DPW Spotlight Interview: Cristiana Marinescu

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings.

To enter to win Cristiana's painting, "At the Door 2" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Cristiana's DPW Gallery page:

At seven, I had my art shown publicly for the first time. It was a gouache painting on board of a winter day representing a bridge and trees full of snow in Bucharest Central Park. I am a native of Bucharest Romania, and had started painting very early, maybe age four. I self-thought until I reached school age. I started with pencil drawing and gouache, followed by watercolor (which never quite got my interest) and oils. (click to read more)

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I started drawing at an early age, maybe four. My family encouraged me to draw as a pastime and I enjoyed it. Later in elementary school, I was fortunate to have great art teachers. I remember in first grade, during my first art class, the teacher brought a plant and placed it on the desk. Then she passed a basket around the room and asked all the kids to put their erasers in the basket. We all panicked.

Then she said, "Everything you paint or draw is perfect, no need to erase any lines! If you do not like something just incorporate it in the rest of the painting." This was a major life lesson for me.

At age seven, one of my tempera paintings was included in an art show at the local community center, in Bucharest, my native town in Romania. It encouraged me to continue painting.

At the Door 2
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Cristiana's interview.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

My first media was pencil and color pencils followed by watercolor, gouache, tempers and oils.
For years as a kid, I would spend my allowance on art materials. While living in NY, I attended and graduated from The School of Visual Arts. While still in school, I got a job as an art director at one small ad agencies. During these years, I also attended The Art Students League every Saturday for six hours and worked in soft pastels.

Later, while living in AZ, I started using acrylics, and found it extremely frustrating. In time, it grew on me and now I use it almost exclusively.

For many years, I consider the only true art is painting from life or from imagination. Now, I paint mostly from my photography and imagination.

Piñatas in Mexico
(click to view)

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

I had many start and stop points. For many years, I tended to work in spurts, at times motivated by an invitation to participate in a show, I would work intensely to produce the paintings.

Who or what inspires you most?

Seven years ago, I moved to Mexico. The colors and light around me have impacted my work. While living in US, I felt my art was not “dark” enough, not trebled and distorted enough to fit in.

Now I paint mainly as a form of expression. I paint the world around me and how I experience it. When people appreciate it, and many say, "Oh! The color!" I feel I put across my personal experience.

I believe that what we create as artists resonates in the life force and creates more of the same. Why contribute to the pain body of the universe?

Introspection
(click to view)

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

I have many projects in mind, I want to re-experience watercolor and large size canvases. Paint people again and paint more plein air.

What does procrastination look like for you?

Procrastination is not my vice. I think it is a form of fear of not fulfilling the expectations of others. And the only way to overcome it is to take the first step, and not judge yourself.

Main Plaza
(click to view)

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art? How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

Lately, I have been teaching a lot. Many of my demonstrations become paintings in their own right. But to be able to paint the new topics, I need to block time on my calendar. First, I need to “refill the well”. To me it means walk around, take photos, just hang out. Then the flow of creative energy rejuvenates and I am ready to paint.

Green Dress
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

Starting January 1st, 2016, my partner and I have a new gallery and studio space in the center of San Miguel de Allende, Gto. Mexico. New space, new energy, new opportunities.

I am also learning to let art flow, just be in the process without controlling the outcome, let the painting paint itself. I am only a vehicle.

What makes you happiest about your art?

What makes me happiest about my art, is to share it with others, and the new gallery gives me the outlet.

Thanks, Cristiana!

© 2016 Sophie Marine