Silvia Pastore
Artwork for Silvia Pastore
Details
How would you describe the work you do and why?
Painting for me is about finding beauty in everyday life. It is a tool to enrich and widen my horizons and it helps me in making a deeper connection with myself. It pushes me constantly to tune my senses and see beyond the surface to discover new aspects and connections which can be woven in different ways. I have been painting for over 50 years and I believe that this practice has given me the invaluable gift of discovering beauty nearly everywhere I look.
For you what does being an artist mean?:
Being an artist is for me a life journey that runs parallel with my personal growth. It is about learning to stand in a place of humble acceptance about not knowing and profound sense of respect for the gift of life surrounding me. Such state of being happens when my vision is not obscured by the habit to select, discern and control to support my opinions, my ideals and desires. During these precious instants of pure perception, my eyes see with unusual clarity and I discover qualities of colour, lines, spaces and forms which had never touched me before.
Describe what you call yourself/your practice?:
I am a painter, after graduating in 1980 with a B.A.in Fine Arts from the London Central School of Art and Design, I have been working in oils, watercolours and lately coloured pencils. My inspiration comes from two sources, imagination and nature. As regards imagination, for me painting is bringing something into existence from a different dimension. In the landscapes and still-lives, I try to achieve a sense of harmony. Since moving to Herefordshire 20 years ago, I have grown to deeply love the local landscape. I enjoy to draw and paint the views around our farm during different seasons. My objective is the creation of beauty, balance and a sense of poetry.
Your practice & activities include e.g workshops, teaching:
Over the past few years I have been able to concentrate my time and energy to cultivate my drawing and painting skills.
CV & Education, relevant & leading to your artistic practice:
BA Education Trieste University 1973;
BA Fine Art Central School of Art and Design 1980;
Advanced Printmaking Course 1982
Renaissance Paint preparation and painting techniques 1985
Florence Academy old masters techniques 2017
Exhibitions in the last 3 years:
The Artist Magazine September 2022, full article on Painting of the Imagination.
Contemporary Artist 2023, Creative Coverage full article
Lion Ballroom, h.Art exhibition, Leominster 2023
Celebrating Art 2024 full article.
Contemporary artist 2026, article with images, Creative Coverage 2026