Sinisa Saratlic

​www.myartstudiotoday.com 
www.sinisagallery.com
www.sinisaart.com

​SJM: Who are you and what do you do?
SINISA: My name is Sinisa Saratlic. I am an architect and fine artist.  I was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, former Yugoslavia,  in 1954.     I graduated from University of Sarajevo, Department of Architectural studies, with B.S. in Architecture.

SJM: Why do you do what you do?
SINISA: My art is celebration of the concept of inspiration. Everything I see is a manifestation of divine energy and I believe in a divine power that controls all life. When I look at beauty, I’m inspired.  Some of my ideas come from my feelings and experiences .  I’m inspired by art of all kinds, including sculpture, painting, architecture, music  - just everything.
Art is my life!

SJM: How do you work?
SINISA: As time disappears, I try to stop everything what is an expression of beauty, emotion, or simply an interesting moment or a magic image of our life. So, I’m placing those elements into “windows” of feelings, to depict romantic women beauty or the charm of nature.  Seeing things through a window gives us sense of discovering something new, dreaming, waiting or remembering something that we used to have.
Acrylic is my favorite medium. It allows me to create depth and texture within the many transparent layers. My strokes are visible channels of energy and that is what excites me. Mostly I use acrylic, oils, pastel and watercolors. Sometimes I mix all of these techniques in the same piece of art. I like to experiment. My studio and  my worktable is just full of all these materials, and I use whatever I think will help me in getting the kind of effect that I want for pictures  I like to listen to music while I am working. I like to listen  all  kind of music from classical to roc and roll. Sometimes I work all night.
I have created a variety of works in different mediums, styles and subjects like figures, portraits, landscapes, still life, automotive art, abstractions and illustrations. Also I do architectural study models and artistic architectural renderings.

 SJM: What is your background?
SINISA:  My travel through the world of art begins at an  early age. A sketch book filled with ideas and intricate drawings was my best friend throughout childhood. My talent was recognized, and rewarded ever since elementary school. My art work became an important component of my  school’s exhibitions and competitions. When I was fifteen I sold my first painting
Paintings from period of 1979 -1992 combine ideas taken from my national heritage, European history, romantic landscapes and architecture. In that period my original paintings were inevitable part of galleries from Sarajevo, Belgrade, Dubrovnik, Korcula and other cites.
With the beginning of war in Bosnia I escaped with my family from Sarajevo, saving our lives and leaving everything else behind, including all my artwork. Everything disappears in disasters of war.   From 1992 to1997, I lived with my family in Belgrade where we began our new life. That was a very quiet period of my art life. I was busy working different jobs and providing for my family, and I was minimally focused on my artwork. That was very tough period in my life.  December of 1997 once again becomes a new starting point in my life and my family. We moved to United States, a new country, new culture, a new life.    I  came to United States in pursuit of new and better life for  me and my family.  I wasn’t afraid of starting life once again from the scratch. It was extremely hard in the beginning. But soon enough I started a new period of professional work as an artist and architect.  My first work in America doesn’t go by unnoticed and I brought home awards form exhibitions in St. Augustine, Florida. That inspired me further, and every free moment that I had, I used it to create artworks. Soon enough 24 hours in a day became insufficient for my inspiration and ideas.  New ideas, horizons, and new temptations brought to me a whole new level of inspiration, and I formed unique style of my artistic expression. 
My quest for “Ideal Beauty” and studying human emotions takes me into a contemporary portrayal of a woman.   As a freelance architect and artist I was included in lot of projects and art events throughout the Florida. Also I have been a judge at the State fair art show in South Carolina several times. Many of my artworks are in private and corporate collections around the world.
               
SJM:  What is integral to the work of an artist?
SINISA: Main idea, details, color palette and execution are integrals to “making up a whole “to the artwork.

SJM: What role does the artist have in society?
SINISA: The Artist must be everywhere, not only in galleries and museums. There are many problems in society and we need to solve the problems together. The artist must participate in every possible activity. Art can be a powerful way to bring communities together.  The same as artist in any era: to interpret societies to themselves, reflect ideas and representations of people and culture, help is understand ourselves. Art also has the capacity to heal, as therapeutic art is now commonly used to alleviate psychological trauma. So artist can help in finding the solution through his work to create harmony, positive energy peace, love, etc 

SJM: What has been a seminal experience?
SINISA: My work is influenced by my national heritage, European history, romantic landscapes and architecture.

SJM: Explain what you do in 100 words
SINISA: My art is essence of my being. My work conveys a sense of nostalgia and helps those viewing to be reminded of their own happiness. This is a mirror or window into which they can look to see their own happiness. Seeing things through a window gives us sense of discovering something new, dreaming, waiting or remembering something that we used to have.

​My art studio offers original acrylic and oil paintings, portraits, automotive art reproduction of artwork and freelance artist services. I am available for private and corporate commissions. My artwork is on display at the Art Center Gallery downtown Jacksonville at the Landing, suite 139.

SJM: How has your practice changed over time?
SINISA: My practice has changed over time depending on situation, inspiration, feelings, mediums, mood and atmosphere.

SJM: What art do you most identify with?
SINISA: I am most identifying with Old Masters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo and Raphael.

SJM: What work do you most enjoying doing?
SINISA: Surrealism work is one of my favorites because it’s kind of bridge between what we call modern art and classical art. Also the variety I also enjoying doing is distinctive Automotive Classic Car Fine Art.  

SJM: What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?
SINISA: My travel through world of art has begun at my early age. Sketch book filled with ideas and intricate drawings was my best friend throughout my childhood. In school I was constantly getting in trouble for the doodling and scribbled during math, music and social studies. I also constantly drew pictures at home after school.  My talent was recognized, and rewarded ever since elementary school.  My art work was important component of my elementary   middle and high schools exhibitions and competitions. When I was fifteen my first painting was sold, then I was the happiest child in the world. So at that early age I had a sense that it was possible to make a living doing art. I’ve won a lot of awards for my art and it feels wonderful to know that my work is appreciated.

SJM: What themes do you pursue?
SINISA: Currently I am looking for ways to depict romantic beauty of classic cars in composition with beauty of the women body.

SJM: What’s your scariest experience?
SINISA: It was a moment when I put a coat of varnish on the finished  artwork, canvas size 32” x 40 “ to protect it. At that moment my work  suddenly disappeared from the surface of the canvas. I was scared when I saw it.   I was screaming: : “ OMG!!! My two-month  hard work was gone!”. I ran to find the camera to take a photo of it.  When I returned, I saw how my painting began to appear slowly on the surface of the canvas. After 25 minutes, my work finally came up. It was clear to me that there was a chemical reaction between color and varnish. I have never ever experienced anything like this in my life.
 
SJM: Who is your favorite artist?
SINISA: My favorite artist of the Renaissance is Leonardo Da Vinci. He was an Italian painter, a sculptor, an architect, engineer, musician and scientist He produced great works that captured the history and climate of the times that he created in. Many people of his time did not believe in the ability that he poses. I admire how he continued further, even if people are discouraging. Instead of thinking about what others think about him, he continued doing work they benefited humans from his time and even our time.