Despina
Despina is an artist originally from Montreal, QC and for the last 10 years has been enjoying living in the beautiful Capital of Canada. She works as a mental health social worker and is passionate about helping others in their journeys to recovery. During her spare time, she loses herself in paint and uses all sorts of mediums like acrylics, watercolours and mixed media.
A bit about Despina's journey as an artist:
Despina always wanted to be an artist. She applied to study art in college but was not accepted into the programs she applied to which shook her confidence in her skills.
This lead her down a different path as she become a social worker specializing in mental health and addictions - a profession she is truly passionate about.
While working on the front line, Despina continued to make some art and tapping into her creative side. When she would paint, she mainly worked with acrylic paint. She took a watercolour workshop in 2018 which re-ignited her fire for fine arts! She started making watercolour Christmas cards that she shared with family and friends and after receiving so much positive feedback, decided to start selling them the following year. Fast forward two years later, in the summer of 2021 she was asked to commission two paintings. This is when Despina started to realize that people really loved her art and wanted it in their homes which in turn helped her believe in her skills as an artist. In June 2021, she started looking at the prospect of sharing her art with a wider audience and here we are today.
Her ultimate mission is to spread creativity, positivity and raise mental health and chronic pain awareness through her art.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Hi! Thank you for checking out my art and reading a little bit about my journey.
I use art as an outlet. I paint to let go, to feel, to sort through thoughts and emotions, and most of all to create. Painting brings me to another world and temporarily distracts me from chronic pain and mental health challenges.
I also draw inspiration from nature, music, social issues and other artists like Piet Mondrian, Vincent Van Gogh and Picasso to name a few.
Making art ultimately brings me a lot of joy and it re-energizes me. I am so happy to share that joy with you and I hope that my art resonates with you.
Despina is an artist originally from Montreal, QC and for the last 10 years has been enjoying living in the beautiful Capital of Canada. She works as a mental health social worker and is passionate about helping others in their journeys to recovery. During her spare time, she loses herself in paint and uses all sorts of mediums like acrylics, watercolours and mixed media.
A bit about Despina's journey as an artist:
Despina always wanted to be an artist. She applied to study art in college but was not accepted into the programs she applied to which shook her confidence in her skills.
This lead her down a different path as she become a social worker specializing in mental health and addictions - a profession she is truly passionate about.
While working on the front line, Despina continued to make some art and tapping into her creative side. When she would paint, she mainly worked with acrylic paint. She took a watercolour workshop in 2018 which re-ignited her fire for fine arts! She started making watercolour Christmas cards that she shared with family and friends and after receiving so much positive feedback, decided to start selling them the following year. Fast forward two years later, in the summer of 2021 she was asked to commission two paintings. This is when Despina started to realize that people really loved her art and wanted it in their homes which in turn helped her believe in her skills as an artist. In June 2021, she started looking at the prospect of sharing her art with a wider audience and here we are today.
Her ultimate mission is to spread creativity, positivity and raise mental health and chronic pain awareness through her art.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Hi! Thank you for checking out my art and reading a little bit about my journey.
I use art as an outlet. I paint to let go, to feel, to sort through thoughts and emotions, and most of all to create. Painting brings me to another world and temporarily distracts me from chronic pain and mental health challenges.
I also draw inspiration from nature, music, social issues and other artists like Piet Mondrian, Vincent Van Gogh and Picasso to name a few.
Making art ultimately brings me a lot of joy and it re-energizes me. I am so happy to share that joy with you and I hope that my art resonates with you.
$155.00
Heavy acrylic on wood panel.
10x8"
A semi-abstract portrayal of spring flowers swaying in the wind (1 of 1)
Despina made this over the span of 25 days in March 2022 in anticipation of springtime and brighter days ahead.
$155.00
Heavy acrylic on wood panel.
10x8"
Semi-abstract of flowers in a vase (1 of 1)
heavy textured acrylic paint on 8x10 inch wood panel
A semi-abstract portrayal of spring flowers in a golden vase. Despina made this painting over the span of 24 days in January 2022 in anticipation of springtime and brighter days ahead.
“Tropics” is a social commentary that depicts the multiple demands that we face in various aspects of our lives - attempting to contain and balance it all in our day-to-day without overextending ourselves.
$95.00
Charcoal on paper (framed).
19x15"
Black & white cloudy sky with a ray of light
Charcoal on paper sized 8x11 inches
Framed in wooden frame sized 19x15 inches (mat included)
$185.00
Mixed media on canvas.
16x20"
Mixed media abstract inspired by contemporary artist Piet Mondrian
Themes
mental health & chronic pain
self-care
resiliency
strength
Statement from the artist: I started this piece to overcome the intense anxiety stemming from chronic pain I was experiencing at the time. At the start of making this piece, I felt completely overtaken. I tried to sort through the thoughts and feelings by laying the intensity out on the canvas. As I was creating this piece, I even thought that I had a perfect name for it too...Overtake. As I truly felt that; the anxiety overtook me. That it took control over me and was creating for me.
By the end of this process, after adding layer after layer over several days, I was able to feel and see that I had overtaken it. Conquered it. At least for the time being.