Demetrios Papakostas: Snowy Monday

Demetrios Papakostas: Snowy Monday

Snowy Monday

Wow, what a day!!

Finally made it to the studio this morning, late but a least I got there. Last night was a rough one. My daugther was coughing and had a little bit of a fever, so she couldn't sleep and when she doesn't sleep neither do we.

So my morning started very sluggish. I started doing some drawings when I arrived but didn't really know what I wanted to work on. I love just being mellow like I was this morning, quietly working with some music playing in the background. I think when your feeling the way, its good to just coast until you maybe find some untapped energy...or go home.

Anyway, the get go was rough but I managed to start applying paint to those small drawing I started previously. I was trying to paint them using different approaches, some with pastel chalk and some with acrylic paint. At last, something was happening!! The drawings were working and I was waking up!

It started snowing early in the afternoon and that seemed to give me even more energy so I went to my big canvas and started laying down some incredible color. I guess the excitment of the first snow and getting my feet moving proved to be just what the doctor ordered. Finally made it home tired but happy I saved the day............Maybe tonight I'll........zzz....zzzz.....zzzzz

All in a Days Work

Wow, what a crazy day!!!

I WAS going to spent the day painting but I got so tied up with other little things that I think I had just enough time to mix my paint and do a couple of lines on my painting. Being a painter full time I was wondering about how artists actually have time to even paint. With all the running around, cataloging, printing, photographing new work, promoting an up coming event, updating your clients list, buying supplies, and doing research how do you find the time to actually be creative, never mind put down paint!?? I even come home sometimes thinking, "geez I haven't done a thing all day!"

When is a good time to relax, decompose from all the outside distractions and actually get down and create. I am finding it harder and harder to get to the studio and just paint. I try not answering the phone but what if it's important, a client or even....my mom. I've tried to keep the studio relatively gizmo-free. No internet or computer just my phone for just 'in case'. Do you think I might need to get a secretary, a manager, a copy boy, someone to swipe my sweaty forehead as I paint...maybe someone to actually paint for me!!!??? I am fairly well organized but sometimes I need to do even more just to keep my head above water. I guess it goes with the job as artists are often a one person show. And I also think I just wouldn't want it any other way. Every profession has it's up's and downs and at the end of the day I've probably accomplished more than I actually thought I did anyway. I guess it's as they say; all in a days work.

Demetrios Papakostas: My Open Studio Weekend

Demetrios Papakostas: My Open Studio Weekend: "This past weekend I hosted an open studio at my studio. I like opening my studio doors and having visitors drop by to see what I am up to e..."

My Open Studio Weekend

This past weekend I hosted an open studio at my studio. I like opening my studio doors and having visitors drop by to see what I am up to every 6 to 8 months. It gives me a chance to see how people might react to my artwork and spend some time with friends and acquaintances. It also gives me a chance to give my studio a good cleaning, price my artwork, and put things in order.
Although it was not about making sales this weekend (couldn't hurt)it was about building relationships with future clients and making everlasting connections. What I also really liked, was explaining my artwork to people who have never been exposed to art or even really gave art a second thought or you might say, a second look. It is hard to believe but some people just do not have any inclination for art. Some would not know where to start when considering buying original art. At least some are open to the idea of having original art in their possession if not now, then maybe in the near future.
I had a great day with a group of gentlemen that literally sat down and let me show and explain different artwork, from abstract to figurative to them. It was great seeing their reactions as I pulled out piece after piece of artwork some from the beginning of my career and others just recently completed. Each piece got a different reaction, some good ones, some not so much but most importantly, it got me talking about my art and got to explain what I wanted each piece to convey. Overall the experience was a great one and it was a great way to meet new people and enjoy good company. A successful weekend in my book. I thank everyone for dropping by and I think I might just inspired a group of future art collectors to take the next step.

New Work

Painting as others before you.

Recently, someone commented that some of my artwork has been compared to a famous artists work. Although there maybe some influence of this painter in my work, the similarities are only a few.

This got me to thinking about; How do we see our work and is it as others see it? When we look at art, do we search for the famous artist version of what we see. You might hear people commenting about how this looks like a Picasso or a Rothko. Do they intentionally seek to find another artist in our work.

I think we can't help but be influenced by the artists we find interesting and unique. We can't help but try to imulate them in some way.

I have always tried to forge my own way as far as my artwork goes and don't think I've ever tried to copy someone directly and intentionally. But what if all people see is another artist in your work, what are you to do? Is it okay to be compared. Maybe it's just meant as a compliment to you or for them to try and connect more to you and your art.

For myself, maybe painting as others did before me, is part of a growing, learning process. Sort of learning through them. It's just a road to discovering yourself and your art and about what you want to say.

I know the painters that have influenced me, have made me open up and sort of given me their permission to paint and think more seriously and more aware of what to look for as I work and grow. For now, if my work does seem similar to another artists, I think it's a positive thing, that is, until I can truly find my own unique way.

Going for it.

Lest we forget 2009 oil, 60 x 72in.

A couple of months ago I enlisted the help of a person who deals with artists, helping them with promoting, building their profiles and getting more exposure. There seems to be so much to do to establishing your career as an artist. I'm still confused about which way to go. Do I try to get into galleries, or do I try promoting myself, selling through the internet and putting on my own exhibitions. So confused!!!!

I've heard horror stories about galleries taking a huge chunk of your hard earned money, sometimes not getting paid and even the gallery closing and running off with your work. Those are scary thoughts to have and very stressful. I do however like the prestige that comes with being in a gallery and being recognized amongst my peers, especially if you are as I am, self taught.

Self promotion is great if you know what you're doing and does require alot of running around, establishing your name and building a reputation. Will it give you enough time though, to concentrate on your work or will your work suffer. Personally, I know I have to spend time in the studio, to concentrate on my art and ultimetly to have work available to sell, so how much time do you spend promoting, running to galleries and actually producing work.

There is also the question of being ready. Is your work good enough to show, are YOU ready to sell yourself and your work. I know it was a scary thought showing my work for the first time and more importantly explaining it to others, which I still have a hard time doing.

I think you have to take the time to learn your craft, build confidence and then, decide as you go about the best way to let the world know about you, the artist.

Entering Now: A Journey Into Shambhala Art (HD)

Milton Resnick Works in Progress Part 1

Demetrios Papakostas: Summertime and the living is easy

Demetrios Papakostas: Summertime and the living is easy

Summertime and the living is easy

WOW!!!!

Another hot muggy day here in Montreal. The weather lately has been "swamp like!" lots of humidity, downpours and heat. I'm surprised I haven't found any alligators in my backyard.

It's pretty hard getting to the studio these days and staying focused. I find that wether it's the weather or even that your ideas have come to a dead stop, you have to keep going.

Get to the studio! Work on anything! Take out some older work or work that you've discarded and see if you can re-compose it or even use it with something else. Often times, I'll just keep painting with no particular direction or intent, until another idea hits me, and that usually turns into something positive. Work on small pieces, do some collages.

Just keep working and before you know it, the days will get cooler and the ideas will flow once again.

The Pleasure of Painting

Just sat down after a glorious day of painting at my studio. What in life may I ask, is better than being at the studio, putting paint on your brush and just painting. There are worst things in life I'm sure but this isn't one of them. Even if I wasn't a painter, just thinking and trying to create something out of virtually nothing, is for me, pure pleasure.

I guess it's my creative soul that keeps coming to the surface, wether it was playing drums during my early years, or painting now, the creative juices need to flow for me. So keep those creative juices and ideas flowing my friends. Create for life!!!!

Personal: Friends and 50th. Birthdays

It's Sunday early afternoon. Last night I went to my old friend's 50th. Birthday celebration. We hadn't seen each other for about ten years and it was great getting together with him and the old gang. It didn't take us long to get reacquainted. It took us about 10 seconds of trying to recognize each other as some of us got balder or fatter, but it was as if we'd never been apart. I guess with old friends, things are that way.
When you've know each other for so long and you've been through so much together, the feelings of closeness and love for each other never really go away. Sure we are closer to some friends than others and I wonder why we grew apart in the first place but I guess life happens and before you know it, you're running to the doctor for your kids or there's a function at school or any number of everyday issues that somehow seem more important. Friends do sometimes take a back seat to family, but for me they are and always will be my friends. At the end of the night, we vowed to get together at least once a month and keep in touch more often...hopefully it won't be in another ten years.

Toronto Artist Project

Just got back from Toronto a couple of hours ago. I was there for the Artist Project. It was an exhibition/show/art sale, put on for artists to showcase their work and hopefully sell some works as well. The art was great and I got a chance to meet many of the artists, exchanging ideas and just wanting to know about their art. Being an artist is something that few people can understand. Talking to the artists, one can get a sense of the struggle, hard work and dedication it takes everyday to do what they do and stay true to their work. I even got some good ideas that I want to try the moment I get to the studio. All in all they were a great sorce of inspiration to me and now I have to transfer my new found energy into my artwork and in my life as an artist.

Recent paintings