A minute with Christina Stavri-Sakka, artist

Where do you live?
I live in beautiful Larnaca, Cyprus, with my wonderful, supportive husband and our three beautiful children.

What did you have for breakfast?
A soft-boiled egg over toasted multigrain bread with avocado, salt, pepper and turmeric. I also had a second, smaller piece of toast with halloumi and homemade jam. And of course, a cup of English tea!

Describe your perfect day.
Waking up on a summer Sunday morning and heading to the beach to join a yoga class. After the class, I would meet my husband at the outdoor café on the same beach for coffee and breakfast, where we would spend a lazy morning sunbathing and chatting with friends. Around noon, we would make our way home, order in, and have lunch with the kids. In the afternoon or early evening, my husband and I would go out for drinks at a cozy bar and listen to 80s music.

Best book ever read?
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. I was fascinated by the epic life of this young girl and her extraordinary journey, as well as her determination, intelligence and resilience as she faced and overcome so many challenges throughout her life. I was also captivated by the elegance and discipline of the geisha world. A trip to Japan and Asia in general is definitely on my bucket list.

Best childhood memory?
Being at the beach with my favourite aunt, who has sadly passed away, playing in the water with my brothers and literally thinking, “How happy and fulfilled I am in this moment.” It’s a feeling that has stayed with me. In general, I feel most at peace and happiest when I’m in nature, so many of my best memories come from times spent outdoors. I often think back to the countless days my siblings, cousins and I spent playing in the bush near our home in Australia.

What is always in your fridge?
Milk, of course! I cannot function without my morning English tea. There’s usually plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables too, some proudly coming from my parents’ farm.

What music are you listening to in the car at the moment?
The car radio seems to be playing the same songs on loop and so I find myself asking my phone app to find me songs lately. Currently listening to 80s & 90s classics.

What’s your spirit animal?
A kangaroo. Perhaps because it is Australian, but mostly because it symbolises always moving forward, as it cannot walk backwards. It also happens to be the subject of the largest oil painting I have created so far (100 × 120 cm).

What are you most proud of?
That’s an easy one: my children. Once you become a parent, no personal achievement really surpasses the pride you feel for even the smallest accomplishment your child achieves.

What movie scene has really stayed with you?
The scene in Avatar where everyone is sitting beneath the great tree and is connected to it and to nature. I think it resonates with me because that’s how I feel when I am connected to nature, which is also why many of my paintings are inspired by nature scenes.

If you could pick anyone at all (alive or dead) to go out for the evening with, who would it be?
Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist and anthropologist. Her love for nature and animals, and the incredible work she has done for conservation, have always made her someone I greatly admire and feel inspired by.

If you could time travel, when and where would you go?
When I was younger, I was fascinated by dinosaurs, and if you had asked me this question then, I would definitely have said 170 million years ago to see the dinosaurs. But now that I’m older, I’m not so sure that would be such a good idea!

What is your greatest fear?
I always try to maintain a positive mindset and avoid negative thoughts, because I believe they can attract negativity. I try not to think of bad things or negative outcomes because I fear they will materialise.

What would you say to your 18-year-old self?
Be kind, give people the benefit of the doubt, and follow your dreams.

Name the one thing that would stop you dating someone.
I have been happily married for 25 years now, so dating is not something I have done recently.

If the world is ending in 24 hours, what would you do?
Be with my family: laughing, talking, reflecting back on our lives, and most probably arguing about what the “last meal” should be. Most of all, make sure they know how loved they are.

Christina is a painter and self-taught artist, with her own studio. She creates oil paintings inspired by nature, landscapes and the emotional connections people have with the places around them. Her work often captures fleeting moments from everyday life, shifting skies, and glimpses of wildlife. Follow her at www.instagram.com/artsyworkx/?next=%2F