over the past year I have been working on a series of abstract artworks. This process was more subconscious than conscious, as they reflect my inner insights related to the external and internal events of this period of my life.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
Since 2005, I have been actively participating in international and national exhibitions. The most significant of them were Art-Minsk (Minsk), Art Capital (Paris) and ArtContact (Istanbul).
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why ?
I love being on the verge of creating a masterpiece, in the state of inspiration, forefeeling and anticipation. Each artwork is valuable to me in its own way and, at a certain stage of my artistic life, is a masterpiece 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?
Most likely, I would invite friends to my studio… and Pablo Picasso. We would have a wonderful evening with wine, deep conversations, guitar songs and dancing.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
