About Mario

Specialties

Portait/Landscape paintings

Pencil

Charcoal

Soft pastels

Acrylics

Oils

A brief story

My father was originated from a wealthy family that during the world war 2 came to an economical downturn. After his return from the long war, he headed for the city looking for a better life. He met his wife, got married and had two children. Here is where I come in.

Born in Greece as a kid I was careless and restless, always in motion, always with sports. Life in the scenic neighborhoods of the city the 60's and 70's was simple. Until then my art workshop experience was to watch with curiosity my uncle curving woods in his orange hue atmosphere carpentry and sometimes stowing wood scraps from one place to another. Then at sixteen I joined my family at the hotel business they had in the early 80's, making my first steps in this profession that really changed my life. I spent there three years alongside with studies and traveling from time to time. Then came the army and there was also my first relationship with paints. I was painting military installations and buildings to escape from the routine training hours and for the first time doing some military theme large scale paintings. Quickly I became something like an "art director" for the whole camp, organizing the decoration during various events and celebrations and painting pictures. That was for two years.

After having finished from the army I returned to my favorite activity in the hotel, where ideally I had the opportunity, due to the circumstances, to combine hotel business with art business.

I continued painting, exhibiting and selling my paintings there alongside with my profession for the next twelve years. All these very fruitful and successful years I met very interesting people and artists from all over the world, educating myself about this form of art. At the end of this period I started another engagement with wholesale business of gemstones and jewelry for over fifteen years. During all that time I managed to pair art and entrepreneurship, participated in over forty local group exhibitions, planned & run workshops and attended to many more in Europe, Asia, Africa and America.

Some five years back I visited Mauritius island where I found the time to pursuit excellence in the art of painting. Most of the market for me at that time where local luxury hotels and tourists that came to meet me in my studio by the beach in Flic en flac village.

I was inspired by this little wonderful island of the South Indian ocean, where life was simple and the mind could produce high quality impressions derived from the beautiful landscapes and people of this island.

My last stop is Santorini island in South Aegean sea in Greece where the blue skies and the light are in abundance. The scenery is so dramatically beautiful that literally you can see a painting in every corner.

For the time being I experience living in this small island and discover with all my senses what has to offer to its visitors. One thing I can say for sure is that the light here is so strong, definitely a place for a painter to be.

Nevertheless from the time I can remember myself drawing and painting was always there in my life. A humble self-taught painter the last 31 years expressing my love for the forms yet trying to paint the formless.

Thank you

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