I have been missing something in my life for the last year and a half going on two years. I have not had a studio and have imprisoned myself in my own mind within the united states of america. I am thankful that @xvlad is an awesome host and willing to help me in times of darkness by scheduling a visit to one of his friend's studios located in the neighborhood we are staying in.
The idea occurred when I thought to myself what if i got a painting studio in rio? If rent is less expensive, and i can sell paintings on saatchi, why not see what the studio buildings in rio look like.
Vlad hit up his friend Nikolas Demurtas whos mom is also an artist and has a studio in an old textile factory building. I saw pictures online and it looks epic but we did not visit it this day.
We changed plans but we first met with Nikolas in his mom's apartment where he teaches painting classes.
Nikolas and his mom Bridgette, are both realism painters. I am going to go to his class on friday and draw.
I enjoyed Bridgettes tour of the apartment she gave me, showing me all the cool stuff on their walls.
She is beginning to learn taxidermy. I can see her interest in taxidermy from the subject matter of her paintings.
When we were sitting in Nikolas's studio he said a monkey sometimes comes up to his windowsill and eats fruit that he has set out there. Shortly after he talked about that, the monkey appeared! it was so cool. I have never seen a wild monkey in a city like that. I was sitting right by the window and got to look at it's face really close and it was fascinating. It was small about the size of a squirrel, which they dont have in brazil.
Bridgette said she does trompe-l'œil pronounced "tromp-loy" which is a french term for "deceives the eye". its when you paint super realistic imagery on a wall suggesting an illusion of intense 3d.
She said during covid she sold trompe-l'œil commissions to people where she went to their house and painted their walls.
This one blew my mind, it had me questioning everything else on her wall if it was real or painted lol!
Here are some photos of Nikolas's work.
Nikolas skates too. hes good.
I'm stoked for my class on friday with him.
Then we went home and it was still early. We left Nikolas's house before his first class started at 10AM. we started doing stuff on our computers and then vlad said Fred was out nearby having his car painted. so we skated over to him to see what was up.
Pablo Reinoso was on the street painting Fred's car. He was painting a Noun skateboard head on the rear of the car.
He's a super sick surfer and skater.
He needed more green paint so we skated to an art supply store.
I bought some paint pens and black white and yellow acrylic paint and a square canvas. I have to do an album cover for a guy so im not sure if i should use the ipad or do actual painting. Nikolas and i were talking about how different ipad painting is from real painting and its pretty much night and day honestly.
Fred wanted to repair a hole in his door with JB weld and a piece of aluminum.
Vlad used the wheels of a skateboard to roll out the JB weld. lol. I told them they needed to use Bondo but they had never heard of this thing called "bondo".
I made his little patch on his car look cooler with my paint pens.
The little drawing of the face next to it is actually by Nikolas Demurtas who drew it weeks ago. so cool. so many synchronistic moments here in rio. So many that i Am trying to deal with my inability to realize them in the moment as i keep letting opportunities to go on dates with pretty girls slip away. I will channel my pain into art i guess, this is the path that i chose. the path of mental illness. If i am ever respected as an artist you can read these blogs when i am dead to know that life is hard for an artist.
Nikolas said that we need to paint to banish anxiety. He said he used to a super anxious person and thats why he actually started painting alot because it allowed him to slow down time.