Welcome to my September Artist Interview!
I'm so excited to introduce an artist from my native city, Torino (Turin)!
Valeria is a talented artist based in the Piedmontese city and besides creating colorful paintings and illustrations, she works and experiments with lots of other mediums. I love her gift for color (we both love bold colors) and her love for experimentation... the sky's the limit!
Valeria works under her own brand
Valeriatelier, and in her Etsy shop she displays a part of her work, including her original paintings and illustrations, bookmarks and polymer clay jewelry.
Meet Valeria! Here she shares her artistic journey and inspiration with us!
Welcome Valeria!
- How did you first come to art and creativity? How did your journey in art and creativity begin?
I have always loved drawing and painting. Since I was a very little child I have been spending my time drawing and colouring. This passion of mine was born with me!Ho sempre amato disegnare e dipingere. Fin da piccolissima passavo il mio tempo a disegnare e colorare. E’ una passione che è nata con me!
- When and how did you realize this was your greatest passion?
After finishing compulsory school I decided to enroll in Liceo Artistico and then in University. Later on, I attended some courses in order to learn new techniques and develop new interests.
Dopo la scuola dell’obbligo ho deciso di iscrivermi al Liceo Artistico e poi in seguito all’università.
In seguito ho fatto piccoli corsi per imparare tecniche nuove e seguire nuovi interessi.
- You express your creativity in many ways, can you tell us a little bit about them?
That’s true! I love getting to know new techniques and ranging over the field of handicraft as well as the field of art. Over the last years I’ve been experimenting with papier-mâché, felt and modelling polymer clay. All these techniques and materials are very challenging because they give you the opportunity to create new shapes. You can find out that materials have incredibile features and properties, and the fact that they can be recycled and used again must not be forgotten. This is the exact reason why I love papier-mâché…
E’ vero! Mi piace molto provare tecniche nuove e spaziare anche nel campo dell’artigianato oltre che in quello dell’arte.
In questi ultimi anni ho fatto esperimenti con la carta pesta, il feltro e le paste modellabili. Tutte queste tecniche e materiali sono molto stimolanti. Danno la possibilità di creare forme sempre nuove. Si scoprono caratteriste e qualità dei materiali incredibili, senza dimenticare il fattore riuso e riciclo. Adoro la carta pesta proprio per questo motivo…
- What different feelings and emotions do painting and clay modeling give you?
As far as my sensations are concerned, I don’t think there are so many differences between painting and modelling. The creative act is what excites me the most… whether it happens through painting or modelling… this is not fundamental to me.
Personalmente non trovo grandi differenze a livello di sensazioni nel dipingere o nel modellare. Il fattore che più mi emoziona è l’atto creativo... poi sei questo sia fatto attraverso la pittura o il modellare... non è così determinante.
- What are your main sources of inspiration?
My sources of inspiration are infinite!!... Anything can give me an idea or provide a tip which later on will develop into an idea! So I’ll answer… nature, everyday life with its good points and shortcomings… also music or films.
Le fonti di ispirazione sono infinite!!... tutto può dare l’idea o suggerire quel qualcosa che poi diventerà un’idea!! Quindi direi... la natura, la vita quotidiana con tutti i suoi pregi e difetti... o anche la musica o un film.
- How has life affected your art and art affected your life?
Art has definitely affected my life and above all many choices of mine. Probably, without this passion in my life now I would be more tranquil and quiet and I would have fewer problems.
My life has marginally affected what I’ve done so far… Maybe the only influence life has had on my art was that it distracted me and turned me away from art itself for some years.
L’arte ha sicuramente influito sulla mia vita e soprattutto su molte scelte che ho fatto finora. Forse senza questa passione ora sarei una persona molto più tranquilla e serena, con molti problemi in meno.
La mia vita ha influito marginalmente su ciò che io ho fatto finora … Forse l’unica influenza della mia vita sulla mia arte è stata quella di allontanarmi e distrarmi dalla mia passione per alcuni anni.
- Art is about light and color! What are your favorite colors?All colours are fantastic!!... They can express anything, any emotions. If you had asked me this question 20 years ago… I’m sure I would have given you a very different answer. 20 years ago I would have told you that I loved soft colours, shades and transparencies. But now (it must depend on my age!) I can tell you that I definitely love intense and lively colours, colours which are full of energy and that can transmit it visually. That is… exactly the opposite!!... In any case, colours are and will always be the fundamental element of all things I create.I colori son tutti fantastici!!.. possono esprimere qualsiasi cosa, qualsiasi emozione! Se questa domanda mi fosse stata posta circa 20 anni fa... sicuramente avrebbe avuto una risposta completamente diversa da quella che posso dare ora. 20 anni fa avrei detto che amo i colori tenui, le sfumature, le trasparenze. Ma oggi (sarà per l’età!) ti posso dire con sicurezza che amo i colori intensi, vivaci, ogni colore che sia pieno di energia e sappia trasmetterla visivamente. In pratica l’esatto contrario di 20 anni fa!!... Ma cmq il colore resta e resterà sempre la base su cui poggia tutto ciò che creo.- Is there any influence in your art from the region you live in? Is there something you feel comes from your specific Piedmontese environment in your art?
No, I don’t think so. I have always made reference to anywhere in order to learn and I’ve never been attached to my birthplace as far as my works are concerned. Actually, I’ve probably found my best ideas and lessons very far from here.No, non credo. Ho sempre guardato ovunque per imparare e per creare e non son mai stata legata alla mia città d’origine. Anzi, probabilmente, le idee migliori e gli insegnamenti migliori li ho trovati molto lontano da qui.
- Did you have a formal training in the arts or attend art courses?
Yes, Liceo Artistico and different kind of courses.
Si , liceo e corsi di vario genere.
- Do you have a studio or home studio or particular part of your home you have devoted to your artwork? Where do you create your artwork?
I create everything at home. I am aware of the fact that this is not very practical; in any case, I move within my house and change location, that depends on what I’m doing. In a way… the whole house is involved in my activities… even though tidiness suffers quite a lot from that!
Tutto quello che creo lo creo in casa. So che non è molto pratico ma, a seconda di quel che faccio, mi sposto per casa. In pratica un po’ tutta la casa è partecipe di quel che faccio... anche se l’ordine ne risente parecchio!
Thank you Valeria for this beautiful and inspiring interview, and for sharing your creative journey and inspiration! It's been a pleasure to meet you, and hopefully very soon in person too! We wish you continued joy, inspiration and success with your life and art.
You can find Valeria's beautiful work in her Etsy shop
Valeriatelier. And you can get to know more about her work and inspiration in her
blog.©AnnukCreations
