An Audience With Paola Minekov
We recently met artist Paola Minekov and were delighted when she agreed to be the subject of a cushion the impact blog. Bulgarian artist Paola contributed to the Big Egg Hunt last February and has recently exhibited some of her work alongside that of her father, sculptor Ivan Minekov, at the Bulgarian Embassy in London.Here’s what she had to say…
What do you do?
I’m a visual artist; I do anything from oil and acrylic paintings to multimedia projects, web and video.
How did this type of work interest you? And how did you get started?
Both of my parents are artists; my father is a sculptor and my mum is a graphic designer, so I guess I kind of grew into it. Most of what I know, in terms of technique, I know it from them.
How long have you been doing it?
I started painting seriously when I was a kid, probably around the age of 8 or 9. If we’re talking about making art, it’s safe to say I’ve been doing that all my life. After graduating from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, I spent a few years working as a multimedia designer before moving to London in 2008. This is when I decided to get serious about exhibiting my art and developing my career as a professional artist.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Making art takes my mind of all day to day problems. It allows me to express my feelings, thoughts and emotions. It’s hard to explain the experience; it’s a meditative process, which provides me with a much needed ‘me’ time, an escape to my inner world, while at the same time it stimulates me mentally and intellectually. I process everything through painting, I don’t know what I’d do and how I’d ever learn to understand the world and my relationships, if I didn’t have that.
What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you at work?
Being an artist, I can go anywhere in the world and just take my work with me. It allows me to meet so many interesting, talented and absolutely amazing people! Lots of strange and unexpected things happen to me all the time. I left home with 2 suit cases and a big box of empty canvases when I was 18 years old. I’ve lived in 4 different countries since. And now, well… One day I might attend a private event and see Bill Clinton or go an exhibition in European parliament in Brussels and the next day I might forget to wash the blue oil paint off my face before leaving the house and get funny looks on the street. You just never know what tomorrow will bring. The key is to grab each opportunity with a smile and just go for it.
What is a typical day like for you?
I’m a coffee addict, so my day typically starts with 2 large mugs of black coffee, while I check my email, Facebook etc. and by 11am I’m about ready to face the day’s challenges. It’s a very bad idea to try and talk to me before 11am! For the rest, every day is different. I have weeks when I’ll paint all day (and night) long and won’t even speak to anyone else. My husband finds these periods very frustrating… I have busy months organizing exhibitions and events and might not find the time to event draw a line, and then sometimes, I’ll just drop everything on a whim and meet a girlfriend for lunch and a few hours of fun. I know it’s cliché to say that as an artist, but I just can’t do a 9-5 job (if only because I simply don’t function at 9 in the morning) and besides I don’t like having a boss…
What is the biggest success you have had at your job?
That’s a bit of a trick question! I hope I haven’t had my biggest success yet. In terms of developing my artistic career, 2012 was extremely successful. I took part in the Faberge Big Egg Hunt, which is the largest public art project to have taken place in the UK. I had a few very interesting commissions, and a joint exhibition together with my father in the Bulgarian Cultural Institute at the Bulgarian embassy in London. Exhibiting together with him means a lot to me on so many levels! The show was received extremely well and I’m flattered to have been invited to exhibit at the institute again in 2013. I’ve also had lots of good press so that was nice and I’ve launched my online gallery.
What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?
I absolutely love it when my collectors write back to me to tell me how much they enjoy having my art on the wall and how happy it makes them. There’s something deeply satisfying in being able to make another human happy with your work.
If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I wish I could spend an hour or two with my 2 favourite artists, Rembrandt and Monet.
Do you have any hints and tips for people wanting to do what you do?
So many kids go to art school and want to become artists these days. The art market is saturated and while being an artist can be immensely satisfying, it is also one of the hardest professions to have. I think one should only become an artist if they really, truly want it, regardless of the fact that it may never bring them fame or money (and contrary to popular belief there is nothing romantic about being a starving artist). Being an artist isn’t about living a bohemian lifestyle either. It’s not about sitting around, smoking Gauloises and waiting for the muse to hit you on the head. There is only one way to keep your creative ideas flowing effortlessly and it is to keep developing them, as well as your skills.
Paola’s Work
As well as answering our questions, Paola very kindly supplied us with some examples of her artwork.
Colourful World: Paola’s contribution to the Big Egg Project
Ballet Repose: An unusual portrait, painted in acrylic, of a resting ballerina, which is based on life drawings of a member of the Royal Ballet. It captures the power of the female dancer and the strong woman behind the role, even when she is relaxing and being herself.
Daughter, Lover, Mother: This work explores the different roles a woman takes on during her lifetime and their symbolism. It has also been painted in acrylic.
Leda and the Swan: Paola’s interpretation of the myth, created using acrylic and 25 carat gold leaf.
More examples and information about Paola and her work can be found on her website and that of the Lantern Art Gallery.
