Petronilla HohenwARTer

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Born in: 1965, Waldkirchen, Germany
Lives in: Waldkirchen, Germany
Media: Painting, Drawing, Digital Media
Describe your art in 3 words: informal, expressive, visionary
See More Work: https://petronillahohenwarter.com

I joyfully surrender to the New | The Awakening 2022 - Mixed Media on Canvas, 150 x 120 cm

"ART is an EXPRESSION of the DIVINE. What is the true Value of Humanity? Is it still desirable to rediscover and integrate our Core Values into our Lives ? Back to your Roots - Stand up for Yourself is my Call and Statement to Mankind to awaken to the Value of Love that we were born with originally. It encourages and enables us to reach our full Potential. Allow Love to be your Essence. "

What themes does your current work involve?
This Piece is part of the Awakening Series, which debuted in 2021 during the Pandemic's second year. I'm talking about an evolutionary Consciousness Process in which Humanity is involved both consciously and unconsciously. It is an energetic Awakening into our spiritual-soul Existence that allows us to physically manifest our highest Potential and Superpower. I meditate and unconditionally surrender to this Source who resides within me; in this State, I perceive an Energy Field within myself that is more empowering, effective, and loving than my Mind and egocentric Thinking can ever be. This is the Source from which my Artworks emerge.
Describe your creative process.
To me the Act of Creation is related to a Energy as a driving Force that can be recognized in every single Work of Art in the Style of the Color I use, the Shape, the Line and Structure. My artistic Approach is informal , abstract, expressive and flows from within. When Painting on the Floor the Movement is similarly to a Dance. Artworks appear when I perceive them energetically in my Mind and see them visually in Front of my inner Eye. I don't sketch; instead, I prepare the materials and surrender completely and trustingly to the Flow of Energy and Transformation. The End Result is a vibrant, empowering, liberating, and contemporary Artwork.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Life in itself is a Source of Inspiration to me. In this Context, it is necessary to recognize and comprehend the Complexities of Mankind. These Insights I gain, along with the creative Process and my natural aesthetic Intuition, allow me to create a Space for the Viewer to rest in between all of the mysterious Layers with which we are confronted both inside and outside. The natural Beauty of our Human Selves is reflected more clearly in this visual Transformation. I started making Art because my Soul demanded it. In short, my artistic Development is a life-long Process that reflects on myself, the Human Universe, and beyond.
What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2023?
One of my artistic Goals is to raise Awareness about the Holistic Value of visual Art in Relation to Body-Mind-Soul Healing. My personal Interest and main Focus, in Addition to Marketing my Art, traveling, and expanding my Coaching Program, is developing new Artwork as Part of The Awakening Series. This Act of Creation empowers me and is the most important Part of my Life. Two solo Exhibitions are planned, as well as some other creative Ideas that I'd like to see realized.
How do recent advancements in technology affect your art practice? How may recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (image generator software) affect the definition of fine art?
Every technological advancement results in an increase in intellectual awareness. Graphic programs were already being used as a supplement to the analog creative process many years ago. AI is simply another tool that can be used to technically implement creative ideas. I doubt that artificial intelligence is the one and only future technology that will completely replace the artist, his uniqueness, and genius. But it is, among other things, one of those new ways to re-imagine analog art with AI - why not.
What is the role of the artist today?
There are two words that express this perfectly: Remembrance and Interconnectedness. So far, nothing has changed. An Artist is still a modern visionary who, using his own Language, holds up a Mirror to Society, revealing that Humanity has learned little from History. Because we are constantly exposed to Duality on this Planet, the Act of Creation is a Way to demonstrate and even shift Energies that are present in our World. Personally, I often wonder where the spirit of Love is on this planet where emotional Abuse, Power Plays, Suffer, Manipulation and Materialism are still used to compensate for a Lack of Love in one's Heart. Art depicts the Source of Love and Light that we seek.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

It's somehow very subjective to talk about good and great Art. As we know from Art History there are plenty of Art Masters, which had an Impact on Mankind. To me , a great Work of Art reveals its Spirit entirely, which moves through Space and Time. It has a deeper Impact on the Viewer and invites them to engage in Dialogue. This can happen in various Ways. If an Artwork endures even without the Artist and requires no Explanation because it is breathtakingly extraordinary, it has an Effect beyond Space and Time and will be remembered as a Work of Art for future Generations.

Cosmic Soul Dance und die Liebe erblüht | The Awakening 2022 - Mixed Media on Canvas, 100 x 140 cm
The Golden Hour of Delight | The Awakening 2022 - Mixed Media on Canvas, 120 x 150 cm
OH YES and Life is a joyful Pilgrimage | The Awakening 2022 - Relief on Paper on Wood 100 x 80 cm
The Spirit of Light is awakening within | The Awakening 2021 - Mixed Media on Canvas, 100 x 140 cm

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

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Jingfeng Li

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Born in: Liaoning Province of China
Lives in: Beijing, China
Media: Painting, Drawing, Ink Drawing
Education: Graduated from the Decoration Department of LuXun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China.

Encounter - Pen and ink on paper, 55.5 x 75.8 cm

Jingfeng is a painter who focuses on pen-and-ink drawing. He likes black and white tones; he loves realistic expression techniques. The real and natural expressions moved the pictures he visited. Art is endless and he always on the road of exploration.

What themes does your current work involve?
My themes are very broad, and what can move me is what I want to express.
 
Describe your creative process.
The creation of the process is relatively simple. The pen, paper, and ink are drawn on the paper through the density of the pen lines to draw layers and spaces. My pen-and-ink paintings drawings start from the local area and gradually expand outward. This requires the ability to control the overall painting.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Influenced by my elder brother at the age of 7, I started to learn to draw. In middle school, I went to night school to learn how to draw. Later, I was admitted to the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts to study. I have always been in awe of nature, and nature has brought me I have unlimited imagination, and I respect the touch brought by reality, so I like to use realistic expressions to truly reproduce what I see. I have been exploring in the field of pen-and-ink painting until now. It is really laborious to draw realistically with pens. But its form of expression is different. When you finish a painting every time, although you are tired, you are still very happy. This is the magic of pen-and-ink painting.
What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2023?
I don't have any plans. The art of painting is not a fast-food culture. Although the technology can be improved quickly, aesthetics and self-cultivation are the result of slow comprehension and personal experience in life. Art has no artistic conception, I can only say that I am still on the way of exploration.
How do recent advancements in technology affect your art practice? How may recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (image generator software) affect the definition of fine art?
I personally think that artificial intelligence can meet the needs of ordinary people or businesses. The thoughts of artists cannot be replaced. Every artist has his own judgment and thinking. Artificial intelligence naturally has its uses, but it cannot replace my thoughts and it will not affect the exploration of pen-and-ink drawings.
What is the role of the artist today?
Although art cannot be eaten, a high-quality life cannot be separated from art. Art is a product of the spiritual level, and life cannot be without art. I don't know what role an artist plays in life, because I don't make a living by painting, but I know that when I paint a good work, it will also touch the people around me, and I will be touched by nature and life, which is what I think an artist should do.
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

A good artwork first moves the painter himself. The painting must have depth and thoughtfulness, and the work will resonate with the viewer. Everything from composition to modeling to tone should be carefully study, so that the viewers will remember the appeal of the work after watching it.

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

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Ren Jianhui

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Born in: 1956, ChenDu, China
Lives in: Singapore
Education: Graduated from Art Academy of Qing Hua University, taught by the art master Mr. Wu Guanzhong.
Describe your art in 3 words: Innovation, Style, Thought
See More Work: www.renjianhui.com

Truth of the Soul 1 - Oil on canvas 82 x 110 cm

"Art is not merely about technique and style, but these are secondary elements serving the bigger function of art in sensitizing us to the human experience. I believe in the power of visual images to convey aspects of the contemporary world, and universal themes such as those of life, existence, and death."

What themes does your current work involve?
Love is the eternal theme of art, the essence of life, the flame of desire. To love is an instinctual part of self-exploration. In the pursuit of lust, bodies and hearts find themselves on the verge of mergence, capturing the harmony of yin and yang. This passionate eruption leads to the fierce entanglement of souls, expressed in heavily distorted and strained faces. The intense distortion and exaggeration of the objective world is the truth of the soul. Our souls symbolize our inner passions, showcasing the bitter struggles and humanity of survival. A viewer can almost delve even deeper like an X-ray and relate to the passion in their own hearts. It is an alternate depiction of emotions through bodily distortion. “Viewing not only with sight but through stimulation of the nerves."
Describe your creative process.
After exploring different styles and various media for more than two decades, I finally settled with oil painting. My emotions can be better expressed with a wider selection of colours and brushstrokes. Through semi-realism, I can show new-found energy in modern oil painting, which includes the combination of modernity and primitivism. With unique methods of processing the paint, I'm exploring the optimum way to treat background and foreground separately on canvas, while producing a perfectly complementary effect. I draw ideas from everyday life and nature. The desire to free ourselves from the complexity and rapidly changing nature of society – to find our inner peace, achieve spiritual independence and feel our own existence. I also work in series.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
I’m inspired by the complexity and perishability of life; by the ever-changing yet eternal nature of its many aspects, including the relationship between man and nature, inter-personal relations and the meaning of life and death. The “simulation” that I seek to embody in my semi-realistic art, as well as my exploration of the interaction between modernism and primitivism, highlight the constant development and evolution of individuals and societies in response to external changes and reveal many truths about human existence. I’m also inspired by the teachings of Lao Tzu in “Tao Te Ching”, especially in this series. “All things carry yin and embrace yang.”. Two seemingly opposite yet interdependent essential energies that make up existence.
What is the role of the artist today?
The role of the artist today is not only to deliver good technique but also to have his/her works enlighten the viewer in seeing things that are not actually seen, beyond the primary stage of ‘seeing things as they are’. This involves a higher level of understanding and enlightenment that transcends reality.
Truth of the Soul 2 - Oil on canvas 82 x 110 cm
Truth of the Soul 3 - Oil on canvas 82 x 110 cm
Fading Civilisation 2 - Oil on canvas 200 x 170 cm
Fading Civilisation 1 - Oil on canvas 200 x 170 cm

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

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Debbie K Morris

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Born in: United Kingdom
Lives in: Bournemouth UK
Education: Self-taught artist
Describe your art in 3 words: Hyperrealism Inspirational Detailed
See More Work: www.portraitsbydkm.co.uk

Mountain Ghost - Pastel pencils on Pastelmat 70 x 50 cm

"A self-taught artist from Dorset, UK, my passion for art began at a young age but soon a career and family took up all my time. Now I can follow my dream and in 2018 dusted off my pastels, developed a love for painting wildlife and seeing others enjoy my art. I strive to achieve high levels of realism. Pastels are the 'go to' medium at the moment but I hope to master a paint brush too soon."

All Coiled Up - Pastel pencils on Pastelmat 30 x 40 cm
Broken - Pastel pencils on Pastelmat 50 x 70 cm
I Have a Dream - Pastel pencils on Pastelmat 30 x 40 cm
Fields of Gold - Pastel pencils on Pastelmat 30 x 40 cm
What themes does your current work involve?
Currently I am enjoying painting wildlife but I honestly enjoy any subject that I find a challenge and am happy with whatever theme and subject I choose. I especially like painting eyes, they are the window to the soul and give so much expression and meaning to a subject. I also love to paint metal objects and I love to include water droplets in some of my work. I enjoy painting people and I am more recently becoming inspired by movement within a theme such as dancing or natural actions such as wildlife chase.
Describe your creative process.
I have to be inspired by the subject I am painting but that inspiration can be from a whole variety of things. Sometimes it's the sheer beauty of something - other times it's what is being depicted such as sadness, happiness, love. I then plan the composition and setting such as background, details, colours etc. I map out the composition and block in the basic colours [my least favourite part] and then once I'm happy with the 'map' that has been created, I work systematically from top left down to bottom right. This ensures that work is not smudged or damaged in the process. I use glassine paper to protect my work in progress and then finally, once I'm happy with the finished piece and only then, I sign my work generally in the bottom right corner. I never use a fixative.
What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
Right now my work is influenced and inspired by the natural world and by being able to raise the profiles of some endangered species through my art. I am inspired by some of the amazing photography that is shared and to be able to paint animals in their natural habitat many of which I could only otherwise see in captivity. I am inspired to improve, to challenge myself and I love nothing more than proving to myself that I can do and achieve something that perhaps once I didn't think was within me. I took up art again to find some work-life balance but it very quickly became something far more important to me than that. Now, I cannot imagine a life without art, the outlet it gives and the joy it brings is the best antidote to a hectic and demanding life.
What are your goals and plans as an artist in 2023?
Who doesn't want their job to be something they absolutely love? I cannot think of anything I would love more than to become a professional artist. In the past 2 years I have been proud to receive a number of awards for my work. My goals and plans for 2023 are to achieve continued recognition and wider exposure of my work through exhibitions, competitions and social media. I want to keep pushing myself to get better - to learn more - to experiment more - to try more mediums and for art to be able to take a more prominent place in my life. I want to get better, I am constantly looking to improve - I want to make the very best use of my time to do all these things - just writing it here fills me with excitement and makes me smile!
How do recent advancements in technology affect your art practice? How may recent developments in Artificial Intelligence (image generator software) affect the definition of fine art?
I genuinely believe that each medium has its own merit and is appreciated for what it is. Just like traditional and contemporary furniture, originals and replicas, they all have a place as long as they are an honest depiction of what they are.
What is the role of the artist today?
I believe the artist has a duty to be true to themselves and the work they do. Art has to come from the heart. What you paint is inside you. As an artist I can sometimes struggle with confidence and self-belief; I am a work in progress of my very own!!! Yes we practice and yes we improve but the real talent is deep within us and is unique to each and every one of us. The role of an artist is first and foremost to paint what they love, not to try to paint what someone else loves; the second part comes from the first!
What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

Oh so many things! To capture something within the art. To hear someone say 'WoW!' To bring out an emotion; to make someone smile or laugh or gasp or cry. For me, to watch someone get right up close to appreciate the work - or to stand right back and just stare. To make someone look twice or to make them feel like they have to have to have it! To be part of someone's home. We are all different and there is such an wonderful variety of art out there. For the artist its like being on the stage - having people appreciate what you do and bringing pleasure through your art is the best feeling ever.

 

This interview was published by Circle Foundation of the Arts. © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist

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