Marina Syntelis - We Live In Strange, Hard Times, and Keeping Our Dreams Alive Is Something We Ought To Do For Ourselves (Artist From Greece)

I enjoy every form of artistic expression for different reasons. I find things to admire and learn from many different visual artists, contemporary or older ones, professionals, and devoted amateurs. However, being Greek, I would like to highlight the brilliant works of Takis and the dreamy paintings of Panayiotis Tetsis, which conveyed all the beauty of the greek scenery and the brightness of the greek light

Tell us more about your background and journey.

I was born in Athens, Greece, and spent all my life near the sea. Ever since I was a little girl, I remember myself spending hours drawing. I used to draw everywhere, including school book margins!

At some point, this was noticed by my parents who encouraged me to take private painting lessons. This was probably the first time I actually used oil paints.

When did you decide you wanted to be an artist?

I think I have always had a special connection with the arts. I had never thought of becoming a professional artist, though, until the age of 18. Until then, I had been taking architectural design lessons for two years, in order to study architecture (my father was a civil engineer, so it really seemed fit). However, my freehand sketches were obviously far more expressive than needed for architecture, so I thought I should explore further this more artistic side of me. That was when I started to practice for the University of Fine Arts.

In Greece, universities are free, provided you pass certain exams. The exams for Art Schools were and still are a bit difficult and since the candidates are judged solely by their artworks, there are no guarantees. I was not intimidated, though. I was determined to work hard, spend endless time sketching in charcoal. I was fortunate to be accepted after two years of hard work. And this was the moment I realized I was actually going to be a professional.

Is it a financially stable career?

Nowadays, very few career types can be considered stable, in my opinion. When I graduated, after 5.5 years, I felt very discouraged.

It was 2001 and the internet was still at its rather limited use, It was a time of no social media, no way to reach a broader audience, and, as Greece is a small country, I never thought I stood a chance.

Therefore, I started working as an English teacher. However, my artistic side could not be ignored, so I soon started giving art lessons to children. In the meantime, I kept painting for my own pleasure. When social media were implemented, I started

sharing my work. One thing led to another and I can finally say that I can make a decent living from my art, which is something I could never have imagined.

Who is your favorite painter/artist and why?

This is a very challenging question. I enjoy every form of artistic expression for different reasons. I find things to admire and learn from many different visual artists, contemporary or older ones, professionals, and devoted amateurs. However, being Greek, I would like to highlight the brilliant works of Takis and the dreamy paintings of Panayiotis Tetsis, which conveyed all the beauty of the greek scenery and the brightness of the greek light.

What is your inspiration for creating art?

I have been painting seascapes for the last few years. I have always had a connection with the sea, some form of communication I would say, without ever attempting to put it on canvas. The sea has become my code, my medium to speak what my words fail to, or what cannot even be put in words. The sea can have a million different faces and there is always a way to let it speak for me. So, I would say that my inspiration comes from things I cannot understand, feelings I cannot deal with and I use the sea to take all this out.

What piece of advice would you like to give to future aspiring artists?

I really have become wiser through the years. I would say to each new artist just to focus on their dreams. We live in strange, hard times, and keeping our dreams alive is something we ought to ourselves. So, if an artist dreams and works the universe will lead them somehow. Dear fellow artists, just are yourselves in a world of fraud, be kind, dream, work and be patient. This is all it takes.

Which is your favorite book and why?

As it probably shows from my last answer, one of my favorite

book is the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, for the great messages it conveys. I think it has affected the way I see the world in a way. Of course, I often find refuge and inspiration in Odysseus Elytis's poetry.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. He was a painter with words, depicting my country, the sea, the sun in the most sensuous way.

Interviewed by - Yashika Khanna