Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with Stefania Piccioni from Ascoli, Marche, Italy
Our fifty second interview in this new series of intimate interviews is with talented mobile photography and artist, Stefania Piccioni from Ascoli, Marche, Italy. This is an interview that is sure to get your creative juices flowing. Enjoy!
To read the other published interviews in this series including artists, Adria Ellis, Rino Rossi, Mehmet Duyulmus, Alexis Rotella, Lou Ann Sanford Donahue, Irene Oleksiuk, Kerry Mitchell, Filiz Ak, Dale Botha, Lisa Mitchell, M. Cecilia Sao Thiago, Deborah McMillion, Rita Colantonio, Amy Ecenbarger, Jane Schultz, Anca Balaj, Joyce Harkin, Armineh Hovanesian, Kate Zari Roberts, Vicki Cooper, Peter Wilkin, Barbara Braman, Becky Menzies, Sukru Mehmet Omur, Sarah Bichachi, Michel Pretterklieber, Alon Goldsmith, Judy Lurie Whalberg, Andrea Bigiarni, Sean Hayes, Oola Cristina, Kathleen Magner-Rios, Linda Toki, Deb Field, Emilo Nadales, Lydia Cassatt, David Hayes, Jean Hutter, Frederic Deschênes, Mark Schnidman, Fatma Korkut, Fleur Schim, Rob Pearson-Wright, Dieter Gaebel, James Ellis, Marco P Prado, Jeronimo Sanz, Manuela Matos Monteiro, Bleu Chemiko, Manuela Basaldella and myself, go here.
All images ©Stefania Piccioni
What was your earliest childhood ambition?
My father was a photographer too. When I was eight he gave me a Kodak Instamatik as a gift…Of course it was just a game, so, I decided I was going to become a Photographer and In 1984 I began my studies at Istituto d’Arte Osvaldo Licini in Ascoli Piceno, then I got my diploma in Artistic Photography. At the age of 19 I started to work in the sector of wedding photography, in which I stayed for several years.
First Recognition?
I won an award in a Photography Contest when I was a photography student at the age of 17.
First Job?
I worked as my father’s workplace as a photography assistant for a year, then I started working as a wedding photographer.
Private or State school?
I attended the parish primary school in Martinsicuro under the care of the Conceptionist sisters of the Order of the Immaculate Conception. Later I attended the secondary State school .
University or work?
After graduating I started working full time.
Who was or still is your mentor?
My father has been a good reference point; I like his work and he has taught me so much about my line of work.
How physically fit are you?
I have always been involved in sports since I was small, I used to play volleyball…Without false modesty, I think I’ve stayed very fit over the years (LOL)…Anyway, actually, I work out every day by combining run intervals with some muscle strengthening exercise for a total body workout .
Ambition or Talent. What matters more to success?
No doubt, they both matter, Because it does take skill and practice, too.
How politically committed are you?
I matured in my thinking about ethics, politics, but I do not get involved in politics.
What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?
I’m not materialistic person, I got everything I need under this roof; first of all, my family my husband and my guys, love and the comfort of a beautiful house… I still have some dreams that I want to make it come true, I don’t want to jinx it…
What is your biggest extravagance?
Ah so many, It would take a week to talk about… Never mind.!!!!
In which places are you happiest?
Every summer and each winter we go of the Dolomites. This place is very good in the winter for skiing, in summer for hiking and breathtaking views of the surroundings. you can enjoy a fantastic 360 degree view of the Dolomite Alps, the perfect place to focus on our soul and relax the body.
But also I love the sea in winter, where I do long lonely walks.
What ambitions do you still have?
So many every day!!!! I would like to improve my English, and learn to speak Spanish. Read all the world’s books. .But that’s not possible,. I know I know !! I’d like to help people in need, maybe with my photography… There are more things to be said but I stop here…
What drives you on?
Every day I drive my enthusiasm, my curiosity, my love for my work.
What is the greatest achievement of my life so far?
I am proud that I was able to take care of my two sons, they’ve improved and have more confidence in their means. I’m soooo proud about my marriage, proud to be married 24 years. Professionally, I would like to give just two recent examples: In recent years. My work are published in an art book and appeared in a leading photography magazine. Giorgio Bonomi, the writer on art and important art critic, has been curator of the my Photography solo exhibition. I still want to continue grow…
What do you find most irritating in other people?
Arrogance combined with ignorance can be a big problem!!!!!
If your twenty year old self could see you now, what would she think?
I think she’d be proud.
Which object that you have lost do you wish you still had?
Twenty years ago, I accidentally left my “Carol Alt Persol” sunglasses on the bench. … It was a gift from my husband… I want my sunglasses back . That’s all.
What is the greatest challenge of our time?
I believe it to be of overriding importance that we protect our planet.
Do you believe in the afterlife?
Yes.
If you had to rate your life satisfaction so far, out of ten, what would it be?
Eight.
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Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter, creator of the world’s most popular mobile photography and art website— TheAppWhisperer.com— TheAppWhisperer platform has been a pivotal cyberspace for mobile artists of all abilities to learn about, to explore, to celebrate and to share mobile artworks. Joanne’s compassion, inclusivity, and humility are hallmarks in all that she does, and is particularly evident in the platform she has built. In her words, “We all have the potential to remove ourselves from the centre of any circle and to expand a sphere of compassion outward; to include everyone interested in mobile art, ensuring every artist is within reach”, she has said. Promotion of mobile artists and the art form as a primary medium in today’s art world, has become her life’s focus. She has presented lectures bolstering mobile artists and their art from as far away as the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea to closer to her home in the UK at Focus on Imaging. Her experience as a jurist for mobile art competitions includes: Portugal, Canada, US, S Korea, UK and Italy. And her travels pioneering the breadth of mobile art includes key events in: Frankfurt, Naples, Amalfi Coast, Paris, Brazil, London. Pioneering the world’s first mobile art online gallery - TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com has extended her reach even further, shipping from London, UK to clients in the US, Europe and The Far East to a global group of collectors looking for exclusive art to hang in their homes and offices. The online gallery specialises in prints for discerning collectors of unique, previously unseen signed limited edition art. Her journey towards becoming The App Whisperer, includes (but is not limited to) working for a paparazzi photo agency for several years and as a deputy editor for a photo print magazine. Her own freelance photographic journalistic work is also widely acclaimed. She has been published extensively both within the UK and the US in national and international titles. These include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Popular Photography & Imaging, dpreview, NikonPro, Which? and more recently with the BBC as a Contributor, Columnist at Vogue Italia and Contributing Editor at LensCulture. Her professional photography has also been widely exhibited throughout Europe, including Italy, Portugal and the UK. She is currently writing several books, all related to mobile art and is always open to requests for new commissions for either writing or photography projects or a combination of both. Please contact her at: [email protected]
