Petra Schott: The Realm of Abstraction
Petra Schott’s paintings invite the viewer into a world of quiet contemplation, where vivid colors and bold brushstrokes permeate the canvas. In this interview, Petra shares the evolution of her journey and process with us.
Tell me about your background and where your creative journey began.
I discovered painting during my twenties studying law at that time. I realised I love painting and being creative with colours, shapes and lines, letting myself drift deeply into the half-conscious worlds. Painting became more and more important in my life, so after having finished my law studies I decided to study fine arts.
For a long time I was working as a lawyer and at the same time spending my free time painting in my home studio. I started taking part in exhibitions in the nineties. In 2015 I stopped working as a lawyer, started looking for a studio outside my home and since then spent my days in my studio enjoying this new life completely.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
My sources of inspiration are manyfold: it can be artists and their works, it can be simple situations in my everyday world. I am inspired by artists like Cy Twombly, Joan Mitchell, Marlene Dumas or Elisabeth Cummings. Also, I did a four year masterclass with the wonderful painter Leiko Ikemura, which inspired me a lot. In addition, there is nature as a source of inspiration. This for instance has condensed in a cycle of elements like air, water, soil. Also, I worked on a series called “Introspection,” and on a series called “Women, Girls and I,” with female abstract portraits on small formats. But there are also inspiring situations in my everyday life which are absolutely simple: for instance looking at a photo in a newspaper and seeing how it dissolves into something else, I see it becoming an abstract painting. This happens when I am permeable for all that happens around me, and I love these moments when I feel deeply rooted in a universe of colours, shapes and lines when all around me is inspiring.
How has your work shifted and evolved over time
Over time my work has developed into a more abstract way of painting, whereas in the beginning I was on more of a figurative path.
My work has more developed into a more open way of painting where I can express my emotions, visions and memories in a completely free way.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
When I arrive in my studio I normally sit down and look at what I have painted the day before. I tried to connect with these paintings which are not yet completed, to find out which one is speaking to me. It’s a more or less meditative way of connecting to what I have done before. And then I start by choosing the painting which is most close to my current mood and I continue painting with that one. For the time being I mostly paint with oil colours which means that I cannot complete a painting in a day. It has to dry in the meantime. So painting for me is going on with one, two or three paintings not yet completed. I need a lot of patience, which I do not always have.
Before I also painted with acrylic colours and then I could go on and on with the same painting all day. However I changed my medium because I like oil paints in their naturalness und depth.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
What has most impacted my experiences as an artist is just painting every day. Of course other artists have impacted me too, and as I said I take my inspiration from all sides. But I think what is most important for an artist is just go on painting every day.
How has Instagram impacted your art career?
Instagram has impacted my art career because it is a great way to connect with other artists, galleries and buyers. Sometimes it feels like walking through a museum of contemporary art when you scroll through your Instagram account. In times of Covid it was a great way of staying connected to other artists and having online exhibitions when real exhibitions were not possible.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
My goals are just to become more widely known in the art world and to find ways of exhibiting my art to the greater public.
Website: http://www.petra-schott.de
Instagram: @petra.schott.art