You and your work seem authentic. But on some web pages you can find pictures that appeared as if they are done in Photoshop and people call them fake.
Yes, I know. The thing is that I did digital drafts in Photoshop in the past. My mistake was to not sign them with a watermark before publishing on my website. I've entitled them as digital drafts only. Now those pictures appear on other web pages taken out of the context. But as you know - you can't delete something on the Internet once it has been spread.
Those are the digital drafts:
Those are the digital drafts:
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When did your fascination with art begin?
It began in my childhood. I was drawing since I was able to hold a brush - my parents told me. From the very beginning I was fascinated in trying out every technique that I could imagine. My parents wanted to upgrade my talent and gave me the opportunity to join a painting course when I was 14 years old. But that didn't work for me. I could not stand someone to tell me what to do and how to do it. Call it rebel if you want. Today like in my childhood I am quite certain that every experience, every step you make by your own is more productive than what hundred art teachers are trying to tell you.
I did workshops for street painting in the past as well. I allways focused on the individual. I never made a show out of it like performing my art. I told everyone to do a painting they think it is impossible to do for them - to go for the challenge. I just helped them to go over the deadlock.
I did workshops for street painting in the past as well. I allways focused on the individual. I never made a show out of it like performing my art. I told everyone to do a painting they think it is impossible to do for them - to go for the challenge. I just helped them to go over the deadlock.
What inspired you to focus on street painting?
I went to upper school in a small German town called 'Geldern'. It holds the second oldest street painting competition in the world. On my way to school I saw the transient beautiful masterpieces done with chalk on the pavement and I felt in Love with street painting by entering the festival at the age of sixteen.
When I was studying communication design I made my living doing street paintings all over Europe. The experiences, the possibilities that opened up on the street have been a huge contrast to the life at University. The main conflict was that the most likely narcissistic Professors focused more and more on the presentation of an idea than on the creative part of it. So I decided to give up studying and to go for street painting, which felt way more authentic to me.
When I was studying communication design I made my living doing street paintings all over Europe. The experiences, the possibilities that opened up on the street have been a huge contrast to the life at University. The main conflict was that the most likely narcissistic Professors focused more and more on the presentation of an idea than on the creative part of it. So I decided to give up studying and to go for street painting, which felt way more authentic to me.
Youre considered as a real innovator as an artist and your work has even made history, with the 3D street painting you did at the Sarasota Chalk Festival in 2010. How do you gain inspiration for new projects and different methods of painting like this?
Some art connoisseurs told me once that contemporary art is not about expressing personal aspects. But what source is more powerful more productive than fighting inner conflicts - I asked him. For me, most of the contemporary art is lost in incompetence of being authentic and understandable for everybody. Their work is confusing, they focus just on effects and most of them better should call themselves Artisan not Artist.
Usually I have a walk in the forest close to my house to get ideas for a new painting. My way of getting inspiration is to ask questions. What am I doing here? What can I do better? How do we create our reality? Is time linear? Do I believe in god? Some call it kid's questions. That is the greatest compliment for me.
Usually I have a walk in the forest close to my house to get ideas for a new painting. My way of getting inspiration is to ask questions. What am I doing here? What can I do better? How do we create our reality? Is time linear? Do I believe in god? Some call it kid's questions. That is the greatest compliment for me.
What effect do you want your 3D street paintings to have on people?
Beside the personal messages, questions and sometimes answers in my paintings I'm questioning experienced daily perception of people by changing the appearance of public places.
Why do you think street painting and 3D street painting has grown in popularity in recent years?
Although street painting doesn't have the illegal touch like graffiti or sprayers it has something in common with it. The art happens in the public and young artist can reach their audience directly without trying to get into galleries and museums.
If you ask someone on the street about 3D he comes up with computer games or new TVs most likely. 3D street painting is using a different technique but also simulate the third dimension. I'm sure there is a connection.
But I think people are changing. They are questioning their perception more and more. Have you ever asked yourself if there are more than 4 dimensions?
If you ask someone on the street about 3D he comes up with computer games or new TVs most likely. 3D street painting is using a different technique but also simulate the third dimension. I'm sure there is a connection.
But I think people are changing. They are questioning their perception more and more. Have you ever asked yourself if there are more than 4 dimensions?
You have claimed to be inspired by other artists such as Kurt Wenner and Julian Beever to develop your own style of 3D painting and, as an autodidact, you say you are always looking for new ways to express yourself. How do you see yourself developing further?
Time will show. Right now I love to just go for new three-dimensional paintings. I trust in my intuition and am sure it will take me to new steps.
