We caught up with the 2024 Trusts Art Exhibition Award Winner (People’s Choice - 2D & 3rd prize) For more of his work, visit www.instagram.com/jalal.asgher.art
Tell us about yourself and how did you get into Art?
I was raised in Oratia and my parents always encouraged me and my sister to draw and paint from a very young age. It was later that I discovered about learning the fundamentals of drawing, to uncovering the visual language of academic art. This is what made me realise that learning art was just like learning a trade, anyone could do it if they were willing enough.
Where do you draw inspiration from? What artists inspire you?
I draw a lot of my inspirations from the 19th and 20th century realist painters like… Sargent, Annigoni, Mancini, Fortuney etc. They all seem so attuned to nature, and they were highly dedicated to their work. The realist style incorporates all the beautiful ingredients to make a picture. Some of these include atmosphere, shape language, perspective, colour harmony, form, sense, anatomy, composition, value (tone) and gesture.
Why does portraiture appeal to you?
I enjoy attempting to attain expressions, and the portrait is a wonderful, raw force of expression. Also, the shape language that the head and face produce are very interesting to me. The clear separation of light and shadow shapes on a portrait, when lit correctly is an important factor. When you train your eye to see these shapes, the portrait has a very generous amount to reveal.
What would you say to an artist that's starting out in NZ?
It all depends on what type of art you want to learn. If you want the more traditional/academic route, then doing master copies of 19th and 20th century realist art is a great method. Doing drawing and painting workshops is a great way to learn also, and any life drawing sessions or classes you can take is going to be beneficial. Also, learning to deal with failure, and building a daily habit to draw or paint. The ceiling is so high, and the learning will never stop, so go easy on yourself. I still have a long way to go myself, there is just so much to learn.
How can organisations like Waitakere Arts help and support artists?
I really appreciate the people behind the Waitakere Arts, who organise exhibitions and have workshops available for us all. It's always good to have a community you can integrate within and support one another amongst arts minded people.
Comments