Collection: Margaret Tsirantonakis
A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE ARTIST
1. What do you do when you’re not making art? (Day job etc...).
I spend time on non-art making tasks related to my art career; and art organizations I’m involved with.
2. Why do you make art?
I make art because I want to express my view, experience, emotions of the world around me in a visual form. It is a form of communication. I love seeing art and I love the challenge of using my visual vocabulary to make a painting that has not been done before.
3. What inspires you?
I’m inspired by the art that I have seen from the past to the present. I’m inspired by nature; light, colors, shapes, patterns during different times of the day and each season. I’m inspired by color relationships. I’m inspired by my birthplace, Chania, Crete; though I left when I was one, I have returned for frequent visits.
4. What/who are your influences?
I can name many artists that have influenced me over the years, at different stages of my making paintings. The list here remains incomplete. The painters I continue to look at are: Matisse, Cezanne, Bonnard, Van Gogh, El Greco. Early influences were: Morandi, Velasquez, Titian. I’ve also been influenced by David Hockney, Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner; and contemporary artists: Jack Whitten, Cecily Brown, Judith Linhares. Other influences; teachings of Hans Hofmann, Ancient Greek Sculpture and vases, Minoan art.
5. If you could meet anyone dead or alive who would it be?
It would be Matisse.