What is the best thing that I love about my work?
The thing I love the most about my work is the freedom of expression that painting offers me, a very important aspect for me as an artist. When I paint it’s just me and the canvas, possibly relaxing music in the background. Painting the way of expressing myself freely, without barriers or constraints of any kind, without too many questions. In painting I am what I feel without too many constraints on myself, painting happens by itself. Painting is my oasis of peace and peace of mind and sometimes how to outsource less comfortable living. The painting is the yin and the yang of my soul, regardless of the side to which the balance inclines at the time of creation, no matter the state, I can express myself freely through shapes and colors.
What is my idea of perfect happiness?
Perfect happiness is for me when I have the feeling of complete peace, of total reconciliation with myself, when I hold in my arms the loved one.
Perfect happiness means to see joy and appreciation in the eyes of those who look at my paintings.
Perfect happiness would mean painting in a place near the sea in Spain or Greece.
What is my greatest fear?
My biggest fear is not to reach my true artistic potential and lose what I love the most.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?
I most deplore in myself the moments of mistrust and fear that I feel sometimes.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?
I really admire Alyssa Monks’ art, her portraits impress me with power of expressiveness. Also among my favorites are: Jenny Saville, David Hockney, Adrian Ghenie and Jene La Farge Hamill.
What is my greatest extravagance?
My greatest extravagance is dedicate myself to art, painting almost daily and doing things for my career and sometimes buying sophisticated jewelry.
In what occasion would I lie?
I would lie if I could spare a person dear from suffering or I could avoid an unpleasant situation.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?
I dislike the part with the packaging and the transport of the works especially outside the country. I always feel anxious until I find out that the works have arrived at their destination well.
When and where was I the happiest in my work?
There are many moments of profound happiness in my work: when the theme for the new series of works comes in to my mind, the moment when I start a new work, the stages through which the work goes and the one in which I finish it, I sign it and I am satisfied. I am in maximum ecstasy and emotion when I exhibit my works.
If I could what would I change about myself?
I would like to have more audacity, to talk more about my art.
What is my greatest achievement in work?
The biggest achievement so far as an artist is participating in international art fairs and exhibitions.
Where do I most like to live?
I would like to live most of the time somewhere near the see in Spain or Greece. For me the sea has a magic that I cannot find elsewhere. I like to admire it, to feel it, to hear it, it eases its language. It simply fascinates me.
What is my most treasured possession?
My most treasured possession is the gift I received in this life and I give it to the world: Painting.
What is my most marked characteristic?
My most remarkable characteristic as a painter is expressiveness and as a person intuition.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city?
Most inspirational location in my city are parks because are the places where I share nature and fresh air. I like long walks in the park.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink in my city?
My favorite place for eat and drink in my city is Trattoria il Calcio. They have the best lemonade in town, ice cream and various kinds of seafood.
What books influenced my life and how?
The first book that really impressed me was “Maitreyi” by Mircea Eliade, a love story which happened in India. From that moment on I started to wish to visit India and I did this many years later but I have visited India twice so far.
“One hundred years of solitude” and ”Of love and other demons” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez were a real refuge for me in a world that really fascinates me.
“The Mastery of love” by Don Miguel Ruiz and “Highly intuitive people” by Heidi Sawyer influenced my thinking in a positive way, helped me to understand more about myself and the people in my life.
Who are my favorite writers?
My favorite writers are Mircea Eliade and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?
On my last day or at list so I think now I would like to listen” Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven and “The storm” by Havasi.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?
My heroine in fiction is Jasmine from Aladdin (the movie) because it is beautiful, mysterious, gentle and powerful at the same time.
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?
In my real life the hero is my boyfriend because he always supports me and encourages me to follow my dream, to do everything I can and to be my best choice to succeed in reaching my full potential.
Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?
I can’t recommend a single movie because I can’t decide. I recommend to see the old movie “Gone with the wind” , “The English Patient” ,”Frida”,” Modigliani” and the new fantastic story “Fantastic Beasts”, Doctor Strange”, “Aladdin”.
What role plays art in my life and work?
Art plays a very important role in my life, definitely. Art is my full time job. In the past I worked in other fields related to design and I made art in parallel but starting with 2018 I dedicate myself exclusively to painting. Now that I have found my way, I live to paint and I do not see myself doing anything else. Painting daily almost daily made me rediscover my passion. I find new subjects and experiences and this makes me feel full. It is a fulfillment and joy that I cannot describe in words. Painting is part of me living through every work I create.
Whom is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?
My greatest fan and supporter is my boyfriend.
Whom would I like to work with in 2019?
I did not think about a particular person or gallery in particular, although I would like to collaborate with several galleries that I follow (Black Watter, Sarto). I want to collaborate with art galleries where I can develop as an artist, exhibit as much as possible, participate in group and personal exhibitions, as well as collaborations with art dealers. I am interested in projects through which I can grow and develop as an international artist.
I am open to another kind of collaboration, for example this year I collaborated with a poet who illustrated the volume of poems with my works.
Which people in my profession would I love to meet in 2019?
I would love to meet Alyssa Monks and David Hockney.
What project, in 2019, am I looking forward to work on?
The project I am working on this year is called “Loving yourself”, a series of self– portraits. Is a very important theme for me that I think I will resume every time I feel the need. For me, self-love is the truth around which everything develops. I have been thinking about self-portraits for some time but I had the courage to start this project. For the first time in my life I paid more attention, more time than usual for the paintings, I spent quite a lot time with myself. I analyzed myself more, both physically and psychologically than I ever did. I tried to better understand what I am, who I am, what I feel, what I look like inside and outside and finally, as I always happens to me when I paint, the work follows its course, hand continuing its work, revealing feelings undiscovered until then. Art is feeling, it is pure living, pure energy, when I paint I reveal myself to the world, I put my soul on the tray.
Where can you see me or my work in 2019?
Exhibition and projects 2019:
-Hartexpo Barcelona, Spain (25 th to 29 th of May 2019), International Art Fair, Art Nou Mi Lenni Gallery
–Group exhibition Barcelona, Spain (31 July –31August), Art Nou Mi Lenni Gallery
-International Exhibition of Contemporary Art “Over The Realms Dreams III Edition”(30Th August-10Th September 2019) , Rome, La Pigna Gallery
– International Art Fair in the Carrousel du Louvre on 18Th-20Th October 2019
– “Cu vedere catre suflet” ( With a view to the soul) –Book illustration, a soul project in collaboration with poet Anca Fenesan
What do the words “Passion never Retires” mean to me?
“Passion never Retires”… I tend to say that an artist never retires, art is a job without age. Even when I go into being, I will continue to live through the works that will remain.
Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?
Peter should invite to Alyssa Monks to tell us the story.
How can you contact me?
Mail: dana@danasimion.com
https://www.instagram.com/danasimionartist/
The Heroine's Journey 