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.