Distortion 3 Painting

Stelios Kallioras was born in Athens in 1971. He studied marketing at the University of Indianapolis and has built his professional life in the business sector, where he still works in shipping. His painting journey began in 2001 when he began to study his favorite painters and their techniques. Self-taught, he paints for the last 16 years. His work expresses his optimism about life, the need for multiculturalism, the balance in any crowd. Having grown up in Nea Ionia, Attica - an area characterized by the refugees who were established there since the 1920's- he has been exposed to the culture of the Asia Minor. He grew up among families carrying over the experiences and memories of the grandmothers of Smyrna and Constantinople. Colorful experiences, clamorous and optimistic that influenced him greatly. - The story behind my work is simple. My view on art and inspiration is simple, like the simple and obvious terms below. My work is simply my expression. This is me. "Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items (often with symbolic significance) in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect. Generally, art is made with the intention of stimulating thoughts and emotions." S.K.: When my thoughts and emotions are stimulated, does this count? How about, "Painting feels good, makes me happy and full!"? But OK, when you like it, I love it! For sure! "Contemporary art can sometimes seem at odds with a public that does not feel that art and its institutions share its values." S.K.: Love it anyway! It's worth that love! "Inspiration refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in a literary, musical, or other artistic endeavor." S.K.: And when this unbeatable burst takes place, it's always for good! No reason to stop. Let it flow to stimulate senses and result to beloved creation. "In each view, however, whether empiricist or mystical, inspiration is, by its nature, beyond control." S.K.: Could you imagine a world of controlled inspiration? That's not a world to count me in.