New Studio and Gallery

Hello everyone. I must apologize for not entering any new blogs for quite awhile but I am here now and ready to share my thoughts with everyone.

This year I can say was a busy one for me. First, starting in Feb. to prepare for an exhibition at Le Meridien Hotel, then moving into my new studio/gallery space and renovating. Then in-between all that, getting ready and having three more additional exhibitions one almost after another. This busy time has made me enthusiastic about making my way in the art world, being positive and appreciate everything that comes from hard work.

Le Meridien Hotel front desk

Back in July, I had an opportunity to move into a bigger studio that was available almost next door to where my old studio was. I have always loved the idea of having a studio and gallery in the same space to show my work but also to let people see where and how I work so I immediately jumped at the chance.

under construction

I am taking on this project because I have also always wanted to create a space that can be solely about art just for art’s sake. A meeting place to talk and share ideas and common goals with other artists, a space to exhibit other young up and coming artists’ work, exhibit small group shows, a place for artists’ talks, art demonstrations and even some artists’ workshops. 

I wanted to create a space where anyone can come and view art and maybe experience something that they have never been exposed to or unknown to them without having the intimidation factor that is sometimes associated with big commercial galleries.

I have been working very hard since mid-summer moving my old studio literally  painting by painting,  putting up walls and painting the new space, cleaning, putting in some new lighting and just making it look and feel like a gallery space and studio that I can be proud of.

 GALERIE DEMDIO welcomes everyone to drop by and say hello. If you love or even just like art, are curious about the painting process and what goes into making a painting and to learn more about it then you are most welcomed.

Finally completed and ready to go.

The road ahead I know will be a bumpy and busy one but the ride is so worth it. 

Looking forward to hearing from everyone, your thoughts and comments. 

Please take a few minutes to go 

to my website 

at www.demetriospapakostas.com  

and sign up for my newsletter which is usually sent out once a month. I have also posted some new work on my website so drop in and take a look.

I also want to take this time to wish everyone a wonderful and prosperous New Year. Let 2014 be your year, so don’t just think about it, do it!!

Thank you for your support.

Demetrios Papakostas: Great Bones

Demetrios Papakostas: Great Bones

"Scotty, Energize"

Heating Up 2011-12, oil on canvas (48 x 72in. diptych)

It was a great week for me even though I didn't actually do too much painting, meaning I did manage to spend a couple of days painting but I got to do things a little differently than the usual thing I do each week. 

First I had a meeting with the director of a downtown hotel for a potential three month exhibition in their lobby, beginning in March of this year. This project sounds pretty exciting because it can lead to some new exposure for my work and also potential clients from other countries.

Right after the meeting, I met with Holly Friesen an artist whom I've known for awhile, for a coffee and we ended up having a two hour chat.  It had been a while since we talked and it was nice to see her and actually seeing her sitting in one place for more than five minutes, being as busy as she is.

 I decided as the new year rolled in, that I wanted to prioritize my days in the studio and my time making art. I had a tendency to sometimes waver and not concentrate on what I needed to get done. Part of that was to also spend time creating more opportunities for my work to be seen and to stay more in touch with my friends and fellow artists. It is a great way to share ideas, encourage and feed off each other. It seems to be working so far because I seem busier but with a purpose in mind and that pays dividends in the studio with the work pouring out of me. Art is lots of hard work, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I want to create conversations with my fellow artists and open up to new ideas. The art world is definitely changing and it is important for us to stay focused and to support and care for one another. No two artists are alike and If my opportunities might also work for another artist and I can relay that info to them, all the better for all of us. 

Heather working on paintings

Later in the week I invited Heather Yamada to my studio to paint. She wanted to use a space that was big enough for her to paint these beautiful large works on paper. 

It was truly

Movement and lots of energy

inspiring just sitting and watching her work. 

There was so much energy in the studio as I watched Heather moving from one painting to another, throwing paint, using brushes and brooms and mixing tools to get the effect that she wanted and working on each piece as she saw fit to do. 

Someone curiously asked me why she worked on so many pieces all at once, "wouldn't they all end up looking the same?" they asked. I think the answer to that is that there is so much energy involved when you're working on large pieces that you can't help but work on so many at once. 

The energy, our energy needs to get expended over a larger surface to be considered successful and by only working on one, your energy would drain rather quickly while you wait to decide what to do next. Especially when dealing with water and paper. By moving from one to another, you give each a chance to absorb the paint and water and not end up with mud before going back in to do more. 

I would love to have a different artist come to my studio every week, to paint and just spend the day talking and working. That would be so energizing and inspiring. So after a not so painterly week, next week will involve more painting, lots of energy and new inspiration from being with two of my friends whom I admire and love hanging out with.

Great Bones

Happy New Year Everyone!! 

The promise of a new year always brings thoughts of change and doing things different. May this year be your best one yet.

Just getting into the studio this morning after a couple of days off celebrating the new year and spending time with my family. It is so quiet and peaceful here, I can really sit and relax and think as I wait for my creative juices to get flowing.

I love being here and thinking about my work, making plans and things I want to do. It is not easy finding a quiet area at home with the kids wanting your attention and so much activity going on. At least here my focus is more concentrated and on art. There is a  lot that goes into the daily life of an artist and sometimes it doesn't end there. When I get home I find I still need to spend time in the evening doing research on the internet, looking at galleries and updating my portfolio but after a day of creating and being on your feet, it is quite exhausting.

I decided that coming to the studio earlier in the mornings might be a better option for me to try and do some writing then. I feel more refreshed and the thoughts seem to flow easier for me at that time of day.

Red Sky 2012, oil on canvas 72 x 48 in.

Lately, I have been concentrating on creating work from some older paintings that where shelved or abandoned after numerous attempts to paint something and failing miserably. This often happens to me when I am trying something new at the easel. 

As I am someone who hardly ever throws anything away, I would rather put it aside for another day. It might also be that you lose interest in what you are doing at the time, get side-tracked or turn your attention to some new idea that just popped into your head. 

At the very least these forgotten works all have  'great bones' to start something new on. They all have this great build up of texture and paint on the surface which I think is always a great way to start a painting. 

These abandoned works have so much movement and character and by adding more to what is already there, they somehow feel fresher and newer and giving them a second life is both interesting and challenging. They instantly become new-older work. 

I wonder what else is hiding in the 'unfinished artwork' pile.

Note to self: Start a bunch of paintings, put them aside and come back to them in six months. Reminds me of letting steaks age for awhile before you eat them...so much tastier. 

Have a great day everyone.

Demetrios Papakostas: Find Your Balance.

Demetrios Papakostas: Find Your Balance.:       I t's that time of year again when we all start making new plans and thinking about things we'd like to do this coming year. It is a...

Find Your Balance.

      It's that time of year again when we all start making new plans and thinking about things we'd like to do this coming year.
It is always a time to reflect and wonder and start anew for what you want to change. That's the thing about your life and what you do, you can change it in a minute. You can plan to make it better or even different. We can sometimes get so caught up in our daily routines that change is not an option. It's either too much work or we are so settled that we wouldn't know where to start.

workin' it during a live painting/musical performance

Myself, I could say that this past year has taught me to really go for my dreams. One of which is to take my art career to another level by firstly trying to be a little more meticulous in my work. Really take the time to do things the right way, which is not always easy.
Another is to try and plan out my work more. Think and plan rather than just getting to the easel and painting. This won't really affect the spontaneous factor because the spontaneity is usually done on the canvas anyway.

JUST READ THIS!!!

I have to say that being on a path is not an easy task. We tend to get side-tracked and lose focus along the way.
I, personally have to listen less to others who always seem to have an opinion and do more by myself, for myself. I have to trust and believe more and just really go for it. Life certainly seems shorter than we think when we are busy doing and too long when we don't do enough. As my mentor Heather said to me recently, find a balance. Center yourself physically, mentally and spiritually and find what makes you happy.
Peace and love to everyone this coming new year. Make it your best year ever!!
Thanks for your support

Demetrios Papakostas: Feeling Good

Demetrios Papakostas: Feeling Good: I am feeling very excited and also a little tired after the end of my week long exhibition at Galerie Espace. I was exhibiting concurr...

Feeling Good

I am feeling very excited and also a little tired after the end of my week long exhibition at Galerie Espace. I was exhibiting concurrently with Heather Yamada whom I have know since the beginning of my career.
Putting on these exhibitions takes lots of work and running around when you have to do everything yourself. It is however important to know how to put on a good exhibition and something every artist should know, especially if you are in the beginning of your careers or if you choose to take your own path in the art world.

Opening night of the exhibition

The opening night vernissage saw lots of friends and family showing up and giving us their support and overall, I thought the show went really well as there were lots of people coming in to look around all the rest of the week. I always love engaging and talking with all the different people that show up and explaining my work to whom ever will like to listen.
It is inspiring to me when others have something to say about my work, and in artwork in general, both positive and negative. It means that art is as important to them as it is to an artist.  It is important to really listen closely because sometimes we feel we are "Legends in our own minds" and it sometimes takes an exhibition to sort of gently bring you down to earth.

Show looks great!!

All the different comments are both humbling and inspiring to me and gives me lots of incentive to get myself back into the studio and work even harder and to keep moving forward.
It takes many years to get your vision to where you want it to be and to be confident in what it is you create. It is only by doing that you will eventually find your own voice.

Exhibiting concurrently with Heather Yamada

After the show, I spent about three days cleaning up my studio, putting thing away and throwing out all sorts of things that had accumulated and that cluttered up the studio. I am ready and excited to get started on a new series and think my studio is ready to begin messing up again!!!

www.demetriospapakostas.com

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for supporting my vision and to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a happy and prosperous New Year. Please be safe, enjoy your families and see you all next year!!!

Rothko's RED

On Saturday Dec 1st. I went to see the play called RED.
It was set around the time when Mark Rothko was commissioned to create a group of painting for the new Four Seasons restaurant that was slated to open in New York City in 1958.

Four Darks in Red, 1958,

The story revolves around his frustrations and being very tormented with the idea of doing a set of coordinated paintings and being paid good money to do it. Maybe he felt like he shouldn't of accepted the commission because it meant that he had to create something on demand, which sometimes can go against the very fabric of what being an artist is all about.
Throughout the play he is constantly fighting himself and questioning why he is doing it and I think that lead to him finally conceding to cancel the commission and give the money back.
The play was quite enjoyable and I liked that he was very much an artist who was not willing to compromise in what he believed art should be.

Red Skies, 2006

Mark Rothko was I would say one of my first influences when I started painting. I loved his simplistic notion of wanting his paintings to bring colour to the forefront and make it as important as the the rest of the space on the surface.

I sort of understood this complicated and tormented man in that sometimes it can be frustrating to an artist when if they are being told what to paint and the way to paint. Some might consider the advice of an art dealer telling them to change their colour palette or the way they paint trees. I think though, as an artist, your strongest vision is your own and simply painting for someone else is neither satisfying nor productive to your career. No one knows what is going on in your mind or what you see, only you have that vision and it might take years to figure out what it is that you really do want to show or create and that is a road meant only for you. Compromise is good if you're buying tires but not when it comes to painting. Stay on course and good things will happen. Lose yourself and you might end up painting "something that matches my furniture".
Art is meant to connect the artist with the collector. Remember, you are buying a piece of the artist's thought and vision and that is essentially what will set you apart and make you love art more.

Lucky Me!!!

Getting ready for my exhibition which is rapidly approaching. I am doing all sorts of last minute preparations and my studio looks like a cyclone hit it with paintings scattered everything. I still haven't decided what works to bring to the show which I find is the hardest thing to do.

studio, last minute preparations

One thing that really stuck out for me the most over this last little while was how excited I was. I mean, I was finishing off a painting, running around, getting ready for an exhibition and in one split second, I thought about how much I loved doing all this. Being busy, being creative, being an artist. 

The days that lead up to the show are all filled with about 10 different emotions, from sad to happy, to excited to, "I'm not worthy!". I guess I wouldn't want it any other way. I always liked working hard and this is anything but easy. Anyway, this is promising to be a great show and I am really looking forward to meeting new people, seeing old friends and letting everyone know how lucky I am that I am able to do this. See you all soon.

EXPOSITION D'ART - ART EXHIBITION

Bonjour,
C'est avec grand plaisir de vous invite à mon exposition d'art le 5 à 11 Décembre 2012 concurremment avec Heather Midori Yamada

Hello,

I would like to announce that I will be having an art exhibition from December 5 to 11th. 2012 concurrently with Heather Midori Yamada

Vernissage: le 5 Décembre 2012 de 17h  à  20h

Opening night: December 5th. from 5 to 8 pm

L'exposition continue tous les jours de 13 h à 19 h.

The exhibition continues everyday from 1 - 7 pm

à/at: La Galerie Espace 

         4844 Boul. St. Laurent, 

         Montreal, QC H2T 1R5 

         514 284 6720

Collecting Art from Emerging Artists

A great article by The Huffington Post about why you should collect art from emerging artists.

  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hilary-harkness/why-you-should-collect-ar_b_1537667.html

Open Studio - Small works Art Exhibition & Sale Thursday May 24th. 12-8pm & Sat-Sun. May 26 - 27th. 12-5pm

 Open Studio - Small works Art Exhibition & Sale

Thursday May 24th 12 - 8pm

Saturday, May 26th - Sunday, 27th  12 - 5pm

    I am busy cleaning up my studio so I can invite everyone to drop by and see what I've been up to this last little while. I will be showing some of my more recently completed works as well as some still in progress. It is a great chance for you to visit a working artists studio so drop by and say hello.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Following the clouds.

  I travelled to Toronto this past weekend for a mini getaway (left the kids with grandma) and to see an art show I thought would be good to participate in maybe sometime in the future.
The weather was rainy and cold as we started off headed down the highway but what struck me more than the weather was the great landscape that was unfolding all around us.

Spring was definitely in the air seeing the buds just starting to grow on the trees, as was watching the bushes and grass waking up from their winter slumber.
The different hues of rich greens and ocre yellows only found in nature in the foreground and blending with the background filled with big grey clouds was quite a sight. Nothing could be more beautiful.
I love the beauty of the serene landscape. Probably the biggest reason I started painting in the first place. Just seeing all this natural beauty surrounding me gives me so much inspiration.
After I got back from my weekend, I knew I had to try and paint some of what I saw.

There is so much to see and get inspired by, you just have to learn to use what you see, in different ways and as other than they appear. As an artist what I find to be beautiful may not be for someone else as we all have our own ideas of what is or what we find beautiful.
If we don't already, we should start to look at nature's beauty, use it more in our work and appreciate it for what it gives back to us. Nothing can be more beautiful.

Coming Together

18 x 14in. oil on canvas

    I was feeling a little tired after spending the last two nights not sleeping well because of my young daughter who has been feeling a little under the weather and as you know, you always sleep with one eye open when your kids are sick. It also didn't help that I went out last night. Not too late of a night but something I am not used to doing on a regular basis.
Today was a quiet and sort of a somber day and a struggle to get out of bed this morning. It was cloudy outside, looking like it was going to rain any second. I finally managed to make it to the studio, even if it was a little later than usual. I wasn't really planning to do much, maybe some sketching and prepping some canvas for next week's work.
As I sat there looking at yesterday's work, I started to ease into working and thought I would go as far as my energy would take me, thinking that that wouldn't be too far. As it turns out, I think I had one of my best days working, ever. It wasn't that I painted a lot or even for very long, just that everything was coming out great. I could do no wrong I thought. The colours where working and everything was blending and mixing just I saw it in my head. You cannot believe what a great feeling it is when everything you do turns out.
I probably had more bad days than good days spent pushing paint around on a canvas, searching and probing and nothing turning out good. Some artists like to work with a plan and basically the same way each time by doing studies and sketches of their work, which can contributes to the work maybe turning out quicker.
Others like myself like to work in a more spontaneous and unplanned way. I get to the studio and get to work not really knowing what I want to do with a particular piece, only that I want to start it and work things out directly on the canvas.
This might not be a great idea because you most often end up discarding, covering up and even destroying a lot of the good things that happen on the canvas along the way.
This process might mean spending longer periods of time working on a piece.

16 x 20in. oil on canvas

It can also lead to periods of uncertainty and to being unsure about what you want to accomplish with the work and most importantly, about trusting your instincts as to when a particular piece is finished, as has been the case on a number of occasions with my work and myself.
What is most rewarding and interesting though, is that same uncertainty. The highs and lows associated with the knowledge you gain, as you venture further and further into the work. It is about what you end up leaving behind that is  indeed a huge contributing factor to the history and final result of each piece and how all at once, it comes together on the same surface. 

Artist Project 2012

     Just got back a few days ago from participating in the artist project in Toronto. Ever since I got back, I have been confined to my bed with a nasty head cold that just won't go away and so since I am down but not out, I figured I would share a few of my experiences and let you know how the show went this past weekend.

Getting ready for this show required a lot of planning. I must of spent countless hours and days trying to figure out how best to display my artwork in the space provided for me at the show. What size painting to bring, what sort of paintings, etc etc. It is not easy trying to figure out the best work to bring to a show such as this because you really do not know what work will appeal to whom.

There are a lot of different and interesting people that show up to these events and this weekend was no different. From hobbyists and Sunday painters looking for advice and maybe a sense of what doing a show such as this entails, to students, tourists and even serious art lovers looking around and enjoying the art. I was quite surprised by some peoples reaction to my work. Others liked my small abstract studies from the Permission to Speak series while still others enjoyed my big sized works on paper and watercolours. I even got a good reaction to my newer work from the Structure series, which is a newer and an ongoing series.

Overall the weekend went well. I don't think that the public was in a great buying mood (minimal sales), but maybe in a more of a 'let's see what sort of art is out there' mood. Having said that, we sometimes tend to gauge our sucesses and failures on how many people buy our work rather than how many actually like or find our work interesting. I think it is quite hard to sell work at these shows that is not instantly visually loved and not in their price range. Choosing to work in abstract as I do, significantly reduces the amount of people interested in these type of work but then that might open me up to other venues and opportunities to show my work. I think these show are for gaining ground in the art world, gaining knowledge and friendships which can only nurture our vision somewhere down the road and maybe lead us to more prosperous opportunities.

Some of my paintings.

It is now time to follow up on all the leads and opportunities that presented themselves in this show, get back in the studio and work even harder at the easel. I can't wait till you see what I have planned for next year!!!!

My friend Helen visiting after her gruelling Real Estate exam.

The place to be. Booth #207

Peaceful Sleep 2010, oil on canvas 48 x 72 in. 

P.S.-  I loved being in Toronto and think its a city that has a great artistic vision....(It's also HUGE!!!) I hope to be back there soon for a show or even to see the many ex-montrealers whom I spent time with this past weekend. Thank you everyone for your support and for stopping by to say hello. I will see you all again soon.

Demetrios Papakostas: une vie en technicolors - Arts et spectacles - Courrier Ahuntsic & Bordeaux-Cartierville

Demetrios Papakostas: une vie en technicolors - Arts et spectacles - Courrier Ahuntsic & Bordeaux-Cartierville

Never a sure thing.

     Last week I spent most of the week getting to the studio early and working for the better part of the day. Although I feel like I have been working hard, I felt like the work was not exactly going where I wanted it to be. I am not sure if I am sort of stuck mentally or maybe just not sure about my direction and where I am going, you know, the typical everyday struggles of an artist. At least mine anyway.

I seem to be wanting to go into another direction and explore those other possibilities. But I question wether that won't that take away from the work I am doing presently. Won't leaving this work to explore other areas effect this work when or if I eventually return to it. Is it because this work might just be done and can not go any further.

It seems important to me to want to go in another direction and explore. I think I need to because my creative juices are running low and I need rejuvenation.
I think it is important to keep searching for that little spark, that little something that might just set you off on a whole new path of exploration. Giving yourself the chance for new creative discovery is essential and important to the over all creative process. It is what keeps us doing what we do.

Going through the motions, in art as in life, surely leads to resentment, which leads to us doing things we don't really want to do. I don't ever want my work to start feeling and looking the same. That is a scary thought. That is why I feel it is important to spend a lot of time searching for something different that either enhances my work or changes it.
Art has to evolve and change and grow as does the artist. It is never a sure thing that a new direction will be successful but it will definetely give us new hope, a fresh approach to our work and fire in our bellies which is sometimes missing.

Toronto Artist Project March 1 - 4th. 2012

  

       I am very happy to again be heading to the artist project toronto  March 1 - 4th. 2012. I will be in booth #207 next to a couple of other great Montreal artists, Janice Taylor and Holly Friesen. We have been friends for awhile, sharing stories and supporting each other's art careers over the last little while. I don't know if it was really that wise to put us all together because we will definitely be having a lot of fun together.

I am getting really excited about the show, being there with all the people buzzing around. I also hope to see some of the friends I made last year at the show. So, hoping to see you there if you happen to be in the area and if you are not, the drive is really not that bad. Enjoy.

The Structure of Things Exhibition - Photos June 2011

Barry Allikas with Voula and collector/supporter my brother , Dennis Papakostas

Overall I was really happy with the turnout and the show itself. I managed to meet many new people and even made some good sales! I also wanted to thank all my friends and family for coming to the opening night and for their support.