July 2023 Icon magazine Article 

By Viviana Puello

Athina Soultani is an incredibly talented artist who creates breathtaking portraits. Her process involves meticulous sketching with graphite pencils on Strathmore Bristol paper, followed by the careful layering of colors, light, and shadows to bring her subjects to life.

Soultani’s approach to her craft is both fascinating and intricate, resulting in stunning works of art that leave viewers in awe. This article provides a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process, shedding light on the magic that goes into producing such magnificent pieces.

Soultani’s portraits start with a detailed sketch where she showcases her mastery of sketching. She uses her skills to capture the subject’s likeness and bring them to life on the page. Her composition skills are excellent, resulting in visually pleasing artwork that draws the viewer in. The sketches are the foundation for her masterpiece portraits, providing a blueprint for the following intricate details and depth.

Soultani’s art is visually stunning and has a powerful message of hope and self-belief, especially in difficult times. She encourages individuals and nations to believe in themselves to achieve greatness. Her message reminds viewers that with faith and determination, anything is possible, and we should never give up on ourselves or our dreams.

As a contemporary realist artist, Soultani understands how vital lighting and shadows are in creating captivating portraits. She believes they add depth, drama, and emotion to her paintings, bringing her subjects to life. Soultani spends considerable time studying her subjects and analyzing the light falling on them. She notes how the light affects the subject’s form, texture, and overall appearance, whether it’s natural, studio, or artificial light.

Shadows are equally crucial to Soultani’s work. They contrast the light, adding definition and shape to the subject. Soultani uses lighting and shadows to express the subject’s character and personality, creating a mood, evoking an emotion, or conveying a message. In her portraits, lighting, and shadows add a sense of depth, mystery, and life to the subject.

Soultani’s eye for color is another key element of her portraits. She understands how to use color to create a mood and bring her subjects to life. She pays close attention to the temperature of the colors, choosing warm or cool tones to affect the mood and atmosphere of her paintings. Soultani also uses color to highlight specific features of her subjects, creating a mesmerizing and awe-inspiring work of art.

Soultani’s portraits are more than just realistic renderings of her subjects; they capture the essence of their personality, emotions, and life story. Soultani gets to know her subjects, paying attention to their facial expressions, body language, and clothing, all revealing something about their character. She sketches and redraws until she feels she has captured the subject’s likeness before working with color, light, and shadow to create a lifelike, emotionally evocative portrait.

Whether it’s a portrait of a loved one, stranger, or historical figure, Soultani’s art invites us to celebrate the diversity and complexity of the human experience. Her portraits are windows into the soul, reflecting the humanity in others and encouraging us to see the beauty in everyone.