She spoke with Fine Art Shippers about her roots and how they influence her creativity, the beauty of an unhurried life and contemplation, and the art of painting emotions.
You began drawing at the age of three. What are your earliest memories of creating art, and what drew you to it so intensely?
Sonja Sansoni: Art, for me, is life—I couldn’t do without it. It is my way of expressing myself when words fail me. I started very early. By the age of three, my scribbles and doodles already hinted at what my life would be. For health reasons, I couldn't attend kindergarten. Since my mother was Venetian, I went to Venice to stay with my grandmother. At her house, I was free to unleash my creativity. Any surface was good enough to draw on, but my grandmother gave me paper, chalks, and pencils, and that’s how I began.
Growing up in a family with Venetian and Tuscan roots, did your cultural heritage influence your artistic perspective in any way?
My Venetian grandmother was a petite but strong woman. She had lived through the war. My grandfather was a goldsmith who owned a workshop where he crafted his pieces. Unfortunately, during World War II, he fought as a partisan and was killed by the Germans. My grandmother was left with four children—my mother was the youngest.
My grandmother made lace gloves for the noblewomen and ladies of Venice. Through this work and many sacrifices, she supported the family. I have vivid and beautiful memories of my grandmother and her home, with its red velvets, lace, and the scent of lavender. She taught me to read and write at an early age and encouraged my growing passion for drawing. Her home was frequented by artists and musicians.
As I grew up, I came to love Venice—my heart’s city—and art. I lived, studied, visited exhibitions, and fell in love in Venice. Later, after graduating from the International School of Graphics, where I studied with masters like Licata and Crippa, I held my own exhibitions in Venetian galleries. They were highly praised by esteemed art critics.
My father was from Tuscany. From Tuscany, I learned to appreciate nature, a slower pace of life away from the urban chaos, and a freedom that defied pre-established rules. I have always been reserved and introverted, a rebel who struggled to fit into the molds and stereotypes imposed by society. Art, for me, is also this—freedom. There are no limits. With art, one is free.
Your work blends various techniques, from pyrography to watercolors. What led you to develop this particular fusion of materials and methods?
I studied advertising graphics, as well as industrial and fashion photography, in Milan, working for multinational companies, including those in the fashion industry. During my studies, I also took courses in woodcut, lithography, and experimental engraving in Venice and Paris.
I fell in love with woodcutting. However, instead of proceeding to the printing stage, I stopped at the matrix—the wood itself. Through study and continuous experimentation, I started to create pyrography works, incorporating rice paper, lace, and buttons inherited from my grandmother.
To preserve my vision and love for color, I introduced watercolors to bring my works to life. For me, art is also discipline, commitment, and study—imagination alone is not enough. For years, I’ve been continuously exploring and refining my pyrography art. The encouragement I received from the great master and artist Bruno de Cerce meant the world to me. He highly appreciated my work and urged me to keep going—to never stop and continue developing my unique style.
Butterflies and flowers are always present in your recent works. What symbolic meaning do they hold for you?
Butterflies and flowers have always been central to my work, often appearing alongside female figures. I’ve studied butterflies extensively, and I love reinventing them in my art. While their shapes resemble real butterflies, each one is painted in my own artistic style, with vibrant colors.
To me, the butterfly symbolizes rebirth, beauty, and transformation. It’s a guiding spirit in the process of inner growth and self-discovery. Freedom and lightness aren’t compatible with superficiality—they reflect an ongoing journey of exploration and personal evolution.
After many years in Milan’s creative scene, you moved to Tuscany. How has this transition influenced your art and mindset?
I moved to Tuscany almost six years ago for health reasons—a difficult decision, but one I had to make in order to heal. I fought hard to regain the ability to draw, and in the process, Tuscany deeply influenced my creativity. Here, I reconnected with my studies, rediscovered my love for Zen painting, and embraced the slower pace of life in nature. At first, it wasn’t easy, but over time, everything started to feel natural—meditation, music, reading—and my creativity found a new direction.
How has your artistic vision evolved over time?
It’s changed over the years. I’ve rekindled my passion for Japanese art and Zen painting, inspired in part by my travels. I’ve moved away from wood pyrography and returned to graphics and pure drawing, working on rice paper or cardboard. Today, my preferred mediums are ink, India ink, glitter polychrome pencils, and watercolors, all used in smaller format pieces.
The shift to a smaller scale happened naturally—it draws the viewer in, creating a more intimate experience. But working small doesn’t mean it’s easier. On the contrary, it requires patience and precision.
Through constant exploration, I’ve also discovered new materials, like glitter polychrome pencils, which add depth and light to my drawings while keeping the background white. Everything I’ve learned—from my studies and the wisdom of the masters I’ve met—has shaped my approach. But the most important lesson remains: always put your heart into everything you create.
What message do you want people to take from your art?
Through my art, I share my passion, emotions, dreams, and dreamlike visions with those who connect with my work. Art is my profession, but I see myself as a craftswoman—approaching it with humility and love. More than anything, I want to share my love for art, nature, and the simple things in life. We all need serenity, peace, beauty, and color, and I believe art is a powerful way to communicate those feelings.
For me, art is also about discipline. I draw and study every day—my best moments come in the evening and late at night, in the quiet of my home. When I begin a piece, it’s already fully formed in my mind. It feels like a fever, an urgency—I have to bring it to life. Only when it's finished do I feel a sense of peace, satisfaction, and lightness, ready to be shared with the viewer.
When someone acquires one of my works, they take home a piece of my soul, my story, my emotions, and my passions. I want my art to invite people into my world—a world of delicacy and slowness, like a river flowing steadily toward the sea, unhurried and purposeful.
What has been the most rewarding moment in your artistic career so far?
I began exhibiting in 1985, and since then, I've been privileged to earn the recognition of respected art critics. Every piece I create is important to me, but my latest work always feels the most personal—it reflects my present moment, the here and now.
Could you share what you are working on now?
At the moment, I’m working on a project with Spazio Eventi and the Art Festival of Salerno. The idea is to take art beyond traditional galleries and bring it into beautiful locations, making it more accessible to everyone while spreading a message of beauty, peace, and harmony. Many countries are already doing this, and artists in Italy also want to thrive through their art—not leave everything to chance. There is much work to be done, but it is possible, because art is important—it is communication and love. I paint emotions.
Interview by Inna Logunova
Photo courtesy of Sonja Sansoni