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Theodora Demetriades

Artist's Interview

How long have you been creating?: I was aware that I wanted to paint when I was four years old. My Mom was doing a portrait of me in watercolors and when I checked it out to see if it looked like me I remember thinking that I wanted to do that and I had the audacity to think that at 4 I could do it better than my artist Mother. Because my Mom always encouraged me by first grade I was constantly drawing and painting. So I suppose that the creative germ has been in my brain for about 60 years!! Yes I am as old as dirt!!!

What, besides your art, brings you creative fulfillment?: I would have to say that my garden is a great source for inspiration and fulfillment. Just like my paintings my garden is crammed with detail. I keep meaning to have a sign made TO MUCH IS NEVER ENOUGH.

What are your motivations for creating?: I honestly don't know how or what is the root of my motivation for creating...it is some inner drive. Maybe with all of the artists in my family it is something in our gene pool.My Mom besides being a painter and sculpture also sang Opera,my Dad sang Opera, I have cousins who are artists, an aunt and uncle who are artists,my Husband who is an artist,my Daughter who is a ballerina and now an artist. Plus a cousin who runs a successful gallery in Philadelphia and of course also is and is married to an artist.

How do you know when a piece you have been working on is done?: Hmmmm, I would like to say that my work is done when I run out of ink!! That really dosent happen since I am always going back and finding something that needs a little bit of color or a touch of ink.

What do you find stimulating right now? How does this influence your creative process?: At this point in time I am influenced by folk art and also mosaics and Shakespeare. So I am working on a series of pieces combining all three....although not quite as many mosaics .

What brought you to EBSQ?: I found EBSQ quite by chance...I just remember seeing the link on ebay and checking it out. The quality of the work is outstanding plus the site is constantly bringing in new and interesting artists. I especially love the gallery section,plus when I first found EBSQ I used the feature that lets you send someones art as a card...so I used that for unique Birthday cards.

What are some of your artistic goals for the future?: I am trying to piece together a book of drawings that I would like to publish for my family members. Plus I have to finish my illustrated alphabet for my Grandchildren. I am also trying to get a website started with the help of my son Chris.Another factoid regarding my work is that in 60 years I have only painted about 10 works in oil. So maybe just maybe this will be a breakout year and I will do number 11.

What would you like your fellow EBSQ artists and collectors to know about you and or your work?: I think that one of the most underused features on EBSQ are the monthly art shows. I try to fit into my schedule of work pieces that will help to fill up and get the shows started. I would like to somehow get more of the artists interested in participating each month, making EBSQ a major site for shows. This is a super way to have your work exposed to a greater number of collectors.,and all it takes is participation!!! This is also an important fact...I live next to the ravine in which the first dinosaur skeleton was found in the United States: http://hadrosaurus.com/1858.shtml