The Craft of Action Flower Painting

Primitively Modern

I took these photos while on a holiday in the Namibian Desert, in particular, in the mining ghost town of Kolmanskop near Luderitz. I was very fascinated to see how nature and culture shaped and interacted with each other, and how they engaged in a constant flux and becoming.

In some areas of the town, for example, one can see how time and the elements have deteriorated and smashed much of glass from the houses windows, but where it still remains intact, the sand has deposited and formed a golden layer providing the perfect background for tourists to write their names, dates, and comments using their fingers.

Where instead the sand was not obstructed by the windows, it was able to reach inside the houses creating small dunes which now cover floors, room, stairs, and furniture. Tourists visiting these empty houses often need to walk on top of the sand, leaving once again their own marks and footprints…But only until the next change, event; or until the wind will bring new dust that will cover or blow away these traces, creating other intriguing shapes, patters and spaces.

10 Tips for Art Students and Professional Artists

Bare in mind that I have to constantly remind myself of these too :)

1 - Paint and draw with your heart, not your head.

2 - Paint and draw because you ENJOY doing so.

3 - Place yourself in a comfortable room/work area with good lighting, somewhere you feel inspired and relaxed. Close the door to the world. Put some music on if it helps you. ENJOY.

4 - Don't rush through an artwork, take your time. Art is like a child: it requires a LOT of care and attention - the outcome of a piece is proportioned to the time/attention you put into it; at least for realistic subjects.

5 - NEVER be afraid of making mistakes! Mistakes are good, they help you get better. The problem in fact, is not in finding the mistakes, but the problem arises when you don't see them, as then you cannot fix them and improve your work.

6 - Be proud of your artwork and don't be too critical - you can always do better in the next piece.

7 - If you feel frustrated with a work, and you cannot quite figure out where you went wrong with it, leave it for a couple of days and then go back to it with a fresh mind...you might actually be pleasantly surprised and feel your work is not as bad as you initially thought :) - and it might also be easier for you to see if something needs changing.

8 - If you are not in the mood or have no inspiration, LEAVE IT! You are only going to make things worst and end up with a lot of frustration! Go for a walk, take a break and then go back to your art.

9 - Do get inspiration from other artists; yet not too much. Remember: you are you and your work is yours. Don't compare yourself to others, you are unique.

10 - And finally...something I often tell my students but perhaps don't stress enough: don't be afraid to experiment or bend the rules. A good artist is not just someone that can copy and follow all the steps, instead, she/he is someone who knows the processes but is not afraid of using her/his own instinct/judgment and imagination to experiment, and create something new!