For years, artist Jacob Dhein has been painting figures and cityscapes in different degrees of impressionism. “Even though figurative painting is my favorite, I tend to make an equal amount of cityscapes because the demand for them remains high,” Dhein says. “Also, at times it is refreshing to step away from figurative art for a week. This break enables me to come back to the figurative work with renewed enthusiasm. My process of creating these studio works acts as form of continued inspiration.”
Market Street in Turquoise, oil on panel, 18 x 23 3/5"Dhein begins with a photoshoot that acts as a catalyst to inspire and familiarize him with the subject matter. Recently, he set up a photoshoot at Berdó Restaurant in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain. “They were serving the mid-day rush, which allowed for natural light to come into the kitchen,” he says. “During the three-hour process I was able to take hundreds of photos from various vantage points, giving me material for at least a few paintings. Having so many images allows the next part of the process to be easier.”
Berdó, oil on panel, 19¾ x 19¾"
The next stage of Dhein’s process is editing the photos. “Photoshop allows me to simplify the image, add or take away parts, adjust the contrast and color, and finalize the composition,” he explains. “The final phase is the best. Depending on my mood, I will use various methods of painting to complete the work. It could be a full composition block-in with a bush and palette knife, or starting in a small area using just a palette knife and painting outwards, or something in between. Repeating these three stages has kept me inspired in the studio for over 15 years.”
Cellist, oil on panel, 23 3/5 x 23 3/5"
Dhein will be featured in the international group show Urbes, Contemporary Landscapes, in Barcelona, Spain, from September 27, 2024, to January 12, 2025, at Museu Europeu d’Art Modern (MEAM). —
Want to See More?
jacobdheinart@gmail.com
www.jacobdhein.com
Represented by Abend Gallery
1261 Delaware Street, Suite 2 | Denver, CO 80204
(303) 355-0950 | www.abendgallery.com
Instagram: @jacobdhein, @abendgallery
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