Pick up your brushes

Pick up your brushes
If you only stay in the abstract it never happens.
If you only stay in the abstract it never happens.

Recently, when I was in London, I bought the small book “How to be an artist” by Michael Atavar. A book that develops your creativity and helps you, stage by stage, grow your own creative potential. It’s witty, written with optimistic statements such as: Failure is the best thing that can happen to you. I know that you learn more from your losses than from your victories. I always tell that to my students.

One of the first phrases is a very important one: The only way to start is to start. I hear people say, “Actually, I would also like to paint.” Avatar: If you only stay in the abstract it never happens. It’s that simple. Pick up your brushes and go to work! The fear of beginning is bigger than the actuality of doing.

Self-portrait, the magic is gone?

selfportrait 3x

Do not think I know it all. Like others, I have doubts sometimes. This week I’m working on a self-portrait for an exhibition in the gallery in London. I showed two images of the progress on Facebook and have never had so many likes.

Progress of the self- portrait
Progress of the self- portrait

A painting that is half finished is something magical. It has the excitement of the promise and the attractive dynamics of abstraction. Once finished, sometimes it does not quite accord to my high expectations. From experience I know this phenomenon, however, it takes me by surprise. So as now with this painting, it is completed but not finished. How do I proceed? The big question for this week. See also the finished version here.

Excursion to the Spanish Civil War

Spanish civil war
Belchite. Guided tour through the ruins of the village.
Belchite. Guided tour through the ruins of the village.

One of the first people I met in Spain was Sento Llobell a fellow worker in art. Over the years he and his wife have become very good friends of ours. Sento is a famous cartoonist, he has published quite a few albums of his own work.  He received international recognition for the graphic novel “Un Médico Novato” for which he won the Premio Internacional VI Fnac Sins Entido. The story is based on a true narrative of Sento’s father in law Pablo Uriel, who was starting his career as a doctor during the civil war (1936-1939).  Under his own auspices Sento has published the second part of this history “Atrapado en Belchite” and yesterday the book was launched  in Belchite, a town in Zaragoza where in 1937 a bloody battle took place between the republicans and the army of the future dictator Francisco Franco. For propaganda reasons Franco never rebuilt the place and to this day it is a gruesome reminder of the Spanish Civil War. Part of  Sento´s story takes place in this city during that combat and hence he chose this place to present the book.

sento Lllobell
Battle of Belchite

Portrait painting: Pamper yourself with good stuff!

good preparations for portrait painting
priming canvas
Apply at least three layers of gesso.

Suppose you want to learn to play the piano. The instrument on which you start is old, not in tune and with missing keys. Would that invite you to sit down and study? No! It will turn your stomach! The same goes for learning to paint. Poor art supplies will not encourage you to make a good painting. Believe me, good stuff really makes a difference! Starting with the canvas. A miserable support base is a principal stumbling block, I can´t stress it enough.

  • Whatever you buy, even the best double primed Belgian Linen, apply at least three layers of gesso in order to reduce the suction of the oils.
  • Use good brushes if you can afford it.
  • Buy good quality paint. Some brands of student quality is reasonable, but there is also a lot of crap on the market. Oil painting technique in itself is hard enough so do not let poor materials makes you stop before you even get started. (see also here)

Good stuff makes you happy!