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What do you love most about art?

The ability to do the impossible.

How do you feel about current art trends these days?

It is not art, has nothing to do with art and a new title should be found for it.

Collecting items, for instance, and throwing them together is not enough challenge to be called art. Shifting objects from it's usual place to a gallery doesn't make it art. A whole pile of words which are written about it to give it meaning cannot make it art.

When you first started painting, what was your art like? How has it changed?

I used to put more weight on message and things I wanted to say, emotionally and philosophically. Today the quality, skill and craftsmanship are more important to me, because I feel I cannot influence or change the world one bit.

What were some of the philosophical messages you were trying to convey in the past and do you think any of that still lingers in your art today?

The deep feeling of loneliness and detachment from the surroundings of life and society is still probably a very deep element in my work, hidden in a more understatement kind of way. Mainly [manifested] in empty rooms.

Why is Vermeer your favorite artist?

Vermeer combines all the greatness that painting requires, composition, space, light, colour and material. I am also influenced by Rembrandt, Velasquez, Modigliani, Egon Schile, and Ilya Repin.

Who are the top 3 under rated artists of all time?

The three most underrated artists of all time are Bruegel, Ilya Repin, and Degas.

Who are the top 3 over rated artists of all time?

…Van Gogh, Picasso, and especially Dali. I don't mean to say that Van Gogh and Picasso are not great artists, they are wonderful, but overrated.

What are the best paints and colors to use for artists who aspire to paint like you?

Definitely oils of good quality, painting medium (not terps), quality sable brushes, quality linen canvas, and use of best material at all times.

What are the worst?

There are student colors which are not very good, rough brushes and acrylic, which I don't believe you can achieve the same quality with.

Why do you think oils are better than acrylics?

I used acrylic very little and never liked it, you can't do this kind of painting with acrylic, I like very much to work in gouache.

In layering order, can you name the colors typically found on your palette?

The colours in order are Titanium White, Few kind of yellows, gold ocher, transparent gold ocher, cadmium orange, cadmium red, alizarin, burnt umber, oxide of chromium (green), ultramarine blue, prussian blue, and ivory black. There are a few more colours I use, but not on a regular basis.

What type and size brushes do you use?

I use Windsor and Newton brushes, series 7, no. 2,3,4 and 5. I take great care of them. I clean them not only with terps but also with soap after every session. For wide brushes I started recently using brushes which are made of nylon, and I find them very satisfactory for covering bigger areas.

How long does it take you to finish a painting?

From two days to two years. If the painting is small and doesn't require accurate details, I can do it very fast, but sometimes large paintings which require complicated compositions can take a long time to bring things together in a successful way.

When a painting isn't cooperating, what are some techniques you've learned to fix mistakes?

Sometimes I wipe off weak parts if they are wet, I cover them if they are dry, and a lot of swearing and cursing comes with it. Luckily my studio is isolated.

Where do you sell your art?

I have a number of galleries which represent me around the UK and I also have private collectors who come back to me time and again to commission paintings.

Do you have any advice for those looking to make the fine arts a career?

Yes, don't hesitate contacting me and come and study for a short while. I'm sure good advice can be given over the internet if people send me examples of their work. (matanzoh0@hotmail.com)

What sort of activities do you enjoy "off-duty"?

Sitting in cafes, listening to classical music, reading novels and textbooks (mainly biographies). I'll never miss an exhibition that comes to London. From time to time I go down town to brows around in galleries. Above all, I enjoy a good conversation with my dear friends.

I'm preparing an exhibition for march next year, which is a collection of relatively small paintings which I do with great freedom and excitement. The exhibition will take place at Spencer Coleman Gallery in Stamford, Lincolnshire.