16 Jul 07 by Hanjo Schmidt
What is the Trapani experience doing to my work?

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1. After I realized that I am in Stuttgart again (where it is hotter than it has been in Trapani!) I started work to use the time that is left until I have to leave my old and to build my new studio.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

2. So what did Trapani do to me? Besides all the euphoria that came after the exhaustion was over that is. First it is a need for brighter colours and second another attempt to be more open in my brushstrokes. So this time I started painting with a white background.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

3. And as usual doing some outlines whith a big brush for orientation. So here beginns the adding and taking away in my sculptors manner to slowly get plasticity into the two dimensions.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

4. But at the same time trying to leave as much of the wild background as possible. That’s for giving room to the paint to tell her own story beside what’s the theme of the painting. Remember at least the painting should look more interesting than my palette.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

5. After a days work I am already on the brink of the question where to stop. Should I leave it just as it is or do I have to continue. This needs a sleeping it over. So when I enter my studio tomorrow morning I will know. Well and for all that are curious ... yes I did have a cappucino ... two to be more precise.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

6. Well, the next day. Working some of the details over, especially the forehead and starting with the background.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

7. I love my brush and my brush loves the paint and the paint loves the canvas.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

8. What follows is going over it again and again. So one can hardly see the difference. But every brushstroke is important. The more important the closer it comes to the end.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

9. Well, this is the finished painting so far. So lets get closer and closer to see the details and the surface and the language of it’s brushstrokes ...

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

10. Cropping the face as a map for the close-ups

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

11. The cheekbone near the right ear (seen from the viewer)

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

12. The mouth with it’s lips.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

13. The light on the left cheek (again from the viewer)

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

14. And the right eye

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

15. The neck at the bottom of the painting.

The Trapani Influence
The Trapani Influence

16. Well, and here is the scale.