Art + Learning

It is important to learn from one another. If we did not have role models in Art like in Science, we would never improve.

To look at Picasso's art and analyze what made him great is part of an artist's obligation in improving one's own artwork. That does not mean we paint like Picasso, we always stay true to ourselves only become improved.

For example when I did a careful copy of a Rubens portrait I learned so much about flesh tones.

Art is not just vomit on a canvas, it requires analysis, study and experimentation as to what works and what doesn't...but people these days think whatever is on canvas is good and a masterpiece...it is laughable.

Art is often the end product of hard work. Like Leonard Cohen whose spontaneous sounding songs look so facile, were in fact worked and re-worked millions of times.

Also we do not paint in a vacuum, we are glutted with visual images that imprint themselves on our brain and sometimes we make something that feels like we have seen it before...we are all a product of our society. No matter how original we want to be it doesn't work, someone has been there before us.

​The real trick is to have something to say with your art and find ways to say it.