FIGURATIVE ARTIST THEODOSIA MARCHANT
I was born in Athens, Greece, and moved to London to study law. I worked as an attorney for many years before relocating to LA with my partner for his new work placement. Before the move, art and art making were more of a private thing. Very few people knew of my hobby and intense interest in creating art. When I moved to LA, I worked for about a year for my UK employer, and when that arrangement ended, I had to refocus and decide what I wanted to do. I knew that law and practicing law wasn't the path I wanted to carry on, so I took some time off to think. It was a pretty stressful time for me. I have always worked, and not knowing what the future held for me was very unsettling. Also, the plans with my partner on the duration of our US stay were not so accurate, so our entire existence felt ever so up in the air. I started creating art mainly to calm my brain, and one thing after another led to where I am today—a full-time artist.
Tell us about your greatest inspirations or influences please Theodosia.
I am inspired by life - the human mind, intimacy, and emotions. My paintings study life. Life is constructed by feelings of all shades; light, dark, intricate, or simple. I use my subjects to deconstruct our human experiences and explore our innermost wants and desires and how these affect our physical and mental well-being. Each series I develop tells its own story, with some reflecting upon ideas and other documenting my life in a diary-like manner.
How are the current trends in technology and innovation affecting your work as a creative?
Current trends in technology affecting my work have more to do with social media. Social media has helped me get my work and name out more. Especially in the early days, without a representation in place of some kind, it helped get my art seen. Also, inspiration-wise, it is an invaluable source of information. I constantly research and read about other artists and trends. For that, I am grateful. The drawback is the distracting element of it and the type of competition we are inadvertently put into by having to be present constantly. I often have to remind myself that having a measure is vital, and I consciously take a step back when it affects my work and mental well-being by limiting my time on it. It can be done with a certain level of discipline in place.
Tell us about your creative process and what that looks like.
My creative process starts with the collection of various notes and the completion of sketches. I write down random thoughts and words and keep cutouts in my sketchbook and journal for reference. This exercise can be either a quick one or take some time, depending on the complexity of the idea I am trying to develop. There comes the point during this process where I can see the visual language and how I can translate it on the canvas—I can't exactly pinpoint when it happens, but it feels great when it does. The experimentation with the color palette and size starts from the point I capture the idea, and I feel comfortable with it and that I can develop it. The developing process can be quick when I am ready to start executing the statement on the canvas. I work a lot, and when I feel passionate about something new being born, I cannot stop creating. It becomes almost obsessive.
What do you think of the art world?
When I was starting, someone told me, and this stuck with me, I need to pay my dues. It annoyed me at the time because I didn't agree with it, but now I fully comprehend what he meant and where he came from with this. Yes, you can jumpstart the process and be an instant success if that's what you want, but that does not necessarily bring longevity or artistic progression. I feel the art world appreciates and embraces a more fully rounded artist who has been around the block and paid their dues. The art world is also an industry that can change and evolve; not sure it is in a continuous state of change, but recent world events proved that it could undoubtedly adapt.
Anything coming up that we should know about?
I am working on various projects at the moment, some of them are more geared towards promoting my work, the art business side, and others are more of a personal self-development journey type. For example, I am working in my head on an idea for a solo show with one of my favorite close-to-heart art galleries, ShockBoxx. I have been with this gallery since its infancy, and I admire the determination of its owners to keep it experimental and allow the artist to put out whatever they want. That level of freedom is rare. This will be coming live in early 2023.
What does wellbeing mean to you and anything in particular that you practice?
Well-being means being at peace with myself and the choices I make in my life. Being healthy and being surrounded by genuine love adds to that well-being. At moments of stress, I seek that state of well-being through meditation and exercise, walking, hiking, and anything that would aid the release of endorphins and bring my mind to a state of harmony.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
When I am not painting, I spend my time with my four-year-old son, running around, biking, making spaceships, drawing dinosaurs, and being as carefree and silly as possible. I came about being a mother later in my life, and glad I did because I was more ready to a certain extent, to embrace this with all its challenges and changes. From an art career development point of view, his presence in my life has given me a more definite purpose and determination.