Art & Life with Deborah Argyropoulos

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deborah Argyropoulos.

Deborah, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Although, I am almost 50 (omg! did I just put that in print???) It always comes first in my mind how my parents would not let me go to art school. I KNEW this is what I HAD to do and NEEDED to be in this life- an artist. So…. after going to a 4-year College and skirting around my parents with getting a BFA (although far from an art school) I moved to LA from Baltimore and started apprenticing as a silver smith. Always painting and having a vision of myself having gallery shows (even down to what I was wearing) was put aside as I was not sure how to actually sell my paintings.

An avid photographer since childhood propelled me to also turn this into a viable means of income. Between the photography and silversmithing I gained the courage to take it a step further. I felt like Rocky in the art world. Always having to fight to prove myself and get back up every time I got knocked down. I kept pushing and pushing and fighting my way to where I knew I needed to be. A lot happened between then and now, but the important thing I learned was to ALWAYS go with what I believed in, even if it wasn’t the “right” or “popular” choice.

To this day, I am still very protective and defensive of my choice to become a professional artist. Always feeling if I let my guard down it will all go up in smoke. Passion has always been part of my DNA and the fight in me will not die. If I sold a million paintings, or not a single one, it would not change how I live my life. I paint because I NEED to. I create because I have to. It is not about money or accolades – it is about my primal instinct and passion for what I do.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I consider myself a visual fine artist. I spontaneously create daily. I can be triggered by a color, or texture, or material or technique. Currently my main form of art is painting. That said I am always pushing myself to learn new methods and ways of communicating through the visual arts. The past few years I have been most recognized for my large-scale corporate installation corporate works. These pieces are commissioned for lobbies of corporate and residential buildings. My message is do what you love.

Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
Austin is fantastic for the art community. It is so supportive and innovative in all that it stands for. I feel lucky and proud to be part of the Austin art scene. That said, it will never be easy being an artist. You do it because you need to, not because it is a choice. It depends what your goal are. Do you want to create to express yourself? Do you want to be rich? Do you want to hang out with the “artsy” people? None of these reasons are the wrong reason to become an artist. The best advice I can put out there is for the public to take art seriously as a career.

We may not fix broken bones or do lifesaving surgery; however, we work twice as hard and ten times longer for a lot less money and acknowledgment. We fight to create this life and deserve respect. You wouldn’t negotiate pricing with a surgeon, so why disrespect another field because you deem it not as “important”? You may not notice art on the wall, but I promise you would notice the empty wall- the sterile, sad, lonely, lifeless wall without the art to make a space special and complete.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I show in Galleries as well as private appointments at my studio. The best way to check out my latest works is on IG at https://www.instagram.com/deborahargyropoulos/ My website is dmcart.com and I can always be contacted direct at dmcart@mac.com. The best way to support my work is to buy my art! 🙂

Contact Info:

• Website: dmcart.com
• Phone: 310-463-3908
• Email: dmcart@mac.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahargyropoulos/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.argyropoulos

  Image Credit:
DEBORAH ARGYROPOULOS

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