q)Please introduce yourself.
a)My name is Maria Rozalia Finna
and I make art.
q) Where do you live and work?
a)I live and work in
is the arts capital of
q) How would you describe your work
to someone who has never seen it?
a)That is hard to answer...everyone
sees things in their own way.
The feedback i usually get is 'cute,weird,
trippy'...you tell me?
q) How did you start in the arts? How/when
did you realize you were an artist?
a)I used to draw a lot as a child, I prefered
drawing and colouring in to playing with toys.
I had craft books and fairytales that had
a big influence on me.
I'd spend lots of time constructing odd crafty
objects, sewing, drawing fairytale characters
like Snow White and Alice in Wonderland,
and inventing characters of my own.
This was my own private world that I really
enjoyed, its another dimension of invention
when you create, even if you are just a child.
I went on to various 'Art Institutions' when
I completed my secondary education...And then
had some wonderland adventures of my own..
q) What are your favorite art materials and why?
a)That depends on my mood. Digital art can be
really fun,it take less time to create and
also have some wonderful effects.
Oil painting is my prefered medium thought,
it does take longer to bring into the world
and a good studio space is essential but it feels
natural to me.
Sometimes i draw, but it's usually just to
take an idea to the next level.
q) What/who influences you most?
a)Really..that would take too long to answer,
there is a whole universe to consider after all..
At the moment i am interested in fertility,
botany, science and microcosms.
I've been thinking of buying a microscope
and a telescope too, but I'm afraid that i would
spend all of my days and nights
peering through the lenses mesmerised by the
wonders of the world. I have a habit of getting
lost in light, colour and movement.
q) Describe a typical day of art making for you.
a)When i worked on my last series of oils called
'Trinity' I'd wake up at midday and spend a few
hours getting sunshine and just being a part of the
world. I think if you are painting from morning
to night and are confined to your studio all day
you will drive yourself mad.I normally started
painting late afternoon and worked into the night.
I am like a night owl, night is when i light up like
the moon and feel most inspired and productive...when
the streets are quiet and people are sleeping.
There is something magical about the night, even
when you hear the word 'magic' you can't help
but think of the stars
q) Do you have goals, specific things you want to
achieve with your art or in your career as an artist?
a)Really just to do what i want to, when i want
to and how i want to...which may sound vague
but i think freedom is important.I believe
humans are multi-faceted and multi-dimensional
which i believe is the nature of psychedelia.
To be able to express whatever i so desire,
all the sides that have as yet gone unseen in the
3rd Dimension is a lifetimes worth or work.
q) What contemporary artists or developments
in art interest you?
a)Gregory Jacobsen is interesting to me at the
moment because he expresses feeling so well,
and makes me feel so clean.
I think there is more room for sound art/installations
in the art world, atleast here in
At my exhibition i asked my friend Robert
Bravington AKA Oracio to create a sonic interactive
installation which he did and it was great. It
was called L.E.R.S.A (Lights, Electronic, Resonance,
Sound, Analysis). It conveyed in an audio and
visual sense that everything is made of an inherant
frequency or vibration. It was really cool.
q) How long does it typically take you to
finish a piece?
a)That all depends on how long i want to spend
on it, i mean you could go on for years if you didn't
have a deadline, which i would love to do.
The last paintings i did had a three month
deadline, i didn't have any option but to complete
the three paintings within three months, which
i did part time.
I worked on all of them at once. The paint was
barely dry when they were hung on the wall.
q) Do you enjoy selling your pieces, or are
you emotionally attached to them?
a)I used to be attached but I'm not anymore.
I'm happy to move on. I think to let new things
into your life you have to let go of things.
q) Is music important to you? If so, what are
some things you're listening to now?
a)Yes it is! It keeps you sane while you paint
and are floating free in your own mind for
hours and days and months.
My favourite kind of music is probably ambient
and experimental electronica.
When I paint I find Aphex Twins ambient works
and Boards Of
to work to.
I do like big heavy round beats as well, and I need
a good dose of hip hop. Beats in general are
quite primal and grounding,
I think that they connect you to the earth...
whether you know it or not.
q) Books?
a)My favourite book is 'The Neverending Story'
by Micheal Ende who was the son of one of
first surrealist painters. The last book I read was
The Deathly Hallows by J.K.Rowling, I'm a
Harry Potter fan.
Most recently I have been borrowing books from
the library on science and botany. I think nature
is the most interesting and inspirational
thing to read about.
q) What theories or beliefs do you have
regarding creativity or the creative process?
a)For me it is to just enjoy the trip. Everything
I create (and I imagine all artists can relate to this)
I live and feel at the same time. It maifests itself
around me and/or comes from out of me.
Either you become the art, or it becomes you...
or maybe both. Its like some type of alchemy.
q) What do you do (or what do you enjoy doing)
when you're not creating?
a)Well…my favourite place to be at my friends
house who is a musician and has something like
50 analogue synthasizers. It's like being in
Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.
There are certain sound frequencies that
really stimulate and excite me. That studio
is a beautiful place.
I also enjoy connecting to nature and the rest
of humanity as well as animals.
I am a huge cat lover, one of my favourite things
to do is to meet new cats, or just stop to say 'Hi'
to the neighbourhood felines and molest them
a little with my crazy love.
I feel I understand them and they me.
q) Do you have any projects or shows coming
up that you are particularly excited about?
a)I am working on a colouring book at the moment
which I am really enjoying actually. Its called
'Microcosmas' and its full of characters that are
very micro(and macro)biologically
fertile. It's about creation really. They are mini
universes giving birth like Goddesses do. I will be
very excited to see them coloured in by other
people.
I plan to create an installation based on this
theme as my next project and then move on
to my next series of oils.
q) Do you follow contemporary art scenes? If so,
how? What websites, magazines, galleries do
you prefer?
a)I do pop my head in to the Juxtapoz online
magazine here and there to see whats going on
in the 'Lowbrow' scene. Most of the blogs and
galleries I visit online are based in
I think L.A has some wonderful galleries. It's
probably my favourite art zone.
q) Ask yourself a question you'd like to answer,
and answer it.
a)
Q. What is your favourite word and why?
A. 'Special' because it can be used in so many
ways and it's most common use is beautiful.
q) Any advice for aspiring artists?
a)Tell the universe your creative intentions
so that she can get the world ready for you,
she supports the arts.
q) Where can we see more of your work online?
a)There are links on my website
to my blog, flickr, myspace art and myspace
music page.
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