Petra Schott – Circle Foundation for the Arts

What themes does your work involve?

My work is about my life. It may be about nature surrounding me or I wish would surround me. It me be about all the little things I see or feel: for instance, looking into a mirror and being unhappy with my hair. And then I start thinking about why this is important and when I will go to the hairdresser and so on. These emotions can be transformed into a painting. Or I just want to explore the qualities of a colour or an element like water. My sources of inspiration are manyfold: it can also be artists and their works. I am inspired by artists like Cy Twombly, Joan Mitchell, Marlene Dumas or Martha Jungwirth. I like my work to be intuitive, direct, intriguing - talking in the direct language of art to the subconscious of the viewer.

Describe your creative process.

As I work with oil paints, I always work on several works at the same time, because some paintings need to dry. Sometimes I work in series, sometimes my work comes as a single piece. I don't want to force myself into anything when painting. I want to let it flow. This means that I have to prepare myself by being receptive to myself and the painting and by letting it rest if I don't know how to go on. I often turn on music when coming to my studio. I love music that opens a wider field of consciousness like the Indian Raga music. This helps putting me into the right mood. And then I choose a painting to work on today. It is a painting that speaks to me, where I feel a certain excitement to go on. And sometimes the creative process is like a dance, quick strokes without too many thoughts.

What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?

My work is influenced by the tradition of hundreds of years of painting. I learned from the old masters and from the modern masters, not in the way that I copied them, but in the way that I take up certain aspects of their work. Also, I am influenced by nature and my regular walks in the mountains which I find very healing and calming. I take up all these influences and try to find my own path in art. I want to open a door with my works allowing the viewer to enter new inner spaces and have visions of freedom and a truth beyond words.

What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

For me, a great piece of art inspires me, excites me , surprises me and takes me into a new space of consciousness.

What is the role of the artist today?

I think there is not only one role for an artist today. As we as artists are so different, also the artists' roles are different - and that makes art so lively and inspiring. Some artists pursue ideas or concepts, some artists just work on their emotions or on representational perfection. I see my role as just expressing my artistic painterly voice and add to the canon of other voices, making the concert richer.