Why are you an artist Nick, and when did you first become one?

I am an artist, because creating art and painting is my life and I can put all my heart and soul into painting, and get amazing pleasure from this. I cannot live or think without painting. I think that I become an artist when I first took the brushes, mixed the paints, put them on canvas and my soul appeared in the painting.

Could you tell us some more about your paintings?

My emotions, dreams and feelings transformed into the colors and images on the canvas are my paintings. I explain that all the characters: whether its a king, a philosopher, a child, a jester or a musician are all a depiction of my differences from day to day, making my soul transparent to the canvas. My works can be described as unearthly, tale like and mystical creations regarded by me as symbolic one. I call my paintings symbolic tales for the elders.

You seem to use a lot of symbols in your work. Do your paintings tell stories or are they simply decorative elements of the painting?

Yes I put a lot of symbols in my works. Everything in my paintings have a symbolic meaning (the colors, a little flower, an egg, empty bottles, etc.) This is my encoded language and how I present my ideas to spectators. And yes, every painting has a special story.

What famous artists have influenced you, and how?

I like too much Picasso, Klimt, and Jan Van Eyck very much. When I was young , I was influenced by the works of the old masters , with their masterly made sketches and compositions ,with their masterly techniques. And I started to learn the oil painting techniques of the old masters. At the present time I use multi layers scumble oil technique in my paintings.

What other interests do you have outside of painting?

I like listening to meditation music and reading books about art.

What inspires you to paint and how do you keep motivated when things get tough in the studio?

Meditation music, my dreams and every day emotions give me inspiration to paint my works.

How have you handled the business side of being an artist?

The artist's life is fighting, but if you really are an artist, everything will be OK in your art business.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself with new creative ideas, painting more masterly and traveling around the world with my exhibitions.

What's the best and worst parts of being a full time, working artist?

I think that to be a full time working artist its a big big gift, because you can put all of you in the art.

What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?

Only be an artist from the soul, dont lose and spend time on other things and be very honest in your art.

This interview is taken from ArtQuotes.net