Interview with Art&Style blogger and artist Klára Petra.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
There are literally hundreds if not thousands of street style blogs around the world now. Of those, your blog really struck a cord with me. It presents street fashion, but more so, it presents it in the most unique and in my opinion, the most interesting way.

What inspired you to start painting street style? Did it start with photography first?

Art&Style ~ A:
I met a street style blogger in Germany in the summer of 2007. She took a photo of me. At first I didn’t understand why. That was my introduction to street style. I came back to Hungary and searched street style blogs. From that time on I was a street style blog addict :) These all inspired my work.
When I started my blog yes, I first took a photo and then I painted from the picture. It’s easier because nobody could stand for me for days in the street :)

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
What is your background.. are you schooled, self-taught, just a hobbiest?

Art&Style ~ A:
In 1997 I was admitted to an art school where I learned graphics, lino cuts and etchings. I started my painting career in 2002.
I have a Masters Degree in Industrial Design.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
As a fellow street style blogger, I try to shoot everyday. Painting obviously takes much more time… how often do you create a new image?

Art&Style ~ A:
Oh yes…It varied. Every one or two weeks. I usually painted 2 pictures at the same time

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Are your subjects random, or do you plan your shoot/sitting?

Art&Style ~ A:
It varies.

~ Three of the artist’s renderings ~  Interview continues below.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Where are most of your subjects from? Do you travel to find subjects or focus locally?

Art&Style ~ A:
Most of subjects are from my university, Sopron.  I always found students there.  But I really like traveling, so when I went abroad I took pictures there too.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
What is your process.. blank canvas, reference photo?

Art&Style ~ A:
I use a reference photo to paint from.  I paint with watercolor, brush-pen and ecoline on paper.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
How large are the actual pieces?

Art&Style ~ A:
Around 20 x 30 cm. These are small pictures.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Do you sell the style portraits.. if so, who is a typical buyer.. the subject?

Art&Style ~ A:
Yes, my gallery sells them. My buyers are mainly collectors, art lovers.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Given the immediate nature of the web, and blogging… do you or did you feel pressure to post more often?

Art&Style ~ A:
Oh yes… but in fact I finished this series. I had a plan. I wanted to paint 100 pictures to post to my blog. Finally, last May I finished, but I really miss this project. For the last two years, I painted for this series almost everyday.  A big piece of me :) But I had to finish because I have other ideas. Now I’m working on a paper dolls series and a mimicry project.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Is this your only venture… do you have a regular job aside from painting.. or are you a full-time artist?

Art&Style ~ A:
I am very lucky and happy because I am a full- time artist. When I painted this series I was a student in the university. Sometimes it was very hard…the painting and the school at the same time.

~ Three of the artist’s renderings ~  Interview continues below.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
How has blogging changed your approach to art?

Art&Style ~ A:
Yes, it creates a very different approach. I didn’t know blogging before this project. I learned a lot of things from this blog.   This project was growing and I have readers from Asia across to the USA. I have feedback from around the World and it’s a very good feeling for me.   You know…it’s not just a project in Hungary, it’s an international thing.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Has your blog created opportunities in art that you may have never found traditionally?

Art&Style ~ A:
Yes. It’s more interactive than the traditional way. It’s allowed me to reach and connect with people around the world.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Do you market yourself and your blog?

Art&Style ~ A:
Yes. My gallery participated on the Dubai Art Fair a week ago and they exhibited this series.
(But I would like to note; I painted this series because I like this topic and I enjoyed the painting. The marketing and selling is good, but secondary, not most important.)

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Would you like to increase your viewership, and if so, what are your goals for Art & Style? What are your goals as an artist? Are they one-in-the-same?

Art&Style ~ A:
Yes, I would like to increase the viewership of course :) I want to show my project around the World.  As an artist I would like to continue painting, stay a full-time artist.  And I really want to receive an artist-in-residency program.

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
What are some of your favourite style blogs and why?

Art&Style ~ A:
I have many favourites. Garance Doré- elegant, Hel Looks- „crazy” colorful people, The Sartorialist- the prime, Rio etc.- smiley people, Ourstyle and Style&Budapest- because Hungarian :) Lookbook- inspiration source, Fifi Lapin- cute…and more and more….

StyleQuotient ~ Q:
Lastly, what is your favourite piece of yours?

Art&Style ~ A:
Hmn….hard question…maybe… Ádám. He is a boy from my university. I love his style and his hair is always perfect :) Aneta. She is a Polish artist. She looks like a diva. And Sophia because she is my soulmate :) She is a Chinese painter. She has a very nice style.

~

Thank you.  Please be sure to explore Art&Style and more of Klára’s work.