By Catherine Tsounis
Flowers symbolize good will and community spirit during Christmas. Flowers deliver messages that uplift persons, during holidays. Mrs. Matina Botoulas, an artist from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Flushing, created scenes of flowers and the sea.
‘I draw from the heart,” she said. “When I see something beautiful, I put it in an oil painting. Mrs. Botoulas does not have a preconceived vision of what she wants to produce. When she sees something new or exciting, she creates a work. Birds and the sea are themes that give a person closeness to nature.
Birds are widely regarded as symbols of freedom and eternity due to their ability to soar into the skies. The sea represents calmness and hope. Her portraits of Greek villages invoke memories of her life, especially at Christmas. Artist Botoulas inspiration is from her daughters, who encourage her with art supplies and her husband Nick. She loved drawing as a girl in her village of Angelona, Laconia, Greece. Visit Matina Botoulas on Facebook for her inspiring art.
