#ScribeTalks with Andrea Kramarova: Artist based in Amsterdam

Seems like that painting is a part of her DNA! Painting is not only her hobby but also her main job with which she lives. Andrea Kramarova, working under the art name Andy Avocado Art, is a talented Slovak painter based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands with whom we conducted an interview. She enthusiastically responds to all our questions, smiling:

Scribe: Hi Mrs. Andrea Kramarova. On behalf of Scribe magazine, I wholeheartedly thank you for accepting this interview. Would you please tell us when you started painting?

Andrea: Well! I used to always painted since I was little. I was doing different creative activities like writing, painting, and acting, so, I was always very creative as a child.

Scribe: Who encouraged you on this path? I mean how did you fall in love with painting? What was your main motivation?

Andrea: Mmm! I’ve always felt very creative and my mom always supported me very much. She always tried to buy me, for example, new artistic materials. Even though my parents had a lot of financial issues, she always provided me with all the painting supplies, so that I can paint and create.

Scribe: Thanks. The next question: When did you move to the Netherlands? And why? I mean, as a painter, what caused you to immigrate to the Netherlands? Due to presenting your paintings in Amsterdam and other Dutch cities?

Andrea: It wasn’t the intention. So, I’m a traveler, I like to travel. I’ve lived in different places around the world. I’ve lived in Australia for two years. Then, the COVID pandemic happened and I went back to Europe. And I kind of didn’t know what to do because the pandemic caused the art industry to be very very difficult. So, I couldn’t be in my home country Slovakia. I mean I could be there but I didn’t have any job. And I always liked Amsterdam. I’ve been here as a visitor before and I decided I’m gonna try it because it’s an artistic friendly city and also, I can speak English here. I thought that maybe I can start some other non-artistic job first and then when the pandemic is over, slowly I can move into the art. And it was one year ago that I resided in Amsterdam.

Scribe: Thanks. The next question is a little bit technical: What are the different styles of paintings? And what sort of paintings do you offer to your clients? Classical paintings? Or modern ones?

Andrea: OK! So, I have to say that I don’t have one specific style. This is what the professors were always trying to push us to do at the art school, to find our own style, our own handwriting in the artworks. But I never really had it and I don’t think I have it now. I do a lot of styles, but mainly abstract, very colorful, positive, optimistic paintings. Sometimes surrealism, different types of illustrations, according to my mood. Sometimes I use only ink on paper and create something which is black and white and completely in a different style from my other colorful paintings. So, I don’t think I have one style. I just try to focus on my soul, mood, and emotions and paint according to that.

Scribe: Thanks. Now, I move on to the next question: Have you ever participated in any painting exhibitions or contests?

Andrea: Emm! I had a little exhibition in Australia, in Melbourne. It was a part of RAW AUSTRALIA which is a very nice project, making these art events. They are trying to support young artists, not only Australians but also different people from different nationalities, and they are trying to help them and embrace them to go on their right path and create art. So, that was basically my last bigger thing. Now, I’m really trying to step by step to focus on Amsterdam and to get into the art things in Amsterdam and maybe have some exhibitions here.

Scribe: Thanks. When did you participate in the exhibition in Australia that you mentioned?

Andrea: It was 2018, no it was 2019, sorry!

Scribe: Another question: Do you teach painting as well?

Andrea: I do. I do private lessons, but I like to do group workshops, especially in the summertime. I like to make them in nature, where people see a lot of inspiration everywhere around us. So, they can get very creative. I like to embrace people to create because I think that everybody can. Sometimes people think they cannot do art, but in any art, singing, dancing or painting, everybody can do it. You just have to start. So, this is my mission and that’s why I like to do these kinds of workshops and teaching because I try to show people that everybody can do it if they really want to.

Scribe: Thanks. And next question: In general, do you take painting as a well-paid job? I mean do you advise it as a profession to other people?

Andrea: Well! It is very difficult, as in all the arts, to make living only as an artist. So, I don’t think I would advise people to do that. I don’t do it completely. Emm! I also like some other jobs I do. But I’m trying to focus more and more on art because even if it’s not that easy. like in a financial way, it makes me happy and I want to be happy in life. And I also want to spread happiness through my art, so, I’m trying to maybe not focus on only financial things. I would say it’s just about priorities, what you want in life. Sometimes people need all the security and a proper income, so they can have a family and stuff like this. But I’m not on this path yet, I’m not really expecting to have my own family in the near future. So, for now, it’s just me I can focus on. I can put the securities down a little bit and I can focus on art even if it doesn’t bring me so much money, but it brings me joy and that’s important.

Scribe: Thanks for your complete explanations. There’s no question. In the end, we are grateful to you for taking part in this interview. Wishing you all the best in your career. Have a great and bright future.

Andrea: Thank you so much. You too. Thank you for having me.

Interview conducted by: Seyed Shaho Ahmadi

Seyed is a journalist, biographer, environmental researcher, poet, and
storyteller. While romance and nature are the main themes of his poetry, he has focused on science-fiction topics in writing short stories.