Today we’d like to introduce you to Vasiliki (Vasi) Baoutis.
Vasiliki, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started drawing when I was younger. My dad is an artist. He always kept me exposed to all forms of art and creativity whether it was music, painting or dancing. He is the biggest influence I have in becoming an artist. I started painting around middle school and more during my transition to high school. It was my way out of depression and my mind. I’d say depression is the second biggest influence in my art. My dad got me started while depression kept me going and gave me concepts to paint about. I wanted to express my pain in a way where I wasn’t causing pain to others. I painted anything from a hand in a blender to mountains and sunsets. At that point, I was painting but I didn’t necessarily know what about. I didn’t understand myself or what I was trying to tell myself. I just let the energy take control.
One day, all of these random pieces turned into my style today. The first one I did (the brick wall photo) was by accident. I started painting something random and I didn’t like it, so I wiped my paint off of my canvas and I liked it. I added more colors and wiped it off. Then I just started painting this being out of nowhere, and something told me to put this yellow circle around this beings head. And I don’t know why I added the black lines. After I was done this piece, I understood it. The vibrations of a being with a crown of energy, different colors to symbolize the diversity within each human. It had this underlying message and it caused me to want to do a series of these beings to reflect society and the world we live in today.
Particularly from my perception based on my experiences in life. Also, how it influenced a cycle of reproducing negative experiences into a positive understanding of the purpose of life. I think the world today is in desperate need of love and peace, and I wanna provide that message simply with my art.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing in life is smooth and I think that if it is, it is most likely temporary. My biggest struggle I’d say was the constant battle with my mind being mentally sick. Although painting suppressed my depression, it did not get rid of it. If anything it was sort of a roller coaster because some paintings would remind me of how depressed I was. It’s kind of like looking in a mirror. It scared me back then. Now, I look back and laugh, How I could fear myself being raw. I feel like we are taught to fear as beings the moment we’re exposed to the world. I feel like that is why a lot of people don’t chase their dreams or follow their passion. Fear of being judged, fear of failing, fear of being poor, fear of others, etc… I will always remember back in my junior year of high school, my medical assisting teacher told me I should stick to medical because I would die poor as an artist, people fear the unknown or insecurity. But being insecure about the unknown of where you are or will be should be the reason you push harder for the now. So what if I died poor, I’d have lived a life doing what I truly was meant for, rather than playing a role that only gave me financial security instead of spiritual security. I advise people, especially women apart of this society where we are still not deemed completely equal, to stop worrying so much about if you will be okay in the future. Even if you’re not okay, you’ll be okay.
Future you is important, but it also isn’t a promised thing. The only promised thing is the moments you currently have. So many people pass away daily that had plans for tomorrow or next month or next year. If you base your entire life off of where you think you may be instead of what you are doing now or can do now, you will miss your moment and opportunity to do so. Even if it leads down a dark alley. You never know where that alley leads you. There are infinite possibilities and what you manifest is what you become. Any bit of doubt prevents you from your full potential. Fear gets you to doubt yourself. Don’t doubt yourself. As long as your intentions are genuine and you believe in your abilities, trust yourself, At the end of that dark alley, the light has the answers if you choose to see it.
We’d love to hear more about your work. What else should we know?
I’m an artist and I specialize in painting. Most of my paintings are done with acrylic paint, but I also use watercolor or oil. l like putting my energy towards different styles. I paint portraits, self-portraits, landscapes, abstract or whatever I feel. Although I can do many different subjects, I’m known for my vibrant paintings with particular concepts/messages. I’m most proud as an artist to be able to have beings who support the expression of my perspective on the world we live in. I am very grateful to be given endless opportunities from others and the universe to express myself. What sets me apart from others is my mindset. I try to understand and learn as much as I can from the perspective of the earth and the universe in order to develop my own personal philosophy. With what I learn, I just want to provide a space where people can come and apply their life and learn more about themselves. Every day, I try to apply my own philosophy or understanding to new things I come across in order to learn more and grow.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I feel the challenges we face as women or even young girls gives us many opportunities to make change for others to not go through. When we reach these goals of change, it will bring us infinite opportunities that we don’t have been women in today’s day in age. As for opportunities, women are well particularly positioned for, I don’t believe there are any. I believe any and all women are well positioned for anything they put their mind to as long as it creates a positive impact in their life and others. Even if in a position that becomes a negative experience where it does not turn out well, it is a chance to apply the negative into a positive understanding of the situation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vtheartistt.wixsite.com/mysite-1
- Phone: 978-788-4622
- Email: v.theartistt@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/v.theartist/
- Other: https://itsvtheartistt.tumblr.com/
Image Credit:
Karalis_exhibition on Instagram
Top image: @treysnaps
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