Interview
Tina Stamelou
With a passion for nature and an ability to capture her subjects with an unexpected and charming twist, Tina creates a balance where nature is playful and full of joy.
To meet rising demand from her community, Tina launched her webstore during the pandemic in March 2020. Her illustrations are now available as prints, on greetings cards and tea towels.
Born in Greece, Tina moved to the UK when she was six. She studied art and textiles at Central St Martin’s and Huddersfield University, before embarking on a career in textile design with the Designers Guild and Anna French. Tina then worked for Swiss design company Christian Fischbacher in London and Switzerland, where she has lived and worked for over 30 years as a freelance designer and illustrator.
Tina is currently exploring opportunities to work with businesses to bring her joyful illustrations to their pages and brands. She envisages her work enlarged on restaurant and café walls, hotels and museums, showroom windows, brochures and other online platforms.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born in Greece and moved to Britain at the grand old age of 6. I was a fidgety child, dancing instead of walking, sharing my many ideas and thoughts with everyone regardless of whether they were asked for or not. My mother soon, to her relief (and perhaps the relief of others), discovered that if she gave me pen and paper, anywhere and everywhere, I would be deeply engaged which would in turn provide her with the peace she needed. So I started to draw at a very early age and have never really stopped.
With a passion for illustration and creating a twist out of nature's delights, I focus on delicate plants and flowers in combination with mouthwatering ingredients from the kitchen. They depict nature with a quirk to be enjoyed in beautiful settings and mindful joyous moments.
I studied Art and textiles at Central Saint Martin's in London and Huddersfield University in West Yorkshire prior to embarking on a career in textile design with Designer's Guild and Anna French. I was then approached by the Swiss company Christian Fischbacher, for whom I firstly worked in London before moving to their HQ in Switzerland. I have lived there now for 30 years, and have 2 wonderful adult children who I love dearly and who support me unconditionally in my artistic journey.
I hope since my very young years, my art has evolved, my craft improved and that I'm on a continuing road to progress and improvement.”
What inspires you most?
“I am in total awe of botanical art. I am mesmerized looking at intricate and delicate images related to nature. The vibrant colors, as well as the subtle tones, are bold and strong while still being vulnerable and fragile – depicting the beauty of plant life, insects and birds.
I like to play around with quirky combinations, such as a blue finch proudly perched on an oversized olive balancing on a lemon. Or a giant fig in dialogue with the butterfly resting on it. Here, perspective is not important for me. Rather, I play and enjoy the freedom of my imagination and expression – with love.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My themes always involve nature. I love food, both cooking and eating. Often, fruit and veggies, my narrators, come together with sunflowers and hibiscuses, who sometimes are the main characters of my little ensembles. Then my quirky animals join the aubergines and giant figs and this is where the dialogue begins.
I don't have an intellectual or political message, I leave that to those who can do it well. I'm about curiosity and connection. I guess one can view anything with an intellectual perspective though - I'm sure I also do that, but it's more for my own entertainment and killing time. But when I feel the love and connection with the people who view or buy my art or products, this really moves me and gives me purpose to what I do. Sometimes friends and strangers tell me the stories they create when they see my art; their perspective of images I created in my own space and mind and heart fascinates and touches me. It's just very honest.”
“I try to do justice to whatever I'm painting by representing it as truly as I possibly can. Then I like to add lightness and fun to the seriousness of very focused realistic painting. I love it when an intimate relationship forms between myself and my subjects, because that creates connection. I feel alive and intrigued as to what may emerge, as well as sometimes being disappointed as to what actually does emerge.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would be interested to compare my answer to this question with the viewer's answer. I'm always amazed how the message is in the receiver.
I practice the art of observation with painting. I enjoy it when my perception of the subject and how I translate it on to paper is as real as possible, or as real as my capabilities allow it to be. I challenge myself with being focused and attentive and then switching to being playful and compassionate with my images. I amuse myself by trying to understand in a rational way what my compositions are telling me and then laugh at myself (or cry) at the absurdity that I could possibly make sense of anything. I guess all I'm doing is trying to give meaning to my paintings and to my process, then realizing that loving what I do is meaningful enough.
I paint with watercolors, sometimes Indian inks and coloured pencils. I like good quality watercolor paper, which is expensive, making it all the more painful when a painting ends up in the bin! I use about 6-7 brushes, that's all. They're my favorite tools. I don't have little buckets of hundreds of brushes surrounding me. That would just distract me. I have however bought myself an electric eraser which is so cool! It comes with different shapes of erasers - some very slim and tiny so I can aim precisely. And lately I bought myself an electric sharpener - a Godsend! These gadgets make my life much easier and allow me to feel so professional.
I also can unapologetically say I sometimes do 'bad' paintings and that's ok. They need space and I need to learn from them, albeit in a frenzy of self doubt and bewilderment. All in all I hope my work brings a smile to people's faces, touches their hearts, connects and allows them to create their own stories.”
Which artists influence you most?
“The old masters are mostly my heroes. The light and clarity of Caravaggio never fails to move me. The melancholy and vulnerability of his scenes are so powerful – a genius ! I’m also really fascinated by the surreal and absurd symbolism of Hieronymus Bosch’s paintings. I love his fine eye for detail and such dream-like scenes and narratives. I’m always visiting the various museums where I can spend hours looking at these masters.
On the contemporary side, my favorite would have to be Gerhard Richter. I went to his brilliant retrospective in Vienna some years back and was so awestruck, that the experience has truly stayed with me as if it had taken place yesterday. I stood in front of his 200x260cm abstract paintings and was moved to tears. Surely that has influenced me, perhaps subconsciously, when I express myself through my work. There is such power and energy oozing out of his gigantic 'power-stations'! It is difficult to explain with words the emotional dialogue I was having, but that’s what I think great art should do. I’m often also in awe of the frescoes and religious paintings in cathedrals throughout Italy for example. Again, such art is so inspirational and influential to me.”
What is your creative process like?
“Ideas come to me at the most unexpected places and times. I do need 'my' time though. I'm not one of these people who see a slot in the day and sit and create. I need to know that I have taken care of everything else and I do block days out in my diary for painting. I love having the whole day to create and I get into the flow very fast, starting in the morning around 8 and not realizing it's dark outside until I eventually get hungry.
I sketch an idea out, play around with it, create a collage, write thoughts down, until I feel I have something more substantial to start a painting. Sometimes they are 'loners', while other times I have created a story in my mind which consists of a series of paintings. Then I'm impatient to get everything down on paper and dive into developing the 'script'.
During the pandemic, while our world was turned upside down and my heart went out to those who suffered and lost everything, I actually found this time very healing. I was working on Teams in my other part time job, so by saving time traveling to work, I could focus on my art. I had a plan.
I started an online business (like many others) where I transferred my art onto a small selection of products - quality and not quantity is at essence here. My dream is to make a decent living doing what I love the most and spread kindness and joy through my art. Of course, I underestimated the sheer amount of admin work involved and other business related work as well as the physical challenge that it all entails. Researching, ordering, deliveries, carrying and unpacking boxes and storage! My family and partner were so supportive and helped me wherever they could, and I definitely got on their nerves at times to say the least. I have them to thank for where I am now!
I did, however, learn so much during this time. I discovered the world of podcasts while I painted day in, day out.
The experience of starting your own business, however small, brings with it all kinds of mixed emotions, insecurities and at times, vulnerability. I was, and still am, really moved by the support my community is showing me. Their encouragement is paramount to the determination and perseverance I've acquired, which has been shaky at times.
I'm on a long and very competitive road, but one which I have chosen and where I see little glimpses of tiny successes from time to time. My products are now in 5 shops in Switzerland (I'm still pinching myself) and I'm now looking to stock internationally. This small inkling that I'm on the road I was always meant to be has been affirmed and empowered by the realization that this is not just about me. I want to connect with others, to give and share with loved ones and with like-minded people. I'd like to collaborate, work on projects with other artists and businesses, be involved and connected. There is a lot of love coming out of the whole process and some tears, but also purpose.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists are people. People also need to earn a living, and art is one way to do this. What is our role in society? As I mentioned before, I do not send political or societal messages, others are good at this, I am not. For me, as an art therapist (albeit no longer practicing), art is a true expression of authentic feelings and fantasies. It helps people to cope with their relentless worries and issues and is a channel for self expression. Art can surprise, can make you cry, can leave you cold or evoke anger and trigger unwanted surprises. It is produced by humans. It is also a way to reach out, to connect and to share. I love being moved by the arts, dance, music, theater and writing. I feel alive and feel moments of deep happiness and love as well as sadness. It's just life.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have had a couple of small exhibitions in the past 2, 3 years in Switzerland, where my work was well received, and I loved meeting friends and new people. Exhibitions always scare me a little – there's so much vulnerability attached to them, or rather to the artist. Hanging your soul on a wall and waiting for reactions is pretty eeky. I have also taken part in a few Design markets, which I really enjoy the buzz and the variety of visitors.
I will be having a joint exhibition with a fellow artist next year, so this gives me a concept to work towards. I am truly grateful that I have the opportunity to live this out.”
