Painting Emotions and Spiritual Energy Workshop in Seoul

Long overdue blog updates on the workshop I taught back in August 2014 at Jankura Art Space, Seoul.
It is always a pleasure to teach at Jankura and every time I go back to Seoul I am always looking forward to this opportunity. My previous Aura-focused workshop at Jankura back in April was well attended and positively received, so this time I wanted to do something similar yet different. As a result, I thought to explore further the theme of  'Perception of emotions' more than focusing on reading spiritual energy.

Because of this much broader approach, all of the attendees appeared to be even more engaged this time, (even though the workshop was taught in English and not everyone was fluent in it), mostly because everyone felt somehow familiar with the topic of feeling and expressing emotions. Through bespoke tutor-led exercises, during the workshop all the students were able to enhance their perception of emotions and use these to produce something artistic. 

The workshop concluded with students describing their paintings to the rest of the class, in an art critic-esque way, and why the emotions were painted as such. With my surprise even those less artistically gifted were able to create remarkable artworks and in the end left the workshop rather satisfied with their little masterpieces!!

Once again I would like to express my thanks to Mike Stewart, owner of Jankura, for inviting me at his art academy and, most important, for giving me this wonderful opportunity. 

~ See you all again soon! ~

New and last painting of the Midian series: MIDIAN (정아)

Finally the last painting part of the series dedicated to the Korean band Midian  is now completed!!! The latest portrait belong to the only female member in the band, second guitar, 신정아. In a still primarily male-dominated environment such as the Heavy Metal scene (this particularly in Korea where, from my experience, women into Heavy Metal and Rock seem to be almost as rare as diamonds...) being the only female member of a band means working much harder then the rest and always having to prove yourself.

신정아's energy is definitely a really strong and somehow a dark one yet it retains the sensitivity and kindness of femininity. Inspiration for the piece comes from a field of wild flowers basking in the moonlight. The picture in my mind was actually that of dark red or purple flowers but as I know nothing about flowers it was really difficult to find a suitable image in internet. I hope the one I found still gives the same feeling, as it is really similar to the vision I had in my mind before starting to paint. This piece is actually extra sparkling and the purple is really vivid: I did try to represent on canvas the effect of the moonlight reflecting on the delicate flower petals.

Midian (정아)
Wild flowers basking in the moonlight

New Painting: MIDIAN (보현)

Here it comes the penultimate aura painting for the Korean band MIDIAN, the portrait of their lead guitarists, 김보현.

Inspiration for the piece comes from the image of the somehow fairytale picturesque landscape such as that of a waterfall or a stream with ivy and musk growing along its banks (a bit on the line of those Arthurian landscapes visible in Lord of the Ring's Elven cities). I tried to convey in the painting the purity and strength of both running water and nature combined and give the feeling of something in continuous movement, which reminds me exactly of 김보현's energy.

MIDIAN (보현)

The powerful waterfall

New aura painting: MIDIAN (태호)

Here it comes the third aura portrait part of the series for the Korean band MIDIAN! This time is the aura and energy's inspired painting of the drummer and leader of the band, Kim Taeho.

Drummers are those musicians who stay almost completely hidden by their instrument and are not as visible as those who perform right at the front stage and can easily interact with fans during live shows. Taeho is not only a strong and charismatic leader but also a very dedicated musician whose passion for music (and Midian) is undoubtedly so strong it really touches the heart of whoever get to know him.

Inspiration from the piece came from the extraordinarily warmth of the glow of the red autumn leaves visible in Korea. The latter season is in fact the favourite of many Koreans mostly because of the wonderful tints that surface in the natural landscape during the period. (For those who have never been to Korea in that season I would really recommend a visit!)

MIDIAN (태호)

The glow of autumn leaves

Successful aura painting delivery across the world!

One of the biggest pleasure for an artist is without a doubt the opportunity to witness a satisfied commissioner (or the person for whom the painting was commissioned) receiving the desired painting and to see their happy face the first time they can hold the artwork in their hands.

During my recent visit to Seoul it was an absolutely delight to meet once again Craig Grillanda, one of the professional boxers for whom I was asked to create the Boxing Club Aura Series, and, most importantly, to pass the original painting directly to him in person. Here it is a photo of the occasion!

Boxer Craig Grillanda with  his very own aura portrait

Craig also helped me to deliver the aura portrait of his fellow colleague in the boxing ring, professional boxer Taek Min Kim, whom unfortunately I was unable to meet during my last trip to Korea. As a way to express his thanks and contentment Taek Min kindly sent me a few snapshots of him happily holding the painting. In the one uploaded here I love the boxing ring appearing in the background as it somehow add a touch of authenticity to the whole Boxing Club Aura Series!

Boxer Taek Min Kim  his portrai

New aura painting: MIDIAN (한울)

Second painting part of the series for the Korean band MIDIAN. The piece is the portrait of the charismatic band's bass guitarist Um Hanwool (엄한울).

In the painting I tried to replicate the feeling I had the first time I met the talented musician, that of the richness and warmth of the beautiful red, green and golden colours of an autumn forest at sunset. The finishing touch is unfortunately not showing in the digital format, but the original painting is extremely sparkling as I added an extra gloss coating with the aim to convey the feeling of the golden sunset sun rays coming through the tree leaves. With my delight I have found a photo in internet that may help to envision where the inspiration for the painting idea came from.

MIDIAN (한울)
The autumn forest in the sunset light

New Aura Series - MIDIAN (SIN)

It is always a pleasure to spend time in South Korea, a country with, without a doubt, I have been fallen madly in love. What made my last sojourn there even more enjoyable than usual was the fact that this time round not only I finally got to be fully introduced to the local Heavy Metal scene but I also became acquainted with several local bands.

One of these in particular, MIDIAN, caught my attention in full and bewitched me completely: in addition to the fact that their style of music and live performance match exactly my personal taste, the kindness demonstrated by the band members throughout my staying in Seoul was almost overwhelming: I got invited to see their rehearsals, album recording & mixing, and they made me feel welcome like I was a newly arrived band member.

As the band as a whole seemed to like my style of painting and appeared to be quite intrigued by the concept of aura painting, I left Korea with plans for future working collaborations such as a joint concert and art exhibition, promoter work and a full-house of aura painting commissions!

It is a total pleasure and humble honour to have the opportunity to repay such kindness with my art.
So here it comes the first of the paintings in the series, that of MIDIAN's vocalist, SIN.

His image and presence on (and off) stage is really remarkable, so I tried to capture his energy on canvas at my best. The feeling that I had was that of an impenetrable curtain made of a wall of thorns sparkling in the moonlight.

MIDIAN (SIN)
The wall of thorns