The lost art of observing is becoming more and more rare. Nowadays no one really observes their surroundings, as we move quickly from screen to screen, passively absorbing information and images.

As a painter, my greatest strength is in actively inspecting and studying my environment.  

Much like the great painters of the impressionist era, I am finding the magical and unique moments in the mundane everyday life.

 

From painting a beloved pet reclining on an armchair, interiors in the artist’s home or studio, or revisiting the same scenery over and over—

I insist on examining every little detail I find around me, thoughtfully and patiently, until I notice something unusual, like seeing something for the first time.

 

In the current era of short attention span that defines our culture, I find that my obligation as a figurative painter is to sustain the skill of consciously meditating over what I see, before this ability is completely lost to humankind.

 

As a painter I operate a lot like a director, guiding the viewer through a well thought-out scene. Every detail holds great importance, however banal it may seem; every brush stroke is cautiously placed to bring the entire image to life. I use the power of lighting, framing and characters to bring these cinematic happenings into existence.

 

The paintings play with realistic and abstract elements, forgoing certain details and creating vast fields of color in a constant dialogue between traditional and contemporary painting techniques. They convey a delicate balance between narrative and sensation, that corresponds with the major modern painters, who understood the meaning of creating radiant paintings, depicting the simplest subject matters.

 

In my painterly journey I invite the viewer to stop for a moment from staring at the proverbial screen, to allow themselves to take a break from virtual reality and to relearn how to truly — observe.

My Street Expressive, 2015, Oil on canvas, 55x35 cm