Monica Maja Richardson - Visual Artists Association

An Interview with Monica Maja Richardson: on Recent Success, Creating Art, and Future Hopes.

Monica Maja Richardson – Artists Feature – VAA Member of the Month March 2024

Italian abstract artist based in London, Monica Maja Richardson, embarked on a creative journey that seamlessly transitioned from a successful career as a TV presenter in Italy to a passionate pursuit of painting upon relocating to the UK in 2004.

Art has been an enduring passion for Monica, deeply rooted in her childhood memories. The lingering scent of her uncle’s oil colours remains one of the most evocative recollections from her formative years. A self-taught artist, Monica’s artistic prowess is a result of extensive experimentation and a perpetual love for learning. Immersed in her studio for years, she explored a diverse range of tools and colour palettes, ultimately shaping her distinctive freethinking style.

‘And then the music is on, my emotions go in, the colours slowly change, the vibes become something different. And the final result is always a surprise!’

Oh, I definitely love my life and my routine!

I love my tea in the morning, actually my two teas. First tea when I’m still in bed, usually my lovely husband brings that to me – I know I’m very lucky- and second after breakfast while I work at my desk.

My mornings are spent a lot at the computer, I work on my website, edit all the photos, answer to my emails, read the news. And definitely look at lots of other artists’s paintings!

Then mid morning is the time I dedicate to my body and soul. I’ve done yoga and Pilates for many years, I need to do them in order for my mental balance and for back to work properly. I paint on large canvases and move lots of stuff around the studio, so I definitely need to look after my body.

Plus don’t forget I’m a Roman, and as the Roman poet Juvenale used to say “mens sana in corpore sano” (“a healthy mind in a healthy body”). And it’s so true!

Then I go to my studio and start working there. Painting of course, but even doing so many things around the studio, and researching a lot. Inspiration is everywhere, it can come from the weirdest things and the most unusual moments.

I always have music on, at my desk, in the car, in my studio, so I take time to choose what I feel like listening to. It can vary all the time, with my mood of course, but needs to be present. I couldn’t paint without it, it’s part of my routine. Actually proper part of my life for sure. So much that lots of my paintings have the title of a song that is, or was, important to me the moment I was painting a specific piece.

What does a day in your life look like?

Describe your creative process, from the first spark of inspiration to the finished product.

If I decide that I want to work on something large, I cut a nice big piece from a loose roll I always have at the studio, then staple it on the wall. Painting extra large pieces is always my favourite thing to do, I can put so much of myself in them, I feel like there’s always space for something new.

It’s very fascinating to me because every time I start painting, I start in exactly the same way. But every time the new artwork is finished, it looks completely different from the one before. Sometimes I have in my head a painting from Pollock, or Richter. Or maybe I think of something I saw at an exhibition, like some beautiful paintings from Joan Mitchell at the Tate I saw recently. Colours, vibes, and again emotions, they all need to go on the canvas.

So I’m there, with these beautiful images in my head. And I start painting, thinking “gosh I want to do something like that, use those colours”. And then the music is on, my emotions go in, the colours slowly change, the vibes become something different. And the final result is always a surprise!

It’s a process I love, because every painting is a mix of things that are indeed part of me, plus all the influences I get every day, from daily life, nature, adventures, travels, my family, and of course other art.

‘Stay curious and work hard, that’s my mantra. And I’ll never stop.’

My definition of artistic success is for my art to be seen. Now, when I’m alive. I won’t be able to control what will happen to it once I’m gone. I want to enjoy it now, and want to show it to as many people as possible. I want to do more exhibitions worldwide, possibly even work abroad. Be happy and be visible with my art. Answer questions, explain what I feel when I paint, what I dream. It’s such a blessing to be able to create something with my hands and my emotions.

I have been working with the VAA for a couple of years now, and I have learned so much! They really help artists develop their career and take it to a different level with so many interesting opportunities. I am still mentored by Shirley-Ann O’Neill, I follow their webinars and go to the artists networking events. It’s like being part of a very creative family, a family that wants you to grow and become the best part yourself. Being an artist is a lonely career, so I think it’s important to be able to share it with like minded people, and I have definitely met many at the VAA.

What is your definition of artistic success? How has the VAA helped you so far?

What accomplishments are you most proud of and why? What career goal is your current priority?

My most recent accomplishment has definitely been my last solo show in mid February. I worked so hard for it, I had waited so long before doing another one, always postponing a date feeling that I wasn’t ready. I quite struggle with having people looking at my works. I’m sure I’m not the only artist feeling this, it’s such an intense emotion to have your artworks exposed to the public. When I was there at the gallery, surrounded by my work, I had so many mixed feelings. It was like there were literally parts of me on the walls, so many of the things I had inside were now there to be seen. Not private anymore. But it was a very successful show, and I felt incredibly proud. I felt so much love coming from the people who visited the exhibition, and that was the most rewarding thing.

My goal at the moment is focusing more on different aspects of my career. If I could choose what to do I would probably only spend time in my studio painting, but I understand that for my art to be seen there is always a lot of work to do outside the studio. And that’s what I’m focusing on at the moment. Not only enjoying the creative part, but working on the business part of my work. I just try to make it fun, it’s still something I love and it’s important for my career.

What piece of advice has helped you the most in your career?

Something that a great person, and amazing artist, Barry Martin, told me a few years ago the first time we met. He was incredibly kind, told me so many things about my paintings, he could really see inside my art. And then suddenly he told me to go bold, make bigger artworks. It’s like he could see that I needed more space to express all the abstraction I had inside me, even without knowing me well. It’s probably the best suggestion I was ever given. And gosh he was right, it changed completely the way I painted. I went straight to buy lots of rolled canvas and learned how to stretch it. And I loved this new dimension.

Is there anything you would like to say to the artist you were a year ago?

Well, I would love to tell Monica to keep working hard, to not feel worried about so many little things, and to stop having the impostor syndrome! Calling myself an artist is something that still, after so many years, makes me feel like I’ve stolen a title. It’s silly, I know, I should definitely embrace my profession now, but I’m sure I’m not the only self taught artist struggling with some sort of anxiety of not being enough just because we didn’t graduate from an art school.

What I know for sure is that I will never stop learning, there are still so many things I can do in my artistic life! Stay curious and work hard, that’s my mantra. And I’ll never stop.