Your paintings have such a dreamlike quality. What or who would you say has had the most influence on your painting style?
I love Tamara De Lempicka's style, clean lines and angelic looking portraits. I like my art to transfer the viewer to another time or place and away from all the hassles of daily life.
Your show at Bivs features gentle blues and apricots. Do you have a favourite colour of the moment?
My favourite colour at the moment is pink. Colours for me are more than a visual experience, colours are shaped by memories, sense of place and time. It is impossible not to use blue in my paintings considering we are surrounded by the beautiful Indian ocean.
Are the people in your portraits real people? Is there anyone you would like to paint?
All the people in my paintings are real people, I like to look at a face and then filter it through my eyes, that is where I get creative and it is the most enjoyable part of the process. I usually do not have a special person in mind to paint. I choose the subjects based on the feelings and emotions that I receive from the person in a photo or video. It is more about connection.
What’s next on your art calendar?
I am working on creating new art works. I am also creating a few still life and landscape paintings.
Rumour has it that you own a pet whippet. Please tell us more about your adorable furry friend!
Her name is Noona and she has been with us for 11 years. She is the sweetest girl! She is influencing lots of my paintings these days. I am trying to capture her life in some of the paintings, such as her love of lying on the couch in the sun! She has these beautiful big round eyes which makes it difficult for me not to paint them!
You can follow Azita Conte at @azita_arts. Her exhibition is gracing the walls at Bivs and original artwork is available for sale.