my project was born out of a need of mine that I realized was a need shared by many. In the same way that we buy a custom-made sofa or order a table in the material we want, why can't we create a piece that fits exactly into our home?
I wanted to decorate the walls of my house, but nothing was "made" for my space, so I decided to create pieces myself that made sense.
the truth is that I ended up solving two dilemmas: finding a way to express myself through painting, which has become an essential part of my life, and giving everyone who, like me, wants to choose pieces that fit their home, the chance to order a unique piece created exactly for the space it will occupy.
mainly through the perspective of space, the ability to read a place is something I owe to my background in architecture, which I think has given me a complete vision.
my paintings complement a space, and I think I can do that so well because I studied architecture. this spatial concept allows me to suggest to those who come to me the best size for a work that integrates the space in a complete way.
I also think that the course ultimately created in me the need to question the very "straightforward" metrics of the process of designing a project, to create completely abstract pieces without rules.
what are your influences? and how do you feel they are reflected in your work?
everything that is part of my daily life. especially nature.
I love to travel, see new things, learn about new cultures, but there's nothing like the sea, the mountains, the sky, the forest. all these elements that we take for granted, that we have at our disposal every day and that we hardly notice. if we pay attention, they are super-rich elements, full of information. all this ends up being reflected in my work. for example, when fall begins, it's inevitable that I paint warmer tones, just as when summer begins, I get carried away by blue, or when it's raining, I want to paint with color.
what inspires you when you're creating?
the moment of creation is something very unique, solitary and, for me, inexplicable. It's like I stop thinking and everything stops, I love that feeling. I think the greatest inspiration is ultimately the search for the unknown. when I set out to paint, I have no idea where it's going to take me, and what inspires me ends up being the search for the result, almost like knowing the end of a book or a movie.
no matter how much I paint, every time I start a blank canvas, it's an incredible feeling to have a whole world of possibilities in front of you, with no rules or limits, and wait to see how it turns out.
what has been your favorite project to date?
fortunately, I've been lucky enough to create projects that really fulfill me and it's hard to pick just one, not least because they're always so unique that the satisfaction of finishing a piece and seeing on the other side that you've found exactly what you were looking for is incredible! but I can highlight a set of three canvases I created last month to be included in a decoration project by mariana aires, here in oporto. I was challenged to create an accent piece for the living room and the result made me very happy!
what is your dream project?
to bring art, design and architecture together! these fields have all the power to transform spaces, not just physically, but with the power to make us feel better, I think being able to do that is a real privilege!
today aniStudio is more than just a personalized art studio, it's a space for inspiration and that's the way forward. the idea is to be able to create other unique pieces, such as furniture and decorative items that can personalize and transform anyone's space.
cláudia cavaleiro the editor in chief for CINCO editorial. born in '82 in coimbra, she is graduated in philosophy from the university of coimbra. passionate about books and podcasts in a geek kind of way, she always find something interesting to research. loves to bring awareness to social problems and loves working at CINCO!
