Internationally renowned painter ALVARO CASTAGNET discusses developing a personal approach to painting.
What is the essence of an artist’s style and how do I know if I’ve found it?
I think the answer is to be honest with yourself. Have integrity and paint from your heart, trying to reflect your feelings for the subject. I often say, “The biggest challenge is to get my hand to reproduce what my heart feels.” We are guided by artists we admire at the start of our studies but, then, through hard work, exploration, dedication and lots of practice, we reach a point where the process turns around. We look within and search for our own voice and expression, and try to express our feelings and personal view.
We are all unique and see things differently. I believe if an artist is true to himself, and paints with honesty and integrity, his style will show through his works. An artist knows when he has found it; when he has abstracted himself from preconceptions, and paints from his heart for his own pleasure.
What would you say defines an artist who has a strong personal style?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2018-Ausgabe von Artists & Illustrators.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 2018-Ausgabe von Artists & Illustrators.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Still life IN 3 HOURS
Former BP Portrait Award runner-up FELICIA FORTE guides you through a simple, structured approach to painting alla prima that tackles dark, average and light colours in turn
Movement in composition
Through an analysis of three masterworks, landscape painter and noted author MITCHELL ALBALA shows how you can animate landscape composition with movement
Shane Berkery
The Irish-Japanese artist talks to REBECCA BRADBURY about the innovative concepts and original colour combinations he brings to his figurative oil paintings from his Dublin garden studio
The Working Artist
Something old, something new... Our columnist LAURA BOSWELL has expert advice for balancing fresh ideas with completing half-finished work
Washes AND GLAZES
Art Academy’s ROB PEPPER introduces an in-depth guide to incorporating various techniques into your next masterpiece. Artwork by STAN MILLER, CHRIS ROBINSON and MICHELE ILLING
Hands
LAURA SMITH continues her new four-part series, which encourages you to draw elements of old master paintings, and this month’s focus is on capturing hands
Vincent van Gogh
To celebrate The Courtauld’s forthcoming landmark display of the troubled Dutch master’s self-portraits, STEVE PILL looks at the stories behind 10 of the most dramatic works on display
BRING THE drama
Join international watercolour maestro ALVARO CASTAGNET in London’s West End to paint a dramatic street scene
Serena Rowe
The Scottish painter tells STEVE PILL why time is precious, why emotional responses to colour are useful, and how she finds focus every day with the help of her studio wall
Bill Jacklin
Chatting over Zoom as he recovers from appendicitis, the Royal Academician tells STEVE PILL about classic scrapes in New York and his recent experiments with illustration