16.12.11
Congratulations to a great Australian artist and my wonderful art mentor, Jeff Makin for the launch of his book, Critical Moments. Another fulfilling event and life long memory for me. I’m standing in one of my favorite local galleries, James Makin Gallery, sharing a great milestone for someone who not only inspires me but has gifted so much of his experience, and so enthusiastically, to my own art practice. Books are my weakness but to now own, in my...
15.11.11
The Sketchbook Project 2012 World Tour This is such a brilliant idea. I couldn’t pass up the chance of having my sketchbook travel the world (and then live forever in The Brooklyn Art Library). After all if I can’t travel why should my children miss out hey? Fly, kiddies, fly! So basically I registered online, ordered my sketchbook and became super friendly with the posty for a few weeks until he finally handed over my parcel. On arrival I...
31.10.11
A bit tricky being a designer and coming up with your own identity… where do you start? My audience can be the judge here. I’ll look forward to your comments. Site design and creation by Soula. Business cards scratched and etched by Soula and editioned by Theo. Design/sales/commissions: Theo Mantalvanos 0418 514 335 soula@soula.com.au
29.10.11
Life drawing is my core, and not only for my art but for my design work too. I find it meditative, a discipline and that translates to strength, confidence in thinking and expressing my line on paper. I am currently drawing actress, Meredith Penman, fortnightly. The 3 hour session usually starts with two minute poses to warm up, then to five minutes and then 10 minutes. I’m using charcoal and drawing ink on paper for now. Let’s see where...
22.09.10
Mother of God of the passion This is my freehand version of an Andreas Ritzos icon. Icons are quite specifically ‘transferred’ but I purposely wanted to see how my hand would interpret this particular icon. For Roberta (happy birthday). Egg tempera and gold leaf on prepared gesso wood panel. 10″ x 8″. 2008-10. Sales/commissions: Theo Mantalvanos 0418 514 335 soula@soula.com.au
12.08.10
Master copy Girl With a Pearl Earing Master copies, good practice My dear art mentor, the brilliant Jeff Makin, tells me its good art practice to always work on a master copy and set me to my first project. A master copy of Johannes Vermeer’s Girl With a Pearl Earing. Read more… Not for sale. Oil on linen. 18″ x 16″. 2010 Sales/commissions: Theo Mantalvanos 0418 514 335
soula@soula.com.au
22.06.10
James Makin Gallery, Tuesday night life drawing with Jeff Makin. 2010. Not for sale. Conté on paper. Various sizes, long poses. Sales/commissions: Theo Mantalvanos 0418 514 335 soula@soula.com.au
22.03.10
The Virgin of the Rose Garden My version of Stefan Lochner’s (c. 1400 Meersburg ?; 1451 Cologne) The Virgin of the rose garden. Original: 51 x 40cm mixed technique on wood. I used egg tempera on plaster panel (that my dad made!). 9″ x 12″. 2010 Not for sale. Sales/commissions: Theo Mantalvanos 0418 514 335 theo@soula.com.au
29.10.09
In October 2008, while at my Delightful exhibition I had a visit from Cathy Alexopoulos, President of the Greek-Australian Culture League (GACL). Cathy was searching for a Greek female artist that the League could feature in the 2009 Antipodes periodical. We had a lovely chat and I was incredibly drawn to the opportunity of being included in this creative and most cultural publication. We agreed to catch up in the new year. Of course one thing led to another...
20.08.09
Egg tempera on absorbent ground. Sealed with wax. Approx 6 x 2 mt. 2009. This was a very exciting project, one of those very close to the heart. My mum’s patron Saint in Maroni village, Cyprus is St. George and each visit I’d head over to the church and resort to the ‘secret magic powers’, (or more like the wonderful tradition passed down from my grandmother). Apparently if you lightly flicked a coin onto the icon and made a...
