DANIELA PROKOPETZ 

 

 

1. Share a bit about you and how you became an artist.

 

As a child, I loved playing in nature. I often went to my grandmother's house, who had a large natural garden. There I played with everything that could be found locally. Snail shells, nutshells, plants and stones. I often painted and drew and made up stories about them. Later, I wanted to learn how to draw true to life. I studied art education and painting. I decided to turn my passion into a profession and bring art closer to people.

 

 

 

 

    

    

2. For artists who've always lived in their birth country, how does your homeland inspire your art?

Artists who born and raised in different countries, how do those experiences influence your art?

 

 

The environment in which I grew up inspired me a lot, even as a child. Later, the surrounding landscape of vineyards, which characterize the landscape, was more of an analytical model for learning to draw realistically and to try out color studies. Even at that time I experimented a lot and I enjoyed trying out many different materials. I studied in Vienna, Linz and Bologna and stayed in Bulgaria for a few years. Now, I’m living with my husband and our two young daughters in Lower Austria in the countryside, exactly in the area where I originally grew up. My artistic approach is now more intuitive, more process-oriented, more in-depth.
I love to work with colours, structures and details in nature, such as the structures of a leaf or stones. In addition, the lines of the surrounding wine terraces and collected earth pigments can often be found in my works.

 

 

 

 

3. Can you describe your art and your art style? What does your work aim to say?

 

 

I treat my paintings like little treasures, very lovingly and deal with them in detail in order to understand them and uncover their essence. My art is layered and process-oriented and develops over a longer period of time. I usually proceed intuitively, mostly incorporating paper collage material. It's a sustainable process that gives additional structure through the material, which I find very interesting. But sometimes I also scrape off layers of paint and collage, which creates liveliness. I like to use natural and earth pigments, preferably self-collected from the vineyards, because they have such a warm and earthy appearance. My works should give people the feeling of a cosy place, peace and lightness.

The paintings tell many stories. They remind us of a certain depth and appreciation of nature, how we feel, when we let go of our thoughts, try ourselves out, come to rest and feel free inside.

 

 

 

 

" I let myself drift" by Daniela Prokopetz, Austria.

 

 

 

4. Who re your biggest influences?

 

 

What I love most is the work of Helene Frankenthaler, the free flow and this free expression has always inspired me.
I love William Turner and how he deals with the white mixtures and the light. And the Impressionists, because they create an atmospheric space and know how to capture the moment.

 

 

 

 

5. How has your career developed and evolved?

 

 

While I was still at school, I began to paint the first landscape watercolors. After that, I was lucky enough to study painting in Linz, Vienna and Bologna. Since I was fifteen years old, I have been taking part in exhibitions and organizing them myself. I teach young people about the love of art and access to it. I just keep at it and go my way. Since 2021, since I finished my painting studies in Vienna, I have been trying to seriously pursue art as a job and make a living from it.

 

 

 

" Place of longing " by Daniela Prokopetz, Austria

 

 

 

 

6. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

 

 

I would like to expand my circle of acquaintance even further and look forward to my paintings being able to enrich many beautiful new homes. If I could arrange a huge organic installation in a museum, that would be great. I would like to show my art in particularly cool places like Paris or New York and have a solo show or a collaboration with a very special gallery.

It would be nice if even more people became aware of my online shop and I could expand my reach here. There are so many things I'd love to try! Also to bring people more to connect with nature and into their own peace. Through one of my paintigs or through workshops that I give! I'm looking forward to all of it!

 

 

 

 

7. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as an artist?

 

I would say – specialize. As best you can! And work out your essence.

 

 

 

 " Space to breath " by Daniela Prokopetz, Austria

 

 

 

8. How do you balance your personal life and your art practice?

 

 

I'm in the process of finding the right way for me. I don't like to do a thousand things at the same time anymore. For me, mindfulness also has something to do with getting completely involved in something and the moment. The fragmentation of our time is a big issue for me anyway. I also like to be on the move in a variety of ways in my life, all this enriches and nourishes me! I have two small children, a husband, a big house and a large natural garden. All of this takes time and I like to do everything myself and consciously - the household, spending time with the children or planting and harvesting fruit. Fresh and healthy food is very important to me.

My studio is in the house and has the advantage that I can go in every now and then and use my youngest daughter's sleep phases for work. But I have to be very focused in my life and try to live every moment intensively. We don't have a TV and we wouldn't have the time :)

 

 

 

 

9. How do you balance social media and your art creation?

 

 

Honestly, it's not always easy and I'm still trying to find the balance. It could often be more, but I try to serve multiple sales channels, and not just social media. I don't want to be on my phone all the time and not be able to perceive the moments properly! When I'm in the studio, I often just focus on the work, it's a soothing game that I want to fully engage in. But sometimes I also make short videos or photos to give some insights.

 

 

 

 

10. Can you share your favorite quote and what it means to you?

 

 

"Where focus goes, energy flows"

I'm constantly working on my art, but also on myself.

Development is very important to me. I’m trying to create the best version of myself and there are always new challenges. Actually, I have to remind myself more often to treat myself to time out and to consciously enjoy and live the moments in life - whether it's time in the studio or back office, with loved ones or in nature.

 

 

 

 

11. Do you have any advice for aspiring artists or those thinking of starting an art career?

 

 

To make a living from art is a decision that requires perseverance. You shouldn't expect a sprint, but a marathon that will be worth it if you keep going your way and don't let yourself be deterred too much by other opinions and criticism. I have often been irritated by so-called experts and teachers. It would have been better to focus on myself. Luckily, this only spurs me on in the end. I'll show you what's possible, even if you don't believe in me!

 

 

 

 

12. Where can people find your art?

 

 

I have my own homepage where you can find and purchase my works directly.
Www.danielaprokopetz.com/en

 

Once a month I send an art newsletter to my email list, to which you can subscribe here if you are interested:
https://en.danielaprokopetz.com/kontakt

 

 

You can also find my work at the online galleries Singulart and Kunstab Hinterhof.

  

In addition, you can also find my work, current exhibitions and insights into the studio on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Www.instagram.com/danielaprokopetz
www.facebook.com/danielaprokopetz

 

 

Contact Details

  

DANIELA PROKOPETZ

daniela.prokopetz@hotmail.com

Www.instagram.com/danielaprokopetz

Www.danielaprokopetz.com/en

www.facebook.com/danielaprokopetz