Q and A with Charlie Nanos

Q: Tell us about your background. How long have you been making art? 

I’d say I’ve have been making art all my life in some way or another, if you look at my high school reports they’re littered with “doodles too much” although I’ve only been a full time artist for four years, after contracting a rare heart condition in 2021 I was forced to slow down and recover, art was what filled my time and art has been my life ever since. 

Q: Describe your studio for us.

My studio is located on the top of a small hill, it’s actually an old wood shed, it looks over the bushland on our property which inspires the colours I use within some of my artworks. I’m lucky enough to share my creative space with my white Labrador Tofu who I’ll often bounce ideas off. 

Each collection I create I’ll clean my studio, I try to live by a the saying “clean space, clear mind” however during the process it get’s chaotic but then we clear the space and repeat. 

Q: What inspires your paintings of cities, especially Sydney and Melbourne? 

The inspiration for the cities draws back to cherished memories, I have core memories as a child catching the train to the city and being wowed by the size of the buildings the endless roads and laneways, the huge MCG, colours the and chaos.

My main inspiration is memories, of travel, of firsts, of laughter, of music, memories of youth I try to capture that and put it all on a canvas. 

Q: Could you describe the process of creating your paintings? 

I first start out with a very rough light grey lead sketch of my inspiration, adding in the main custom colours to start, the rest of the colours, details happen spontaneously adding, subtracting as I go, nothing is planned.

I will try and stay as close to that original grey lead sketch as possible leaving a small white gap, the final step is often the most rewarding I finish each artwork with a black outline which creates the beautiful flat image. I also leave a little 'easter egg' in each painting - I disguise my signature into my artwork, so if you have an original go searching!

Q: Tell us what’s next for you.

I’m very much looking forward to showing with SARAH BIRTLES Art + Advice at the Melbourne Affordable Art Fair in September.

Over the past six or so months I’ve started to really enjoy the interacting with my collectors, hearing first hand how a particular artwork can trigger a certain memory is really uplifting. Also, seeing people smile and knowing my artwork in someway helped to do that is really rewarding.