From Canvas to Creation: The Artistry of Anez Ka Arts

Katrin Krakovich interviews Anez Ka Arts

Katrin

Being Design Magazine interviewed Anez Ka Arts, exploring the inspiration, journey, and vision behind their minimalist abstract paintings. Join us as we uncover the story of how Anez Ka Arts brings tranquility and luxury to life on canvas.

First of all, can you tell us about the inspiration behind starting Anez Ka Arts and the journey of establishing the company?

Anez

Sure, the journey so far has been as rocky as the Maltese landscapes! It’s a journey full of firsts and a bag of mixed emotions too. The launch of my website (anezkaarts.com), first painting sold, first website visitor, first print collection and the list goes on and on. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment looking back at what I have achieved in such a short timeframe. It’s not all rosy as there is some frustration and a fair deal of sacrifice to juggle all parts of the business as a solo performer.

But let’s journey back to the beginning. Anez Ka Arts started out of a hobby. I never intended to open an art business, things naturally progressed in this direction. The idea of a fully fledged business started to slowly materialize in 2022.

I will probably disappoint you with this, but painting and abstract art came to my life in a very random manner. For some inexplicable reason and completely out of the blue I decided to buy canvas and a set of acrylic paints. And I was hooked. When I think about it, I was always very creative but nothing really stuck. It feels like with abstract art I finally found my match. I love the feeling of complete freedom during the creation process. This sense of accomplishment that something beautiful came to life literally out of nothing. And even more, the artwork has some profound impact on others and helps them create their own oasis of luxury. It makes my heart melt every time I sell my original one-of-a-kind painting.

Katrin

Let’s talk about luxury. I note this pops a lot so what’s this obsession with luxury?

Anez

Yes, well spotted. Anez Ka Arts it’s all about luxury. When I think of luxury, I see a quiet, beautiful, harmonious space, where my senses can rest, where I feel cozy and comfortable. It’s this feeling of a luxurious holiday where you are surrounded by beauty, tranquility, everything slows down. I truly believe that we all deserve to experience this feeling every day and not only on holidays or special occasions.

And this is what I’m trying to achieve with my art. My artwork helps people create spaces filled with tranquility and relaxation where they truly unwind, find pleasure, and disconnect from the frantic world around. For many people luxury means different things, for some it will be lavish gold, for some exquisite designer artifacts, for some antiques and for some just a cozy sofa with beautiful textiles. The bottom line is to create that sacred space which feels luxurious, special, quiet, according to your own definition of luxury. In my opinion, minimalist abstract art is perfectly suitable to achieve this. The interpretation is fully open and the minimalist form invites the viewer to explore their connection and focus on the feelings in a given moment.

Katrin

Write a couple of interesting, curious facts about your brand.

My style naturally evolved towards the luxury of less

Anez

Anez Ka Arts was born in Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean sea. I never intended to specialize in minimalist abstract art. My style naturally evolved towards the luxury of less, where maximum impact is achieved with minimalist form.

All products offered via anezkaarts.com are based on bespoke art created by me. I offer not only original one-of-a-kind paintings, prints on paper and canvas, and I’m slowly expanding my range of luxury homeware. I love when products are hand made as this gives them more soul and uniqueness. It’s not easy to find suitable manufacturers who meet the required quality standards so I’m constantly busy with making necessary improvements.

My original paintings available via anezkaarts.com are one-of-a-kind, rarities, that have not been turned to NFTs or other printable goods. This means that owning an original painting, you are the owner of an item that is purely unique.

I don’t do commissions. I cannot imagine painting according to someone else’s instructions. It’s an intimate process of creation that cannot be influenced or rushed.

Anez Ka Arts aims to create a luxurious experience in terms of online shopping for art. This means that only a selected audience, members of my Prestige luxury Club, have access to special offers, priority purchase, limited edition artwork, invites to private sessions with me and other interesting events. There is still so much to be done but Rome wasn’t built in a day so I’m taking it step by step. With so many tasks new to me, I feel like half of the time I don’t know what I’m doing 🙂 There are parts of running the business which I really suck at. I wish social media never existed.

Katrin

Really? That’s quite radical? Why is that?

Abstract art gives not only a complete freedom of expression to the creator, but also to the spectator, I mean a complete freedom of interpretation

Anez

I’m a very private person and running social media is really hard for me. I’m still learning how to operate them really and it’s a struggle. Personally I cannot understand the level of exhibitionism out there. However, in terms of the business, I do realize that an online business cannot survive without having a presence in social media. So reluctantly I do carry on, maybe I will change my mind as I get better at it. Another thing that is rather surprising is how much scam is out there. Beyond belief. I feel sorry for other artists or businesses who do not have much e-commerce experience to be able to identify scammers.

Katrin

Yes, that’s really sad and true but let’s talk about your company’s vision? Which place does sustainability play in it?

Anez

Looking ahead to 2024, my exciting goals include expanding beyond the EU and delivering my art to clients worldwide.

In terms of sustainability, I have to admit that at first I wasn’t sure where to start. The vision emerged slowly as I was researching potential manufacturers. It became clear that I only want to work with companies who care. I decided to operate a model where art reproductions are only printed on demand which means no unnecessary waste. I use couriers who participate in carbon offset programs. In the studio, I use non toxic, water-based paint to reduce harmful chemicals and other eco friendly materials. One of my recent ideas is to partner up with a non profit organization as part of my social responsibility goals.
Even when you think about the concept of minimalism, it encourages conscious buying choices and promotes a more clutter-free, sustainable lifestyle. Minimalist designs and curated spaces remind us to prioritize quality over quantity, ultimately supporting the environment by discouraging unnecessary purchases.

Katrin

Could you share some insights into the different mediums and techniques you specialize in?

Anez

I experiment a lot with new products, new mediums, new tools and new techniques. I started with fluid art and my beautiful collection of paper prints was created with that method. For those who have no idea what I just said, it means that the paint mixes on the canvas, it floats creating beautiful marble like patterns. I loved the effect and the element of surprise as you cannot really foresee what the end result will be. Unfortunately it is very messy and there was a lot of waste during the process so it’s not my favorite technique. Currently I mostly work with gold leaf, plethora of acrylic mediums. I’m not a fan of oils due to the very long drying process and the strong smell of solvent gives me an instant headache. But who knows, maybe I will change my mind with time?

Katrin

Can you walk us through the process of creating one of your artworks from conception to completion? What are the key stages involved?

Anez

When I paint I go for a full spontaneity. I very rarely do sketches, I prefer to just follow where the canvas takes me. Even if I will repaint the whole thing 5 times, yes it does happen quite often. If I don’t feel it, I need to keep working on a piece until it resonates with me fully.

So that process of getting the artwork to its final shape is quite chaotic and full of surprising turns. There are certain distincts phases though: I start with canvas preparation and gesso application. Then I apply textures. I love working with textures as they give the painting an extra depth and visual interest, especially if the palette is very limited. As for the colour choice, I very often search through Pinterest for interesting colour combinations and then try to recreate the colours. Yes, I’m a little obsessed with colour mixing. At the end I photograph the artwork. The last step is to sign the artwork and apply varnish to seal the colours and to protect the artwork from dust and harmful UV.

Katrin

Your artwork is very powerful thanks to the palette, contrasts and textures. What inspires your colour choices?

Anez

Oh, thank you so much! I’m glad you feel that way about my work. It’s all about catching the eye instantly, isn’t it?

My color choices are really influenced by what’s happening in the fashion world. I’m a huge fashion enthusiast, so that definitely plays a big role. It’s kind of funny how I seem to have a knack for predicting trends. Like, I was all about Magenta in 2022 before it became the color of the year in 2023.

The way I see it is that fashion trends may come and go, but my art remains a classic. It’s the composition, the contrasts and textures that create this timeless quality and make them stand out and draw you in. And that connection between the artwork and the collector ensures it’ll be cherished long after the colour trend has passed, bringing joy for years to come.

But it’s not all about fashion and trends, I do have some all-time favorite colors that I always go back to – black and white, sage green, or ivory. Sometimes, I get stuck on a particular color phase, like my turquoise phase. It’s interesting to see how certain colors just speak to me at different times.

Katrin

As the founder and artist behind Anez Ka Arts, what would you like people to take away from experiencing your artwork?

Abstract art gives not only a complete freedom of expression to the creator, but also to the spectator, I mean a complete freedom of interpretation

Anez

I love this question. Abstract art gives not only a complete freedom of expression to the creator, but also to the spectator, I mean a complete freedom of interpretation.

It’s so beautiful that many people see different things and feel a variety of emotions looking at one and the same artwork. For example something that has a dreamy feel to some, brings feelings of nostalgia or mystery to someone else. It’s so rewarding to learn about the effect that art has on someone else’s life or their mood.

It’s so magical to share that gift of creation with others. I’m always honored when my collectors decide to buy my original, one-of-a-kind art. Each painting is so special to me and also special to them as no one in this world has an item like this. Just imagine, you are the only person in this world who owns this particular artwork, isn’t that an amazing feeling? Exclusivity, rarity, epitome of luxury!

Katrin

How do you stay inspired and continue to innovate in your creative process?

Anez

I’m hoping I will improve on this front to be perfectly honest. In recent months I have been so preoccupied with the business side that there was no time or energy left to create. I’m stuck on two paintings and I cannot finish them for 3 months now! I’m slowly realizing that running a business doesn’t really come with having a down time. There is always something that requires my attention. Conversely, inspiration comes and goes and you cannot force yourself to be creative. I’m looking forward to the next inspiration wave to hit and all the other things will just need to wait. So if I don’t respond to any emails, it will surely be the moment when inspiration takes over 🙂

Katrin

I want to ask a personal question. Which profession did you dream about when you were a kid?

Anez

Oh boy, this is a funny one and you will laugh a lot. I grew up in Poland and for those readers who are not familiar with the essence of communism, the reality of everyday life was quite gray and sad. We didn’t have all the luxuries so maybe that’s where my fixation on luxury stems from? Maybe I’m trying to get the lost time back, who knows? Anyways, going back to your question, I had this dream job in my mind, which was in this luxurious shop called Pewex. This shop was a window to western civilization and culture. You would pay in US dollars. It was very rare that you would go to these shops but if you went, oh boy. What an experience that was, the colours, the scents, the products, the beautiful ladies at the counter. I envisaged myself as a fancy saleswoman selling Barbie dolls or Swiss chocolate.

Katrin

About the future of our planet and joining efforts (I removed it by mistake so don’t remember exactly how the question was phrased)

Anez

You know, I agree with you. Taking care of our planet is a joint effort we all need to pitch in on. As a business owner, I make sure to partner with companies who share my values on sustainability – from how things are made to how they’re transported and disposed of. One cool thing is with regards to the printed artwork that it’s only created upon demand, so there’s zero waste in the process.

After my recent trip to Asia, where I saw how much they prioritize nature conservation, it really hit me how we need to step up our game here in Europe, especially in Malta. Trees are being cut down to make room for more buildings, and that’s devastating. So, I’m thinking of starting an initiative where I plant a tree for every order, starting right here at home in Malta. I’m figuring out the logistics around this initiative as we speak.

But let’s be real – there’s a lot of double standards out there. The way I see it is that people who have the means to do the most for the environment sometimes end up causing the most harm. Private jets flying to climate change conferences, are we for real? It just doesn’t make sense. Until we get our act together on that front, I’m a bit skeptical about how big of a difference my efforts alone can make.

That said, I’m all about taking baby steps and leading by example. Small actions like planting

trees and making more mindful choices can definitely add up. By getting people to think about their impact and encouraging greener practices, we can hopefully start a ripple effect of positive change.

Katrin

Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring artists looking to establish themselves in the industry based on your own journey with Anez Ka Arts?

Anez

Have a lot of money to start, be prepared to get screwed over at every step of the way, have more patience than money and listen only to your gut.

Anez Ka

Anez Ka, a contemporary artist based in Malta, specializes in creating minimalist abstract paintings that exude tranquility and luxury within one’s personal space. Drawing inspiration from the beauty of nature, the warmth of rocky landscapes, and the simplicity of everyday life, Anez Ka’s art embodies the essence of minimalism.

Her creative process involves experimenting with colors, materials, tools, and textures, combining traditional brush strokes with unconventional techniques such as splashing, spilling, and swiping. This unique approach results in powerful compositions, contrasts, unique textures, and captivating color combinations that create a serene and luxurious atmosphere for viewers to reconnect with themselves and self-reflect.

Anez Ka’s art evokes a sense of peaceful extravagance and invites the viewer into a dreamlike space where minimalist forms and cohesive designs reign supreme. Her work aims to create a sanctuary of relaxation and tranquility, mirroring the feeling of being in a cozy, alluring, and harmonious environment, reminiscent of cherished experiences in luxurious spaces filled with serene simplicity and minimalism.