Interview
Maria Titan
Born in South Africa and currently living in Cyprus, I hold a BA degree in Fine Art from the University of the Witwatersrand. A mixed-media artist, I paint primarily in acrylic, pastel, watercolor, and marker, experimenting with varnish and resin to add different dimensions to my work. I paint from photographs, manipulating images to create a new narrative.
My work often tells a story and can be described as bold and expressive, with a heavy focus on color. Several of my artworks have been published in art publications, and my collectors are based both locally and internationally. I have exhibited in group exhibitions and am currently working on a solo exhibition.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I hold a BA in Fine Art from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. I completed my degree in 1999 and then didn’t paint for 20 years! Without gallery representation or the internet, it wasn't easy to earn a living being an artist. I ended up in the corporate world and owned a recruitment company for 13 years. In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, I decided to close the company and pursue my artistic dreams. I rented a small studio and have worked as a full-time professional artist ever since.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“As a mixed media artist, I always experiment with different materials and what they can achieve in an artwork. I am primarily interested in texture, line, and color. I love artwork that tells a story and inspires emotion. I have several themes that I revisit. During the lockdown, I was interested in intimate spaces. I painted many women in elaborate rooms and often with birds. We all felt caged at this time and craved beautiful surroundings. I also paint animals and famous people in rooms. These are quirky miniature paintings and always make people smile.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“I don't plan my artwork. I paint primarily from photographs, so when I see images I like, I save them. My phone is full of so many ideas! I then take different pictures and digitally manipulate them using various photo apps. Once I have a composition ready, I then paint it. I use many other materials because they create a unique effect. I usually start with watercolor and then use pastels, acrylic, and markers. I love gold leaf too. Once the painting is complete, I will either cover it in resin or varnish sections. Sometimes I will use fixative and other times, high gloss or matte varnish, depending on the look I want to achieve.”
Are there any art world trends are you following?
“My Instagram account is full of artists. There are a few contemporary artists that I love. Hillary Pecis for her bold, decorative style. Hannah Jensen and her unique acrylic carvings, which I have been inspired to attempt. Frances Goodman went to university with me and now creates massive-scale sequins artworks. Erika Stearly paints gorgeous, distorted rooms, and Marie-Claude Marquis uses text on plates. The list is endless. I like varied artwork and am blown away by how many amazing artists we have in this world.”
“My art is the joy of my life. I am so grateful that I get to do what I love every day. I love sending my artwork to collectors worldwide and knowing that a piece of me now exists in their space.”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I paint primarily from photographs. Whenever I see an image that I like, I will save it. I then manipulate photos using various photo editing tools to create a composition. Once the composition is done, I will then paint it. I need to buy shares in my local art shop because I buy so many products. I experiment with everything. I have painted with glitter, acrylics, gold leaf, watercolor, pastel, marker, resin, varnish, and pencil. The list is endless. Paper is my first love. The quality of paper nowadays is phenomenal. I am always surprised at how sturdy it can withstand so many materials. My favorite is 300gsm Arches and also Canson paper. Winsor & Newton has a good range too. I also paint on wood and canvas panel. Stretched canvas is not my favorite, though. I am interested in color and usually paint straight from a tube instead of mixing colors before hand.”
What does your art mean to you?
“My art is the joy of my life. I am so grateful that I get to do what I love every day. I love sending my artwork to collectors worldwide and knowing that a piece of me now exists in their space. I also take commissions. Collectors have asked me to create paintings where I put them or their animals in a room. These are very personal paintings, and I am honored to be trusted with such a personal project.”
What’s your favourite artwork and why?
“I have several. It is so hard to choose one. 'Prince' is a painting I made of a tiger on a sofa. I love the look on his face, the fine details of his fur, and the fabric. The colors are muted and different from the palette I usually choose, but I love that painting. It was selected by a puzzle company that has now made it into a gorgeous wooden puzzle. It recently sold to a collector in the US, and it was hard to part with it! I love 'Piecemeal Rhythm' by Hilary Pecis and 'Bunch of love and gratitude' by Hannah Jensen. From the old masters, I love anything by Klimt and, of course, Frida.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have participated in a few local and international exhibitions. I had an online exhibition at the Holy Art in London, a physical group exhibition at ArtNumber23 in Athens, Greece, and two group shows at Exhibit 8, Limassol, Cyprus.”
Instagram: @mariatitanartist
Other: Etsy
