Art by Christina Simeonidis

Tell us more about yourself! Do you have hobbies and interests outside of making art? 

Aside from art, I love to bake and cook. Growing up, I always looked forward to helping my mother and grandmother in the kitchen. Cooking was a way for us to bond, sharing recipes and eating together. It is always something that has brought me much joy and will continue to do so. 

I also love to collect things! I have an extensive snow globe and doll collection. Part of the thrill of collecting is going on the hunt for a new item. The memories made along the way are always something that sticks with me. Because of this, every item I own, holds a memory. And for me, the memory is what really makes collecting things special. 

What are your ambitions as an artist? 

As I write this, my current ambition is to be able to one day draw an album cover for some rock band. I find it would be cool to work with some niche band and be able to collaborate on such a cool project.

Tell us more about your process! 

When starting a new project, I always start by gathering material that inspires me. This can range from photos, videos, or music and I compile them together to create a sort of mood board. I then like to create a sketch of what I aim to create followed by a detailed plan for sculptures or colour swatches for paintings. Then I dive right into it and get into a state of flow creating my new piece.

What are your favourite ideas or themes to explore in your artwork? What are you working on right now? 

My favourite ideas to work with are mainly nostalgia and the Gothic -Romantic. Currently, I am working on a mixed media work (painting and drawing) which was inspired by my English Gothic Horror class. I have taken material from that class to create a piece about challenging order and identity. This idea is conveyed by a group of people who ostracize that which threatens their sense of identity and order. This highlights how difference becomes a source of tension and vulnerability. Thus, the horror lies between the divide of norm and other.

What is your favourite object to make art with/ about? 

My favourite object must be my trusty mechanical pencil. My mother gave it to me, and it was her pencil during her time in university. It is the pencil I use to create all my sketches, and without it, I probably wouldn’t be creating the same. 

What drew you to art-making originally? 

One of the first hobbies my father got me into was painting. The moment I was old enough to hold a paint brush in my hand, away he was setting up the kitchen table, ready to paint. Every weekend growing up, we would paint together for hours on end. That’s probably what drew me to artmaking initially. I’m sure if it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t be in this position right now. 

What methods, disciplines, or materials are your favourite? 

I love working with acrylic paint and glazing medium. Working from dark to light and slowly layering all the paint and glazing in between to create depth in my pieces is one of my favourite methods. When painting my sculptures, I use a similar method, where I start with a very dark base colour and work my way up to the lightest tones. I find this layering allows me to create depth in the piece, enhancing its overall appearance. 

What was the most beautiful thing you saw today? 

The most beautiful thing I saw today must be my dog. Although he is your stereotypical white crusty dog, he will always be the most beautiful thing in my eyes. 

This Q&A has been edited for length.