So Virginia, tell us about your concept…

I am Virginia Diakaki, the artist behind The Greener Pastures. I am also Sophia’s mom, a stage designer, a playwright and the owner of a crazy dog named Satsi. I love life’s irony, black humor, strange people and the good old times.  I started painting about ten years ago on a piece of wood board I found lying around the house.I had never dreamed that ten years later my house would be filled with painted wood boards and that I would be selling my art. I am always amazed with the way things that seem unimportant in the beginning, end up playing such an important role in ones life.

Painting for me now is the time when I am most happy. I close my little studio door, put some music on and off I go!Β  All of my work reflects the state of mind I am when I make it and I feel very connected with each illustration.

What is the inspiration behind your work?Β  Who are some people/ what are some projects that have inspired you?

Artistically my work is highly inspired by Victorian imagery, vitriolic humor, Art Nouveau as well as antique Japanese illustrations, tarot cards and anything quirky that draws my attention. I use symbols and animals to interpret human nature, together with thoughts transformed into words. All of these conspire in order to depict human and familiar situations through a bitter-sweet filter balancing between childhood innocence and a dark fairy tale. My goal is to provoke, puzzle but also amuse the viewers of my work.

Whats your experience of the Meet Market?

My own job is basically solitary, so for me The Meet Market is for me an opportunity to meet people, get to know the world around me, and get to talk about my work and generally to communicate.Β  The most important step for me is actually what happens before the meet market.
In the three years that I take part, I cannot remember if I had a problem that has not been solved, an email that has not been answered, or a concern that had been disregarded. This is a work ethic that I would like to see around me more… so I appreciate the Meet Market for this.

Where do you realistically see yourself in 5 years?  If you didn’t have to be realistic, where would you dream to see yourself in 5 years?

Realistically in five years, I see myself doing what I do now, but a little more organized and a little more profitable.
In my dreams, I see myself doing what I do what I do now, but much more organized and much more profitable, and thanking my family and the people who supported me, writing my memoirs, and having at least two cocktails named after me.

Whats the one tool in your workshop that you cant live without?

My pencil.

Whats the strangest job you have every had?

My strangest job was when I worked in television (horrible, horrible, horrible) as an assistant set designer… I have paved gravel at the train stations, I have made beds in a brothel, I have descended into dark basements and climed onto rickety rooftops… generally, I have done it all in this job.Β  You can’t imagine the horror in the job of production manager.

Describe the color blue to somebody who’s blind.

Blue is what you feel when you are lying down, early one morning on the fresh, spring grass and your face is warmed in the early sun.

I do not need luck, I have ________.

I do not need luck, I have my dog.

And the award for ________ goes to ________.

And the award for best comedian goes to John Cleese!

________ + ________ = ________

2 + 2 = 5