Arts & Entertainment
Meet the Artist: Markissia Touliatos
Touliatos is an award-winning portrait painter, and longtime instructor at the Dunedin Fine Art Center.
Name: Markissia Touliatos
Hometown: Elmira, NY
Time in Florida: 36 years
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Keys to Awesomeness: Touliatos is one of the signature members of the Miniature Artists of America featured in Wes Siegrist's new book "Modern Masters of Miniature Art in America." Her work will garner much attention at the Governor's mansion, where her portraits of both the former and current Florida first ladies will hang. Touliatos also teaches classes on subjects like live drawing and portrait painting at the .
How did you start out with art?
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"I've been painting all my life. I started at as young as 5 years old. At 12, I started with oil painting, and in my early 20s I did pastels. Eventually, I started doing both."
Where can people see your art?
"People can see my art at the Florida Governor's mansion. I have a website, called Markissia.com, and some of my work is at the Art on the Plaza gallery in Bellair Bluffs, Fla."
What keeps you doing it?
"I just love it. I love painting, portrait painting, especially. It's fascinating to do because every one is different. It's a challenge to do that, to create a painting."
Who or what influences your art?
"I love the work of John Singer Sargent from the past. I also think Nelson Shanks is one of the best. He's one of the best portrait painters I've ever seen, and I've studied with him too. "
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
"Find a good teacher. Practice constantly. Draw anything, still life, just draw. Whenever you can. Take classes with live models, study the old masters, and just keep practicing. You have to do it. The only way to learn is to actually do it."
