Gianni Notarianni
Which 3 words best describe how you would like your art to be perceived?
CONTEMPLATIVE/ LIFE-AFFIRMING/ BEAUTIFUL
What creative challenge have you faced and overcome that has transformed your art practice?
A few years ago I had to move out of my studio and work from home. I was forced to stop using oil paint, because of its fumes and potential for mess! I moved to watercolour and gouache on paper, resulting in a new approach to painting.
What tools do you use as part of the preliminary process?
I paint directly from my own photographs or - less commonly - from images I find on the internet. I rarely make preliminary sketches. I like to work things out as I go along. I suspect that being an extrovert I struggle to make images which I don’t think will be seen by others! Shameful really! Therefore behind the scenes preparation is not my thing!
How do you usually start a session? Any habits or rituals?
Before painting - on an organised day - I like to sit in meditation (prayer) for a while, then have a work out, followed by a walk through a local park to get coffee and finally return for breakfast. After all of this I feel ready to paint!
How do you deal with doubts and fears?
I deal with doubts and fears by getting on with my painting. I try to forget about things that have gone wrong in the past and focus on the painting in front of me. I tell myself: I will resolve problems in the next painting.
With which intentions do you infuse your art making?
My paintings don’t have a particular message as such. Art is ineffable, so it has to go beyond any particular message. I often liken it to instrumental music. You wouldn’t ask what a piece of music means, you enjoy it.
As Picasso said: “you don’t have to understand the song of a bird to know that it’s beautiful”. However, my work comes out of a contemplative dimension within me that sees the world as beautiful and mysterious.
I enjoy combining textures and rhythms found in the details of nature with the big picture - a sense of the sublime, even. My focus is like that of a camera lens, shifting between the micro and the macro level of any image.
Where do you draw your color inspiration from?
My sense of colour is very intuitive; sometimes it comes from nature and sometimes it comes from my head.
What brilliant piece of advice were you given on your creative journey and would be happy to share?
My advice is: don’t think about making “art”. You will end up making something that fits with your idea of art - often a poor imitation of your favourite artists’ work. Plus the word “Art” comes with too much baggage. Respond rather to what you see or feel from the world around you. Allow your inner-world to respond to the outer-world and see what comes out of that fusion.
What is something absurd or unusual that you love doing?
I guess an absurd habit I have is to practice my impressions - voices - of people, while I paint!
What do you like & dislike about your work?
I like my ability to draw, which underpins all my work. However I don’t like that sometimes my work can lack a certain personal symbolism or poetic meaning. I eventually get bored if I only paint what I see.
What do you tell yourself to keep out of procratination?
To avoid procrastination I tell myself that life is too short!
What is your relatiosnhip to nature?
I think that nature reflects the beauty of the Divine. As a person of faith I believe that the beauty of God’s spirit within us recognises beauty in the natural world. I grew up with the privilege of a large garden; when I stood among its trees I felt at home.
