Reflections on Reality

About the Book

What is real and what is imaginary has been a problem that puzzled philosophers, scientists,writers and artists since the beginning of time. Nature has inspired the artist to create, the philosopher to debate, the scientist to question and the poet to write. This is what my book is about: birth, youth, maturity and finally death; the cycle of life symbolized by the changing seasons.This book is based on reflections on my own reality.Hopefully the reader would see his/her own reality in my poems and photographs.

About the Author

Originally from the island of Cyprus, I have been interested in art since I was a young girl; my inspiration has always been “Nature”. I love animals and the great outdoors. Feeling the sun on my skin and the wind in my hair I feel free, therefore, that’s what I photograph, paint, and write poetry about. At the University of Toronto, I studied History and Fine Arts, and went on to be a High School teacher. I have been teaching for many years in Toronto and abroad. I enjoy photography because it provides an instant connection with the subject; I visualize a photo before I take it. I am able to sense the mood of the picture judging by the light and the weather conditions. I like photographing “the moment”, weather conditions change very fast, sometimes within seconds, the photographer has to work very fast. I don’t like photos that have been staged and artificially created. Frequently I see a painting in my photos, and then I take them a step further and turn the photo into a painting. I work with acrylic paint and lately with oils, using mostly color and texture; I try to capture the atmosphere that I had originally experienced in the scene. Light is very important to me, for it sets the mood of the painting. Recently I turned to poetry to express my feelings. I always had poems in my head, but I had never written them down. Two years ago after my father died, I had a strong urge to write a poem about him, I haven’t stopped writing since that day! I have written thirty poems, mostly about nature and my feelings. Sometimes I am inspired by a photograph, a movie or a story.