What inspired you to create art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...)
I think it all started when I was a teen during a school trip to the National Museum of Ethnology in Lisbon. During that visit I became fascinated with Asian and African Art and that experience made me want to start creating my own artistic pieces....mostly portraits often inspired by the great Masters artworks.
What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far?
Im a self taught Artist.....I studied History and Philosophy so I was always been immersed in Art and its concepts and evolution during the centuries. I`ve always been a bit experimentalist so I was always interested in drawing ,making collages,oil and acrylic painting and some conceptual art. The Digital Art became more important for me much later in my life, it was a necessity cause I wanted to explore and work on giving a new visual remake to some important historical portrait paintings.
What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique?
I just create what gives me real pleasure so I never do it thinking about sales.....I also dont create too much artworks because I prize my liberty to do everything I enjoy in life.....my artworks are acts of passion crafted with love.
Where does your inspiration come from?
Comes from all the Great Masters....but also from most Contemporary and Street Art I watch daily.
What is your artistic approach? What visions, sensations or feelings do you want to evoke in the viewer?
I love to renew or recycle what most viewers already know about Art History. I like to give them alternative paths to the future but also at the same time I love them to revisit the past.
What is the process of creating your works? Spontaneous or with a long preparatory process (technical, inspiration from art classics or other)?
Mostly spontaneous...sometimes during a visit to a Museum or because I saw some old damaged poster on a street so I get inspired and start working on a new piece.But it always takes time to achieve the final product due to the technical process I use.
Do you use a particular work technique? if so, can you explain it?
In most of my artworks I manipulate digital photography ...do some digital painting keeping it as low tech as possible cause I try to avoid at max that AI fake plastic look and always prefer to keep it more organic. So it takes more time to compose and finish my artworks.
Are there any innovative aspects in your work? Can you tell us which ones?
I dont think there are proper innovative aspects in my artworks...they are original but thats it.....
Do you have a format or medium that you are most comfortable with? if yes, why ?
I prefer to create Digital Artworks printed on art paper or canvas because are very flexible mediums.
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 Studio at home where I produce and hang most of my artworks....sometimes it gets a bit chaotic cause I like to mix some collages to give me new ideas. But I always keep lots of digital works in my computer or other digital devices as backups.
Does your work lead you to travel to meet new collectors, for fairs or exhibitions? If so, what does it bring you?
I travel mostly to see Museums and Art Galleries....gives me new ideas and lifts my spirit.
How do you imagine the evolution of your work and your career as an artist in the future?
I dont think too much in my career as an Artist....I live to enjoy the present day and to have pleasure in what I do....I dont like to make too many plans for the future.
What is the theme, style or technique of your latest artistic production?
Still producing my "Recycled" Series Female Portraits....digital manipulated photography.
Can you tell us about your most important exhibition experience?
Swissartexpo 2020 - Contemporary Art Fair - Zurich , Switzerland....making part of a collective project called "Together we are one"...invited by the Suiss Art Gallery Artbox.
If you could have created a famous work in the history of art, which one would you choose? And why ?
The Angel of the North by the Artist Anthony Gormley. Just because its really impressive and its a landmark in Contemporary Art.
If you could invite one famous artist (dead or alive) to dinner, who would it be? How would you suggest he spend the evening?
I would invite Leonardo da Vinci for sure....it would love to talk about everything he created.....and finally I would love to ask him to draw my portrait :)
Olimpia Gaia Martinelli
