Judith Constantinou is already a well-known artist in Paphos for both her watercolours and acrylics, and on Saturday and Sunday, 15 and 16 October, will open her Tala studio as part of the Cyprus Open Studios project.
I caught up with Judith in her outside, creative studio, with a wonderful Greek coffee and spoke to her about her latest passion. Her garden is beautifully landscaped, with many roses, and white pebbles making a stark contrast to the huge bursts of colour from the bougainvillea. We sit under the cool shade of the mimosa tree and Judith explains the difference between carving and sculpture.
“Carving is defined as cutting a particular form or design in wood or stone and sculpture is the art of representation of objects in the solid – that is two dimensional as opposed to three dimensional. I started carving as I already had some traditional, historical material that I wanted to record and as a painter; it was probably less difficult for me than thinking in the round. I joined a class at the Turtle and Moon Art Studio run by Lise Constantinou-Briggs who is a well-qualified and generous teacher. I’ve been addicted ever since.”
This doesn’t mean that Constantinou has left painting though. “Oh no, that would be impossible to stop, but re-charging the batteries by experimenting with another medium, is wonderful. I now have building blocks rather than paper and canvas –it’s more physical, and as you see” she says waving her arms and smiling, “it gets me out of the studio and under a tree!”
The blocks are surprisingly light but there are challenges in working with ytong. “The blocks themselves are fairly easy to saw and cut” explains Judith, “but it’s brittle when it comes to fine work. As with any other art form, a good idea of design, balance and form will result in a pleasing composition. I actually use lino cutting tools and files as I want my work to retain an ‘antique’ hand-made look.”
Constantinou’s work is reminiscent of her painting – diverse, carefully considered and clearly done with great technical skill and understanding. “Whatever any artist produces is the result of his or her knowledge, experience, observation, creative ideas and training – and not necessarily in that order. Most of the work I have done so far reflects early training at the Bartlett School of Architecture where I established a concern for balance and structure as well as a feeling of working in historical context. Then when I came to Cyprus in 1961, and craftsmen were still carving in wood and stone using traditional motifs on an everyday work basis, not as an ‘art-form,’ I became very interested in the vernacular. I’m now busy making a series of stella – information plaques with neither column nor capital, using as many of these traditional Cypriot motifs as possible. Apart from the historical perspective, they make wonderful garden decorations! The traditional patterns – flowers, stars, Cypress trees, plant forms, birds, doors, arches, buildings etc. all make a marvellously rich vocabulary for an artist. These motifs were used to tell a story on doors, dowry chests and household articles made with love and various degrees of skill. I am trying to use as many of these symbols as possible, as a means of preserving them.”
Will you be partaking in Open Studios this year? “Yes, this weekend only on both Saturday and Sunday. I shall have a large selection of watercolours and acrylics on exhibition as well as carvings. As many artists work in isolation, Open Studios gives us a super opportunity to reach a wider range of public.”
Constantinou also teaches and has classes during the week, so there is no sign of retirement on the horizon. “While I’m still standing and able, I love being able to share my knowledge and experience.”
You can get to the studio by turning up Stephanie Avenue after the Casa Luna Restaurant in Tala, and then right into Ayiou Stephanou street.
The Art and Beauty of Creating – from Painting to Carving
Artist Judith Constantinou opens up her studio as part of the Open Studios event. October 15-16. Judith’s studio at 4 Ayiou Stephanou Street, Tala, Paphos. 11am-5pm. Tel: 26-652760
By Anna Shepherd
