I want to share a wonderful quote.
There’s a deep meaning in it, it’s not just “pretty words”. It’s what I’ve been feeling towards art for a long time, causing my personal struggles in the search of myself through this form of expression that too often gets polluted by conventions and preconceptions.
Rather than a process of learning, I think I’m trying to unlearn everything. It’s even harder.
Art is meant to be the freest and purest journey a human being could undertake.
That’s the way it is for me.
“Art’s task is to save the soul of mankind and anything less is a dithering while Rome burns. Because if the artist (who is self-selected, for being able to journey into the Other) cannot find the way, then the way cannot be found.” - Terence McKenna
That’s right. I also been selected as Artist of the Month for this issue. It’s really exciting, I’ve always desired being published in such a prestigious magazine. Here’s a link to it in case you want to get a copy.
Another fairy tale. This time it’s Andersen’s “The Red Shoes”.
This is the scene that struck me the most and I found being the most interesting twist in the story.
In addition, I changed the religious theme of the tale to something more pantheistic.
While working on it I decided to make a little video on how I paint foliage and plants. I suggest you to watch it in Youtube and enlarge it.
I’ve always liked aliens, Greys especially. Strangely, I seldom draw them.
Subject aside, with this Experiment I tried a couple of things I haven’t done so far: a white background with a strong light and skin texture.
I had a lot of fun painting skin, wrinkles and cheekbones. When I paint humans I tend not to go that far, firstly because I don’t zoom in that close, but even if I did I think I would end up making them too creepy if I added too many details. But I’ve never really tried, I’m just assuming.
For aliens it’s ok, their skin has to be slightly repugnant and unpleasant. I should do this again, I always enjoy painting organic things.
I’ve done another Experiment, that is quick random paintings I make without any reference nor preparation.
This time I also made a video of the process. I’ve never done it before, so at first I was rather conscious about it and I wonder whether it slowed me down a bit.
When I paint I always get into the “zone” several times through the work, that is a mental state where everything “disappears” except for me and the screen.
However, this time I was more alert because I knew that I was being recorded and that someone would eventually see what I was doing.
Nevertheless it was interesting to work this way and I’d like to do it again.
Here’s the finished image:
And here’s the video. Remember to check Part 2 as well.
