ARTIST IN RESIDENCE – PAOLA MINEKOV

Talk us through your creative process?  

My creative process is a constant. I get inspired by everything, everyday objects, experiences. I keep notes and sketches of ideas but often I can visualise what I want to paint quite precisely before I start sketching out. That’s why working with other people’s ideas and inspirations would be is interesting for me. It shakes up my creative process a bit.

“To paint is my way of analysing and understanding the world. My themes are always derived from everyday experiences and impressions. In my paintings, I explore topics like movement, energy, contrast and the mystery of emotions”

If you were a piece of artwork, what would you be?

One of Degas’ ballerinas. I have a series of ballet dancers in oil.

In these paintings I often use theatrical lighting even though I rarely define the stage. Painting with a knife, I use colour rather than line to create three-dimensional spaces and a sense of movement and light.

This technique is essential to all my oil paintings, including the portraits. It allows me to determine directions, achieve complexity of colour and create textures which work with the form, all the while keeping the freedom in the painting and a uniform colour scheme.

Where can we see some of your pieces?

You can find more of my work on my website – Paola.art

What are your favourite materials to use?

I love oil paint the most, but generally my choice of material depends on my concept and how I want the artwork to look. I enjoy working with a variety of materials – oil, acrylic, watercolour, mosaic, digital art

What are your main sources of inspiration?

Emotions – which you can see more about in my series Undercurrents), Dance,  and life in the city which is the source of inspiration from my city scape series.

What’s your relationship between your art and your family?

 I come from a family of artists. My father is a well known Bulgarian sculptor and my mother a painter and designer. My parents have both been my teachers and my biggest artistic influence. I grew up surrounded by their art and many of their artist friends. It was a very artistic environment.

What sounds do you like to work to?

When I paint I get in the flow and stop paying attention to background noises, including music.

What does community in the art world look like to you?

It’s my support network. As an artist I work alone in the studio a lot. So, it’s really important to be around other artists, come up with new ideas and projects and just talk about art.

What excites your most about the creative communities in southwest London/Battersea? 

It’s diverse. People are very helpful, passionate about creativity and open.

London best kept secret? 

Perhaps I’ll find out during the residency, when I hear about people’s experiences in the city.

What is some advice you would give to aspiring creatives and artists in London?

London has a lot to offer but you have to stay proactive and create your own opportunities

Outside of your artwork what else are you passionate about ?

My family and children, travel, dancing, books