About My Art
Art, Sea, and the Language of Dots
Art and creativity have always been present in my life.
From an early age, I was surrounded by colour, form, and imagination. My mother, a naturally creative and artistic woman, spent long afternoons painting on canvas, effortlessly bringing ideas, thoughts, and visions to life before my eyes. Watching her work planted a quiet seed — one that would stay with me, waiting for the right moment to grow.
Alongside art, another constant presence shaped my inner world: the sea. Its movement, depth, and ever-changing nature became a source of grounding, inspiration, and reflection. These two forces — creativity and the sea — intertwined slowly, finding their place within me over time.
That place revealed itself in 2020, during the first lockdown in Greece. Like so many others, I was confronted with uncertainty, fear, and stillness. In that pause, I felt an urgent need to reconnect — to find something deeply personal that would allow me to breathe, focus, and create.
“WE ARE ALL LIKE STONES LYING ON A BEACH, BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE EACH OF US WITH AN AMAZING STORY TO SHARE.”
Sandrine Maffre
This is when I discovered dot painting
Through the subtle techniques and rhythmic repetition of dots, I found a unique way to explore my love for the interplay between spirituality and nature. Dotting became both a meditative practice and a visual language — one that allowed me to express calm, balance, and intention through colour and form.
Inspired by the vastness of the sea, I began using natural sea stones as my canvas — handpicked from shores for their unique shape, texture, and energy. Over time, my practice expanded to include crafted stones, created in my studio using porcelain casting powder and molds. These cast forms offer greater control over shape while preserving the tactile quality and quiet presence that are central to my work, while respecting the environment.
Each stone — natural or crafted — becomes a unique surface for mandala dot painting. I draw inspiration from the symbolism of sacred geometry, and the cyclical nature of life. Mandalas have long been used as tools for focus, contemplation, and inner alignment, and my work seeks to honour that heritage while expressing it through a contemporary lens.
As my artistic voice evolved, I felt the desire to share this practice with others — not only through finished artworks, but through experience.
This led to the creation of the Dotting Atelier workshops: in-person sessions where participants are gently guided through the dotting process. These workshops are inspired by art-therapy principles, yet remain non-clinical and open to all. They offer a space to slow down, explore colour intuitively, and experience the grounding rhythm of dotting — often accompanied by carefully curated materials and, at times, sensory elements such as wine tasting.
Today, my work has reached people from all walks of life, each finding their own meaning in the pieces I create. I have been honoured to be featured in the book 100 Greek Contemporary Artists (Art Way & Ostria Publications), yet my practice remains deeply personal, rooted in presence rather than performance.
Every interaction, conversation, and shared moment continues to shape my creative journey in ways that are difficult to put into words.
My hope is simple:
that those who encounter my work — whether through a stone, a workshop, or a quiet moment of observation — feel a sense of calm, connection, and authenticity.
— Sandrine Maffre
Publications
• 2021, “100 Greek Contemporary Artists”, Visual Art Anthology, Vol.4, Art Way / Ostria Publications.
Group Exhibitions
• June 2021, Visual Arts Group Exhibition, Art Way, “Overlooking the sea”, Rafina, Greece
• Jun-Jul 2021, 3rd Visual Arts Group Exhibition, Art Way, Online
• Feb-Mar 2022, 5th Visual Arts Group Exhibition, Art Way, Online
• Feb 2022, Visual Arts Group Exhibition, Art Way, “Art. A journey without borders”, Art Gallery 35, Piraeus, Greece