What inspired you to create artwork and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
My father, a computer graphic designer by trade for whom I had great admiration, pushed me to create works of art.
I spent the first 10 years of my life in his studio.
He painted surrealist works in oil characterizing his life journey and idolized Salvador Dali.
I spent wonderful times with him going to cinemas to watch great American cinema, but also simply watching the films, series and cartoons that were on TV during the 80s.
I remain very attached to this era and think that today we would certainly share this great passion that is the 3rd and 7th art.
Then there was his sudden death. It was the most tragic moment of my life, after which I gave up on art for a very long period without ever letting go of my overflowing imagination.
I have a scientific background and have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 20 years now.
I only caught up with my artistic side recently during the COVID crisis. I spent a lot of time at home and started painting.
Creating makes me feel good, it's a kind of outlet where I can express my emotions.
It was from that moment that I wanted to take part in this universe that I have always loved.
I took my father's artist name to pay homage to him.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with to date?
I am a self-taught artist and have experimented with different techniques such as acrylic painting, collage, digital painting, photomontage, software retouching, photography.
I am constantly looking for new things and what could bring my works to a higher technical level thanks to technology.
The world of art is in constant change, it evolves and progresses towards new understandings in my opinion and anyone with imagination and certain abilities to use digital tools can make their contribution to the building.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
I use personal images then create new ones using photomontage, a little humor, then I mix digital art with physical art, trying to create unique relief and texture effects.
Where does your inspiration come from?
When I was very young, I was very quickly attracted to the visual arts and the 7th art.
Today I mainly draw my ideas from current events, my passion for American cinema, my love of pop culture, visits to museums and art galleries.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
I care about the feeling a viewer will have when viewing my work.
As I attach great importance to childhood memories, I hope to touch people, to create emotion by sharing a moment of common life through it.
I tell a story by bringing to life the characters and icons of pop culture from the 1960s to today and pay tribute to the great artists of yesterday and today while emitting a subtle criticism of our society.
Above all, I try to send positive messages to bring a little happiness and laughter.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technique, inspiration from art classics or other)?
At a time digital and physical, my creations combine software retouching and manual intervention.
It is a long, thoughtful, preparatory process, far from spontaneity.
I am aware that art arouses emotions that cannot always be generated with perfectionism, however I am very meticulous in my work and attach importance to every detail.
The dialogue between virtual and physical allows me to obtain a unique aesthetic and to play with the material for an ever more impactful and interactive result.
Do you use a particular working technique? if yes, can you explain it?
The work is first done digitally with retouching and digital-painting software.
I select, sort, manipulate images, paint digitally, juxtapose a filter with series of points on certain parts of the work, a technique somewhat similar to Ben-Day, I also add a specific texture (crackle, grain, pixelation... ..) on each image making up the digital work.
I attach a lot of importance to colors, always bright or even saturated, to give a dynamic or even eccentric side to the work.
Next comes the production of high definition printing on dibond with selective varnishes to give relief.
Then there is acrylic enhancement work with specific acrylic paints (iridescent, glittery, metallic) on certain parts of the work and all the series of points created digitally.
This phase will give even more depth to the work.
To finish, I apply transparent epoxy resin to give an appearance of depth as well as a nice finish.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
I sometimes experiment and step out of my comfort zone.
For example, I recently added stencil lettering and am constantly looking for new tools and methods for applying acrylic, this can be a simple syringe or tape for precise lines.
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why ?
I only use dibond for its exceptional image quality when printed, its robustness for reworking on it and its ultra modern look, but also because it allows me to work on XXL dimensions. For example, I worked on a 3 meter by 1.7 meter panel for a custom order.
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 organize my creative process in two distinct places.
The first place where I work on all the digital part and the acrylic enhancement is at home in my loft, in a large living room partly fitted out for this activity. I like to feel life around me during this stage, the presence of my family and my cats makes me feel good.
The second place where I make the stencils and apply the spray paint, as well as the epoxy resin finish, is in my workshop which is located in a converted room in my outdoor courtyard.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it mean to you?
I have only exhibited in France for the moment.
I do showrooms at my home by appointment and sell my art across all continents via online galleries and my professional website.
I always ask collectors if they want, to send me a photo of the work hanging in their home, this gives me each time a feeling of pride, of accomplishment.
Today, my greatest wish would be to be represented by a physical gallery in order to exhibit in major fairs and to be seen by as many people as possible.
Consequently, creating an artist book and canvassing physical galleries will be the next two steps that I have set for myself.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
I see myself continuing to experiment and progress in my work, having more visibility through collective and individual exhibitions.
As for a career as an artist, only time will tell, I'm in no hurry.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
My latest artistic production is entitled “BIMBOFICATION”. It represents Lynda Carter, actress and icon of the 80s in the skin of the character who made her known, Wonder-Woman, and having given in to the dictates of the appearance of social networks. Here, she becomes a superficial and narcissistic bimbo focusing exclusively on her looks and making a fool of herself by putting herself on display in the hope of getting as many “LIKEs” as possible on her Instagram profile.
My work subtly denounces the harms of the diktat imposed by influencers on social networks.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
For the moment I have not had the feeling that one exhibition was more important than another.
I have only had group exhibitions which allowed me to share my love for art with collectors.
I especially remember the wonderful meetings with the artists with whom I had a lot of exchanges about the world of art.
If you could create a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why ?
I really like the works of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
“Shot Sage Blue Marilyn” by Andy Warhol would definitely be the work I would choose. Having become an international icon and star, the Hollywood actress had become a sex symbol and her tragic destiny did not fail to interest Andy Warhol.
The portrait he painted of her would eventually enter American and international popular culture.
Even today, Marylin Monroe crosses the ages, she has become a myth and inspires many artists including myself throughout the world and it is not ready to end and I find that fascinating.
If you could invite any famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
If I could invite a famous artist to dinner, my choice would without hesitation be Andy Warhol because he is an eccentric character who likes to show off and a multi-disciplinary artist who would have a lot to teach me about the pop art movement. that I love so much.
I will suggest that he take his Polaroid camera and that we go and photograph current showbiz stars for future works in evenings like the legendary club "Studio 54".
And to end the evening in his workshop to remake the world with a few beautiful women for me and a few handsome men for him.
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
