Impressions of parcour

An ambition to make an impression? An attempt to leave the beholder with a feeling mirroring mine? The joyful leap of faith, towards a new dimension.



Here a quick pastel sketch. I am trying to catch the motion, the feeling of making that one big leap, with courage and style ... Just a few colours in this and then 'black' - that feared pigment by many artists.


A French parcour traceur shows his artistic skill .. trying to impress the lady ... now who doesn't try?

The scent of a woman

It follows you everywhere, that image of that special person, the smile, the gestures, the touch of her skin and silken hair and her perfume ... try to capture that!?! Sketching, sketching ... here in charcoal. A turning of her head, her hair flowing in the wind and with the movement, her captivating smile .. melting ... and to this listen to the brilliant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj4j-iV-iak (António Pinho Vargas playing his Tom Waits ...)

Art makes the invisible visible

"Art makes the invisible visible" said Paul Klee. How true .. he was preceeded by the eminent August Macke. Here is a study of his insightful "Hutladen" (the "hat shop") in original size (ca 60.5x50.5).
 Our inner feelings are true, aren't they?  But we are not always in touch with our inner feelings, and not always honest with ourselves. Sometimes, we may not be prepared to face the reality of what we are feeling: fear, shame, longing, loss ... Art allows us, like music, to get into touch with our inner true feelings ... and bring them out .. to set them free ... bringing forth something beautiful ... (depending on who you are?) ...

Ina café in Paris

Jean-Pierre Gibrat is a master of water colours and BD design. Have with pleasure read his sequel starting with Le Vol du Corbeau, with the strong and beautiful Céline as the main character. Reminds me of someone ... Here a pastel version of one of the small strip boxes, capturing the sentimental mood in a café in Paris, and building on a tradition of French paintings, with Tolouse-Lautrec, van Gogh and others as insipration. 

So what is art?

Did this pastel study of dancing people. Is it art? Not sure. The colours, the movement of the dancing people, the sensual and seductive pose of the woman at the centre of our attention, the technique, composition - does it convey or give rise to a feeling? What is art for me? A sence of beauty; something pleasingly surprising; something crafted with technical proficiency - but not always necessarily excellent/superbe - and done with passion ... maybe that is it ...

Paris mon amour

Water colour study on 100x80 and 300 gr paper - fine grain. I am not satisfied. It is overworked and yet not finnished. It was satisfying working on it though (the journey in itself was worth it all).
I hoped the fantastic framing by the Boesner Frankfurt team (thank you!) would lift it, but no ...
I know I could do it better now, and maybe I should ... but there are so many other projects ...
Still I like the scene very much - it depicts the rue Rivoli in Paris looking towards Place de la Concorde on a chilly autumn afternoon ... a lovely walk hand-in-hand ...

Framed space

Inspired by an original at the Institut Suédois in Paris I had to try my hand at an 'installation'. It was a bit complex to realize but, I really love the concept of the framed empty space creating a very powerful form. One can see a simple cross, or the Vetruvian man/woman, the christian symbol of Christ's carried cross, and more ... all depending on fantasy and time. Unfortunately I do not know the name of the original creator. I am in his debt. Thank you.
(http://www.si.se/Paris/Francais/Institut-suedois-a-Paris/)

The pain of letting go

Letting go can be very hard and even painful. Letting yourself go, allowing your ideas to blossom, sharing and expressing them can be very difficult. One should be very caring about one's good ideas and visions, they are fragile, and yet can be extremely powerful (as was said by Apple's chief designer). Here a charcoal expression of the feeling of loss, hope and yearning. Courage is another side of the coin - do you have the strength despite the fears ... to let go.