Romanian born artist Anca Statescu has always worked in a variety of mediums—from painting and mosaic, to metal embossing, jewelry and ceramics. A member of both the El Dorado Hills and Folsom Arts Associations, she has displayed her bold, colorful pieces nationally, overseas, and locally at Gold Country Artists’ Gallery in Placerville. Holding both a decorative arts degree and a master’s in civil engineering, Statescu uses both skill sets when creating her award-winning masterpieces. “When I create my art, I want it to be pleasing to the eye and touch the soul,” shares Statescu. Participating annually in the EDHAA Studio Tour, Statescu has upcoming shows at the Harris Center’s Bank of America Gallery, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, and the KVIE Art Auction.  

HLB: What are some of your major influences?   

AS: From my early childhood years in Romania, art has always been present. My dad, an accomplished physician, was also a talented painter. We had a large collection of art books and he always encouraged my creativity, [which gave] me wings. The simplicity of lines in modern art or cave paintings, the softness of impressionist colors, the sincerity and vibrancy of folk art from different countries, and of course nature and [my] surroundings, are all influences.

HLB: How do you interpret your inspiration? 

AS: I want to create art that makes people happy. The glazes I use on my ceramics are also food-safe, so they can be used in more than decorative ways. Besides art in general, nature is a huge influence on my work. I love fall colors, which you will frequently find in my pieces. I also use a lot of things found in nature (flowers, leaves, pine cones, pebbles, shells, etc.) to create textures, or as inspiration for decorating my ceramics.

HLB: Do you have any advice for dealing with artist’s block?

AS: In an old movie, a famous writer advises a young one on writer’s block by saying: “Put a blank page in the typewriter and start by typing a word, any word. The others will follow.” In my case, I go into my studio, roll a slab of clay, and the inspiration starts flowing; other times, I look for inspiration in my files containing photos of past works, places, or things I like. Sometimes just a walk in nature works, too.

HLB: What do you enjoy most about open studio tours? 

AS: For the artist, they’re a great way to share your passion with art lovers. To see that people appreciate what you do is not only rewarding but a great incentive to continue developing as an artist. You meet a lot of nice people, hear a lot of interesting stories, and get a lot of ideas. For the visitors, it’s a fun and relaxed way to meet the artists, see where and how they create, and ask questions about the process; for many, it might even [inspire them] to start creating art themselves.   

goldcountryartistsgallery.net/anca-statescu-1

By Heather L. Becker // artwork images courtesy of Anca Statescu