This painting was made as part of Re-Seen project supported by West Way Trust and was exhibit during group show in Muse Gallery,
269 Portobello Road, London in March 2020.

Encounter
 digital painting

 

fragments

 

Once I’ve met a fox.
– Hello, How are you? – He asked politely
– Hello, I try to  adapt – I answered – How are you?
– Well, … me to – He said.

 

There is a new making of in portfolio/matte paintings section. It looks so easy and quick but work on this project took lots of time. This project was made for Faculty of Earth Sciences Museum, University of Silesia in Katowice, Sosnowiec in Poland.
Have a look.

 

Making of:

 

“Shadows”
digital painting 29,7cm x 42cm

 

 

More than 6 months ago I became one of eight artists, who became part of the Westway Arts & Culture Artist Commissions Program. The goal of this program is to support local artists. “This year we’ve commissioned eight exciting artists who are researching and developing new work that imaginatively responds to themes related to ‘place’.”

From the beginning I have known, that this program is a good spot for me. I am already living in the neighborhood for 6 years and it was the right time to look back and re-seen all places, see them again with a fresh eye. This is the reason why I called my project Re-Seen.

My approach was simple and let’s say… traditional. I went out with my sketchbook and started to sketch. After I was re-sketching, and re-sketching. During this process I could actually realize why particular places caught my attention in the first place. Once again I understood that in order to see something I have to draw it.

Another aspect in this project were emotions. In order to really re-seen places I had to be honest with myself. Uncover emotions even if they were difficult to deal with. During this project I discovered, that the last 6 years were not so easy and colorful for me as houses on Portobello Road. It may seams weird, that I didn’t notice it earlier. But in the stream of life you live, act and react. Sometimes there is no time to reflect. Especially when you live in a very busy, colorful, loud and demanding city. I was surprised to see lot of nostalgic feelings and sadness in my own artworks. But it is a beauty of art, isn’t it? If you are honest with your art, it will tell you more than you think.

Additionally to digital paintings, which are the final artworks, I am preparing projections of black and white analog pictures. This was a really great idea. I used to love taking pictures, but for some years now I haven’t done it. This project “forced” me to bring from Poland my old analog camera called Zenit and undusted it carefully. Its very interesting how your hands remember camera, even if you don’t. My fingers instinctively find the way to the right places. They knew automatically which button to push, were to hold… Very interesting. 
And the most amazing part, the moment after few weeks of taking pictures when your film has been developed and you impatiently check if there is something on it…

Now, emotions slow down, the major part of work is done. It is just few days before exhibition. Artworks has been printed, framed, nicely packed and are ready to be delivered to Muse Gallery. When I look back I see that this project was not easy for me, but I guess art shouldn’t be easy. It should be a struggle, battle with yourself, your possibilities, battle which at the end of the day makes you very happy.

Exhibition 3-8 MARCH 2020
The Muse Gallery, 269Portobello Road, W11 1LR London

In the middle of December we packed our stuff and went to south of Poland. The plan was to visit places, museums with which we were collaborating for some years now.
A small explanation is needed here.  I often work as an illustrator for palaeontological museums by making  panoramas which after become part of dioramas.
Now there was a time to finally see what we were working on in full scale.

We visited Muzeum Nauk o Ziemi / Museum of Earth Sciences in Sosnowiec which was celebrating it’s 25th anniversary and GeoSfera Parc in Jaworzno.

This few days were amazing. I have to say that scientists, in this case paleontologists and geologists, are very cool people. Very open, passionate and hospitable. We felt there like a rock stars 😊

At the beginning I was a bit shy, because I have known that my work will be confronted with people who actually know what they are looking at in palaeontological dioramas. Of course during process of making, my work has been consulted, so that even the smallest detail, will fit and be accurate from a scientific point of view. But here for the first time, I could actually hear and see their reaction face to face in real time. 

I was standing next to a bunch of students, secretly listening to their reactions. And I was right. They didn’t admire how amazing colours I used, or how gorgeous composition is pleasing to the eye. They were commenting geological accuracy of the rock I made and paleontological correctness of the animals I did. But when at the end, they said : “yee, its cool“  I was simply happy.

Our happiness reached zenith point when we were honored and received commemorative medals as an appreciation for our input to the museum. We were simply radiant with joy. Because what better could be than a word of appreciation after years of hard work in front of computer’s monitor?

When we thought that all the emotion slow down, we visited GeoSfera Parc in Jaworzno. This is an amazing space. There I could finally see my panorama, which I made in 2013! This was a real time travel 😊 in any aspect of this verse.

It seems, it is this time of the year when inevitable Autumn is coming.

Lady in red is my new digital painting.

For some time now Sea Lilies are with me. At First I thought they are flowers, but very quickly I was informed that they are animals. I have been using models of them in many of my matte paintings for paleontological exhibitions. So, this was just a question of time, when they will sneak up to my artworks. There is something magical in them, or fossils of them. They are kept alive, in delicate shape, vivid and happy.

When you finally get out of the city and you are simply amazed.