FIGURATIVE ARTIST THEODOSIA MARCHANT
Theodosia Marchant
Painter · Athens / Los Angeles
Law, then LA, then a full-time life studying feelings of all shades.
Why this conversation
Theodosia Marchant was an Athens-born lawyer in London for years before art became anything more than something she did quietly, for herself. It took a move to Los Angeles, the end of a job, and a stretch of not knowing what came next for that private hobby to become a full-time life. I wanted to talk to her about painting as a way to calm the mind, about paying your dues, and about what it means to make a practice out of studying feelings of all shades.
The road here
She was born in Athens and moved to London to study law, working as an attorney for many years before relocating to Los Angeles with her partner for his work. For a long time, art stayed private; very few people knew about her intense interest in making it. In London she barely painted at all. "Art was a passion, but from an observant point of view," she says, galleries and dance performances and poetry readings, anywhere she could get her fix. So immersed in the corporate world, she had half-forgotten what it meant to create, and quietly doubted she was any good.
In LA she worked for about a year for her UK employer, and when that ended she had to decide what she actually wanted. It was an unsettling, stressful time; she had always worked, and the future, including how long they would even stay in the US, felt up in the air. She started making art mainly to calm her brain. Then she showed a finished piece to a mentor and friend, who told her to stop doing everything else and explore it. "And that is how it started."
Entering the LA art scene, to her relief, was not difficult. Her work was seen and welcomed, and in 2016 she showed in a gallery for the first time. "I was pinching myself." Since then she has exhibited across the city, and one place stands out: the ShockBoxx Project, an artist-run gallery she has been close to since its infancy and helps behind the scenes. She admires how fiercely its owners keep it experimental, letting artists put out whatever they want. That kind of freedom, she says, is rare, and she has even imagined a solo show of her own there.
My paintings study life, constructed by feelings of all shades.
The conversation
Your greatest inspirations or influences?
I am inspired by life, the human mind, intimacy, emotions. My paintings study life, which is constructed by feelings of all shades, light, dark, intricate, simple. I use my subjects to deconstruct our human experiences and explore our innermost wants and desires, and how those affect our physical and mental wellbeing. Each series I develop tells its own story, some reflecting on ideas, others documenting my life in a diary-like way.
What does your creative process look like?
It starts with notes and sketches. I write down random thoughts and words and keep cutouts in my sketchbook and journal. Sometimes it is quick, sometimes it takes time, depending on the idea. At some point I can see the visual language and how to translate it onto the canvas. I cannot pinpoint when it happens, but it feels great when it does. Then I experiment with palette and size. When I am ready, the execution can be fast. I work a lot, and when something new is being born I cannot stop. It becomes almost obsessive.
How is social media changing how your work is received?
I find it helpful, and I really only use Instagram. It gives artists access to collectors and galleries worldwide; without it, many faraway markets would have been far harder to reach. I have made wonderful personal and professional connections through it, and it is invaluable for research. The drawback is the distraction, and the low-level competition of always having to be present. So I keep a measure on it, around an hour a day, and treat it strategically, as a way to grow, learn and research rather than scroll.
What do you make of the art world?
When I started, someone told me I needed to pay my dues. It annoyed me then, but I understand it now. You can jumpstart things and be an instant success, but that does not necessarily bring longevity or artistic progression. The art world tends to embrace a more rounded artist who has been around the block. Every industry has its spoken and unspoken rules, and you can choose to follow them or not. When I notice dynamics that do not align with my principles, I step away and try not to dwell. The journey has also introduced me to some truly wonderful people, and for that I am grateful.
What does wellbeing mean to you?
Being at peace with myself and the choices I make, being healthy, being surrounded by genuine love. When I am stressed, I look for that peace through meditation and exercise, walking, hiking, anything that releases a little endorphin and brings my mind back to harmony.
Anything else you would like to share?
When I am not painting, I am with my four-year-old son, running around, biking, building spaceships, drawing dinosaurs, being as silly as possible. I came to motherhood later in life, and I am glad, I was more ready to embrace it, with all its challenges. In terms of my work, his presence has given me a clearer purpose and more determination.
When something new is being born, I cannot stop. It becomes almost obsessive.
See more of Theodosia's world, the paintings, the series, and where to find the work.
Website Series Instagram Artsy
