Enhance your art by exploring its roots. There is a direct connection between pre-historic Greece and the popular Greek isle of Paros.
The history of the Cyclades predates that of Athens and the rest of Greece. In the early Bronze Age about 3,000 BC, the same time as the early Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations, the islanders created the first European art. These were unique funerary statuettes—all made of Parian marble. The same luminescent marble that was used for the prime sculpture of the Greek golden age.
The other ancient Greek art style that is known for breaking new ground with its fluid, naturalistic style was Minoan from the nearby island of Crete. These islanders demonstrated their advanced, pleasure-loving lifestyle with three-dimensional forms, lines and colors that are still popular today. The Minoans had a major outpost on Paros.
Modern Greece is a European country like no other; you can not turn a corner without seeing remnants of the ancient civilization. Yet this same light and air inspires every artist who makes a pilgrimage to the birthplace of western art.
"The feature which most distinguishes the Greek from any other Mediterranean landscape is its clear spirituality. Often simple buildings are so portrayed that they become symbols of the country's fortune. In landscapes of the contemporary Greek art we see the barren soil, the geometric architecture, and the inexorable sunlight. Sharp outline is matched by brilliant coloring. This painting is neither uniform nor derived from a single source, but all of it has a common motivation; to portray a world rich in intellectual and emotional experience through simple but forthright means and a symbolism that preserves the appearance of things." —Some Aspects of Modern Greek Art by Manolis Hadjidakis
The Cyclades, whose name means the circle, is still the center of art activity.
Included in this group are dramatic Santorini and posh Mykonos. Paros is the hospitable island with just the right proportions of culture, people, shops and other activities and an over generous supply of fine beaches with warm water and charming tavernas. The easy going lifestyle both refreshes and vitalizes the artist.
Today there is a strong and vibrant artist’s community on the island. Many are Greeks but even more are of other nationalities. Some are world renown, most are content to live and work in such a conducive environment that they care not for the lure of marketing to a larger population. Many tutors from the US and the UK bring their classes here to stretch their students to a new level of expression.
Everywhere and anywhere through-out the island workshop students are encouraged to find their own creative voice and develop their personal visual language to both communicate and be fed by the beauty that they see. While days may be full with a specific agenda for art production they are structured to facilitate and enhance each participant’s individual experience. Days are a combination of painting and leisure time; evenings provide a mix of socializing with fellow artists and free time.
For both the visiting student and the permanent resident the incomparable beauty of this enchanting island offers painters a symphony of blues and golds to inspire their work. The potential painting locations are endless. Here are but a few examples. Lefkes is a village favored by the artistic minded (right brain). It is physically impossible to contort yourself to not see a painting, photo or pleasant view. Piso Livadi equals beach = boats = active fishing pier = mountain with monastery -- oh yes, and the sea. Aliki is a small, very calm and peaceful village yet full of Cycladic architecture. Naoussa, the in place with a colorful touristy façade, is both quaint and active. Painters find it difficult to choose from the incredible variety of images.
Another attractive aspect of modern Paros is the presence of hoteliers well experienced in providing trouble-free accommodations that automatically induce relaxation. Accommodations have the plain Cycladic architecture that you see everywhere and offer the same clean private bathrooms and balconies that you find elsewhere. The difference is provided by hosts who have traveled through-out the world and have now settled on Paros to specialise in creating an environment that allows artists to enhance their own art.
So we have the Alpha and the Omega of art on Paros. Yet our island is better known as the ferry hub for thousands of island hoppers. True it has all the services and facilities to keep tourists happy and coming back for more sun, sea and sand, but that is superficial. The non-artist finds rest and relaxation through activities such as wind surfing and snorkeling. The artist finds stimulation for all his senses along with the opportunity to convey his feelings for all to see.
