Talented artist and dear friend Snezana Stankovic specializes in restoring and reconstructing exquisite pieces of art, from the Jardin D’Email sculpture to 18th-century 'Prayer' panels and 17th-century leather wall coverings. Last week, I had the pleasure of photographing her beautiful home in Amsterdam. Every photo, drawing, and painting therein evokes a profound curiosity, each one whispering a unique story waiting to be heard.

Bio
Visiting The Artists’ Home of Fanny Olsthoorn
Snezana’s artistry: Restoring / reconstructing historic interiors, meaning all historic painted decorative elements on the wall. Mostly late 19th century interiors.
Living in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia)

Where does your fascination with the 19th century come from?
‘I have learned 19th century painting techniques at very old school in Brussels, Belgium. This iconic place is “The Van der Kelen School’, which gives their knowledge in the same way as it started in 1892. Gathering this precious skills to use oil painting technique, played for me as the strong base to buildup further working experience. And foremost it is important to preserve this 19th century old painting skills for the future generations. Restoring- reconstructing old buildings ( mostly is the team work; each person having special task in the whole working process) gives enormous satisfaction to see once ruined interior flourishing again! For instance, at the moment I am involved on a project where wood imitation is found behind lots of layers of the paint. It seemed it was original layer from late 19th century. My role here is to make the “same” wood imitation as it was than. Quite challenging, but definitely satisfying work.

Favorite place to work from home?
At the living kitchen table! From where I have a view of the street side with enormous old trees. I am also fond of how the light floats through the skylight window, creating a richness in daylight. At this table I like to draw with ink and make miniature drawings. I am lately as well in love exercising calligraphy or better said handwriting from the late 19th century, Spencerian lettering.

Snezana's color lab
For mixing my colors I have a small atelier where I work from. There I make painted tryouts. Every project needs its own research, its own study. The thickness of the paint and of course to match original color. When creating these samples, it's quite exceptional to have the right match immediately. Gradually I'll know what direction is needed to catch the best matching mix color. I'll collect the samples in a sketchbook where I write down all these findings, sometimes to show to a client and otherwise for my own archive.’

Big or small projects?
'The extent of a project isn't the focus really, it is more about the context. Who is it for, can my craft and skills ad specific value to the project. Or is it for a project where I can gain new experience of how to apply new methods. When you are facing old interior, first of all It's about having respect for the original craftsman, but please note that not everything old is done with the same amount of attention and good quality. At the moment I am working on the project where the wood imitation was done, in past by different painters, you can see parts that are really delicately painted and other parts I wondered what happened ? Even though they used the same oil technique as I do today, my drive is to follow traces from the guy who did the best job!'.

Where does your eye for detail come from?
‘Not sure, the first thing that comes to mind is that my family was always into food. We cooked and talked about food a lot at home and my father and mother also worked in the food-hospitality industry. With tasting fresh home made food, you develop strong sense for complexity of flavors and I believe somehow sharpened my senses for other mediums, in this case is a color. It's about paying attention to all details when you are faced with the old wall, interior. That's what I do, I meticulously observe.

What tickles your creativity?
‘I am inspired by the unknown people, by saying that I mean, seeing old decorative traces on the wall from the crafts people in the past. I will never forget, seeing beautiful painted ornaments at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I was than working on the big reconstruction of “Gallery of Honor”, Rijksmusem. Looking at those original details made me realize that unknown painter “obliged” me to keep the same standard for for the whole reconstruction; yes it was great inspiration! Somehow I wanted to honor his hands, his craft and his talent..’

What is a project you look back on with great joy?
‘Actually it is the lately project that I have done. Two old saloons from two different historic time period were separated with the sliding door; where upon I've painted wood imitation. For unknown reason old sliding doors were in bad shape, with several layers of paint. The solution to make two saloons as one ensemble was to paint the same wood imitation as found wood paneling in both saloon. It was staggering to see this interior transformation having back it’s own value again. And a large project is the one that I have nice memory is of course reconstruction of Pierre Cuypers Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I've been working on it for almost 7 years, with a large team. It was indeed a huge project, working on the enormous scaffolds, so many different colors and wide rage of decorative ornaments.’

The Artists' Home?
‘For instance, I worked for a project in place Andijk, in the church from 1930. Project was to clean up old dirty layers of varnish. It was amazing to see how bright colors are emerging behind brownish varnish, I was staggered to witness amazing combination color schemes. It was so avant-garde and progressive for that time and definitely still looked so modern for our time. After that project somehow I was inspired or better said influenced to bring some more vibrant color into my own home. I decided to add some bright yellow cushions on the kitchen bench. Hoe would ever think I would use this color before, but as you see sometimes it takes time to develop a new preferences and love of the new color.’

Drawings on the wall
‘In my living room I drew with pencil chinoiserie scenery on the huge paper, hanged on the wall. A first time I saw real chinoiserie I felt in love. It was at a little castle in Amelisweerd, situated near Utrecht. I was inspired by the beauty and I just started to replicate at home. I applied trompe-l’œil technique at home transforming dull plain surface into elegant door. When we moved here a few years ago, my husband (who is also very creative) started making birthday decorative quick paper cuts that we would hung on the wall surprised our children. After a while I started doing it as well. All decorations were always made with little time, but maybe that is where the magic lies. Each year paper cuts would grow into more elaborative design, using gilding letters and complicated compositions. Sometimes it would be punky, sometimes a bit more classic, sometimes it is just a quick creative expression. We still create them for every birthday, yes we created our own family tradition.

Favorite technique?
’I like paper a lot and also 19th century handwriting with an ink pen (Spencerian Penmanship). I am inspired by how the envelope would be made of the same paper as the handwritten letter, sealed either with wax or a wafer seal. I came a cross, to me before unknown field, which is called letter interlocking, I am so fascinated by these old method! I also like to make small sketches and scribbles in booklets. It helps me to relax my mind.’

Favorite time of day to work?
’Preferably in the early morning. And also in the late afternoon or early evenings.’

Snezana's Music Playlist while working
Tiny Desk Concerts of Nora Jones, Sylvan Esso, YoYo Ma, Andrew Bird & Moonchild.