Vlassis Michopoulos was born in Athens in 1968. He has been involved in painting as a self-taught artist since 2002. He has attended drawing and color classes at EPASKT (Union of Fine Arts School Graduates), as well as workshops on encaustic painting and nude model painting. Since 2005, he has participated in group exhibitions in Greece, primarily in Athens.
When did you decide that art is your path?
I started painting at the age of 33, but I have been interested in photography since my last years of high school. That's when I realized that I would pursue art.
What subjects occupy and inspire you in your artwork?
In my works, the sea, the Greek landscape with its characteristic Greek light, as well as childhood memories and the passage of time, play a significant role.
In what ways does watercolor serve your subjects better than other painting mediums?
Watercolor provides great freedom of expression due to the fluidity of the colors and the quick execution with immediate results.
Which visual and other artistic creators, in any form and expression of the arts, would you say have influenced you?
I have many influences, from the photographs of Voula Papaioannou and Robert Mc Cabe to the paintings of Mr. Panagiotis Tetis, whom I admire.
What do you think is the social role of art and the visual artist today?
The role of art can be multifaceted. It can help, comfort, make us think, or even inspire action.
If a teenager tells you that they want to become a visual artist, what advice would you give them to be mindful of/do?
I would advise them to simply love what they do, so they can have great patience and persistence not to give up on this challenging journey.