The Purposeful Mayonnaise

Everyone from my mother's side of the family does something with the arts and is rather artsy. I believe due to my genetic leanings, I was born an artist or born to be an artist. Art runs in my blood so to speak. Hence, I was born with this natural gift and talent that was refined, enhanced and polished into an art career through my family's support. Furthermore, my school's principals noticed my talent at an early age and directed and encouraged me in the art field. In a sense, it was a no-brainer that I became an artist. Almost everyone who saw my art when I was a child said, "She has to become an artist, going for another profession is almost a crime." I would hear that almost constantly growing up when people saw my art. Thus, I didn't even think about another career, although if I go back in time, I would have loved to have been a surgeon or a psychologist. One can say, it was almost the environment along with my creative nature that nurtured me in such a path. When I was young, I remember saying to myself: I am good at art and will pursue it. And, that's what happened.

What is your earliest memory of creating art?

I started doing art at a very young age and as far as I can remember. One can say, the minute I was able to hold a pencil then that's when it all started. Most likely when I was a toddler. I was a very shy child and art for me was a refuge from the world. At a very young age, I remember secluding myself to my desk in my own corner of the house that I dedicated to myself to create my artwork and do my artsy creative projects and crafts. In a way, thinking back, It was almost creating my own little world away from the peering and critical world and entering my own space and zone. Art did that for me as a child and still does that for me as an adult. Art is a form of sanctuary that I retreat to in order to find solace and peace. I remember being very content in that space and world that I created for myself by sitting at my desk quietly and drawing away the day. This art was and still is a form of self-soothing mechanism that brings a smile to my face and a hidden joy within my heart.

You are a poet and a visual artist. Do poetry and visual art go hand in hand, are they fueling each other?

Yes, art and poetry go hand in hand for me at least. In some cases, I create the artwork and then I write a small poem or a haiku to it. In many cases, I post the works together as an entity. For example, in the summer of 2022, I participated in an NYC art exhibition titled "Flora and Fawna" at Lichtundfire Gallery where I am represented at. The works were inspired by English literary novels that I read as a child such as "The Secret Garden."  After the paintings were created for the exhibit, I wrote short poems to accompany each work to encompass its essence and give hints to the romantic feelings I wanted to emit from the work. Here is an example of that through this work titled "A Sea of Flora" and here is the painting's poem that encompasses the essence of the artwork:
"In a secret garden
I buried a seed
that bloomed and blossomed
into a field"

Do you actively search for inspiration or wait for inspiration to find you?

I don't actively search for inspiration, it simply occurs without effort. I believe this is due to the fact that I was born with a natural gift/talent, and I am a highly creative individual. Thus, inspiration comes to me effortlessly sometimes in the least expected matters. I could be simply driving and I would look up and see a source of light coming through the trees while waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and just that simple light that caught my eye through the branches can evoke one idea leading to another and another, and through this, a fountain of ideas start streaming through my head. I am very much a right-brain-oriented person. 

What's the most peculiar thing/situation that sparked your inspiration?

As of recently, the peculiar thing that has sparked my inspiration is more of a concept rather than an actual concrete visual thing. My recent works have been inspired by the concept of infinity rather than a specific place. The idea was to bring perspective to a difficult theory that has baffled many from ancient Greek philosophers like Archimedes and Aristotle to physicists, mathematicians and even artists. Thus, bringing a matter that very few can pinpoint and projecting it visually through my paintings via an abstract field helps in presenting these deep subject matters.

What artist(s) do you admire?

I love art history and the riches of art genres and artists it gives us. Some of the artists that pop in my head are Monet, Louise Bourgeois, Anselm Kiefer and others.  I am also a huge fan of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, and I find their expressive work to be so meaningful. Another artist whose work I love is Richard Diebenkorn, especially his Ocean Park series which depicts the topography and streets of the Bay Area. Anselm Kiefer is my favorite contemporary artist from our times.

How do you relax and recharge?

I relax and recharge through meditation. Due to Covid times, I feel that I grew a lot in terms of my mindset. I felt that the Covid times had tested me in so many aspects, that I had to look for ways to retreat within myself to find peace and solace within my mind, body and soul. I usually meditate in a quiet corner first thing in the morning and around the time I drink my cup of coffee. I feel starting my day with half an hour of meditation helps me a lot. Meditation and its exploration have aided me in valuing my strengths and my being as a whole.

Tell us about the future: plans, dreams, anything you'd like to share with the world.

I have a number of future projects in the Washington DC area, I've been invited by embassies to display my artwork in cultural events during "Passport DC" week which is a time in early May when the embassies in Washington DC open their doors to the public through cultural happenings and events.
In the Summer, I return back to NYC for a number of art exhibits and events. In June, I will be exhibiting again with Lichtundfire Gallery, in an exhibit titled "Lemon Sky '' with a concept by curator Priska Juschka. Also in June, I will have a number of my NYC cityscape paintings up in a digital exhibition in Times Square - Broadway Plaza. Keeping my fingers crossed that the upcoming events and happenings will go well and be impactful.

Moreover, be watchful for the artwork that I have on the auction marketplaces of 1stDibs and on Artsy where one can acquire my original artwork, and stay posted on the new paintings I create.