One thing I love about both Eric, Alvaro, and Joseph Zbukvic is that in addition to their painting abilities, they are engaging teachers, who are in addition to this entertaining. This combination of the three is rare even among great artists, and I’ve learned so much watching them.
Hands down, the best interview on art that I’ve ever seen. I could never understand why I don’t t feel that I’ve received a compliment when told that I’ve painted something ‘pretty’ (no matter how kindly it is meant). Alvaro has been able to explain what is lacking - the emotion. Personally I’m still working on technique and will likely never progress beyond ‘therapeutic’ painting level but it is fascinating listening to him speaking about the philosophy behind a painting, I could listen to him for hours.
Fate or God? Amazing that Herman, Joseph and Alvaro were in Melbourne painting together in the 1980's, each coming from different parts of the world. Sometimes things are meant to be - right?
Wonderful interview...could listen to much more! Fabulous insight to successful direction in an artist's struggle. This man confirms self belief! Thank you to all for producing this excellent pod cast!
Phenomenal interview, probably the most interesting and inspiring I've heard. Alvaro has an interesting interpretation of what makes a successful painting. I think he has moved up so far in his artistic expression beyond the graphic elements or optics of a painting to conceptualism where expressing a graphic interpretation of his philosophy is more important than the basic optics of a painting. According to his current opinion, and artistic evaluation, this is more important than visual prettiness. . I think it becomes a question of what standpoint one is evaluating the quality of a painting from ,which seems to lead to "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." If you look at Paul Ching Bor's paintings, and place them beside Alvaro's or Zbukbic's work, to my eye, Bor's paintings look more primitive and earthy, with a minimalist design approach - certainly less "pretty." I wonder if he would be granted an AWS membership with his monochromatic, dark, brooding and minimalistic style. He's clearly attempting to say something other than "the world is beautiful and I'm going to capture that beauty on my canvas." So I'm using the term "conceptual" meaning, the idea or philosophical statement he is making (philosophy is conceptual) is a personal, emotional reaction to the world around him; for instance, not necessarily bent on capturing the effects of light. That seems to me to be a luxury afforded only to those who have mastered the principles and elements of art. Protest art is conceptual art which can be inundated with emotion and which usually doesn't defer to the proper use of the elements of design. I guess then the challenge is to have the image or scene of what you are interested in painting, and then ask "What do I want to say about what I'm looking at...what is the message I want to communicate? Sorry for the long post, I'm just trying to determine how to understand Alvaro's "philosophy" and how to move off the rails of an academic approach and style of painting into something more expansive and meaningful. When I look at Alvaro's paintings, I'm thinking that his emotional and philosophical starting point is something like, "The earth not only has a tangible physical beauty, but an other-worldly atmosphere as well" and that ambience is what he tries to capture.
Thanks for the interview! I'm always fascinated by the different thoughts and approaches of other watercolorists, especially those who work en plein air as I do. Alvaro's passionate personality definitely shines through his work; it was nice to connect with the face and a voice behind it. Looking forward to meeting everyone at PACE23, L
One thing I love about both Eric, Alvaro, and Joseph Zbukvic is that in addition to their painting abilities, they are engaging teachers, who are in addition to this entertaining. This combination of the three is rare even among great artists, and I’ve learned so much watching them.
Hands down, the best interview on art that I’ve ever seen. I could never understand why I don’t t feel that I’ve received a compliment when told that I’ve painted something ‘pretty’ (no matter how kindly it is meant). Alvaro has been able to explain what is lacking - the emotion. Personally I’m still working on technique and will likely never progress beyond ‘therapeutic’ painting level but it is fascinating listening to him speaking about the philosophy behind a painting, I could listen to him for hours.
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No one could paint like Alvaro without a degree of talent😊
Fate or God? Amazing that Herman, Joseph and Alvaro were in Melbourne painting together in the 1980's, each coming from different parts of the world. Sometimes things are meant to be - right?
Wonderful interview...could listen to much more! Fabulous insight to successful direction in an artist's struggle. This man confirms self belief! Thank you to all
for producing this excellent pod cast!
Inspiring interview with Alvaro Castagnet. I love his Poetry and Magic theory! Thank you both for an intriguing discussion.
🙌
Phenomenal interview, probably the most interesting and inspiring I've heard. Alvaro has an interesting interpretation of what makes a successful painting. I think he has moved up so far in his artistic expression beyond the graphic elements or optics of a painting to conceptualism where expressing a graphic interpretation of his philosophy is more important than the basic optics of a painting. According to his current opinion, and artistic evaluation, this is more important than visual prettiness. . I think it becomes a question of what standpoint one is evaluating the quality of a painting from ,which seems to lead to "beauty is in the eye of the beholder." If you look at Paul Ching Bor's paintings, and place them beside Alvaro's or Zbukbic's work, to my eye, Bor's paintings look more primitive and earthy, with a minimalist design approach - certainly less "pretty." I wonder if he would be granted an AWS membership with his monochromatic, dark, brooding and minimalistic style. He's clearly attempting to say something other than "the world is beautiful and I'm going to capture that beauty on my canvas." So I'm using the term "conceptual" meaning, the idea or philosophical statement he is making (philosophy is conceptual) is a personal, emotional reaction to the world around him; for instance, not necessarily bent on capturing the effects of light. That seems to me to be a luxury afforded only to those who have mastered the principles and elements of art. Protest art is conceptual art which can be inundated with emotion and which usually doesn't defer to the proper use of the elements of design. I guess then the challenge is to have the image or scene of what you are interested in painting, and then ask "What do I want to say about what I'm looking at...what is the message I want to communicate? Sorry for the long post, I'm just trying to determine how to understand Alvaro's "philosophy" and how to move off the rails of an academic approach and style of painting into something more expansive and meaningful. When I look at Alvaro's paintings, I'm thinking that his emotional and philosophical starting point is something like, "The earth not only has a tangible physical beauty, but an other-worldly atmosphere as well" and that ambience is what he tries to capture.
‘Paint the lion!’~Alvaro Castagnet
Fantastic interview.
Thank u 🎨
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Gouache is my favourite plein air medium now!
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🙏🙏🙏 Thanks a lot Sirs.
Thanks for the interview! I'm always fascinated by the different thoughts and approaches of other watercolorists, especially those who work en plein air as I do. Alvaro's passionate personality definitely shines through his work; it was nice to connect with the face and a voice behind it.
Looking forward to meeting everyone at PACE23,
L
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terrific interview!
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