Martin Wohlwend -- Artist, Painter -- Sennwald Studio, CH 2011.04.25

A cinéma vérité clip of Martin Wohlwend -- Liechtenstein artist and painter -- creating a work in his Sennwald Studio in Werdenberg, Switzerland.
"My paintings are reflections of human nature, the creation of the universe, our environment, and today's society." says Martin Wohlwend. Born in 1969 in Liechtenstein, where he currently lives and works, Wohlwend has developed a painting process that allows him to channel both his empirical and intellectual persuasions on to the canvas. "By a surrealistic method I first create chaos on the canvas. ...until I arrive at a point where I detect forms and shapes in the painting which speak to me. I then consciously work and refine those forms and shapes and mold them into an organized composition. I create order in the chaos," he says. Martin Wohlwend studied Fine Art Painting at the San Francisco Art Institute in the mid 90's. His most influential mentors were painters Franklin Williams and Jeremy Morgan. He has since exhibited in America, China, Germany, Liechtenstein, Spain, and Switzerland.
More information at: www.martinwohlwend.com

[@MendoVasilevski]

you have to be an artist to understand this process. brilliant

[@lookwhos]

what I've come to see about making art like this is that being simple minded is necessary because any if not too much mental interference can upset the apple cart far too quickly and make old patterns the easy way out...thus figurative art. Even washing ones hands is that making of the painting. Nice video. Interesting live performance.

[@aysegulozbey8925]

Thanks a lot for letting me being a witness of your creating an art piece. Great work..

[@tonytwols]

Cool vid. Thanks. "...see what happens" Love it.

[@MartinRWohlwend9]

I appreciate all your comments on this, good or bad, both help me understand my art better and allows me to take a more critical look at what I'm doing. Thank you! As for those who are interested in the material, they are Oil Pastels by Sennelier. I simply love this material. As I understood, it was Picasso who, in search of the material he was looking for, hired Sennelier to develop these paint sticks. Found out later that a pair of disposable gloves, as suggested, eradicates the need for meditative hand washing - lesson learned. I found it to be extremely challenging to create while being observed, especially by someone with a camera. I agree that I could and should have stopped earlier on this piece, as suggested below. The presence of the camera might have had something to do with it. Rest assured that whatever I ended up with here is not the final piece and is only to demonstrate a part of my process.

[@KayInMaine]

+Martin R. Wohlwend No need to explain! Every artist has their own way. Your painting is edgy and beautiful!

[@KayInMaine]

+Martin R. Wohlwend By the way, I see so many faces in this painting you did here. Freaky! I love it though. I do abstracts but I am nowhere near your level. Your paintings are all wonderful!

[@donnasterba6081]

Nice Shot Man! Very good technique to walk out of the room and look in then make more adjustments.

[@dawndruid]

enjoyed how you brought things together...to me there were two fellow witches in the painting....well done......

[@KevinHarrisonArtist]

This was great. I am a painter as well and I often play documentaries while painting... today I painted while this video played on the screen. Like a painting companion. :) Probably won;t be the last time I paint while playing your video. Good creative energy and intuition on your work. Honest, no bullshit. I dig it. Thank you.

[@ScottHaley12]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...100%.

[@sterlingrunningstreamphill2168]

odd...we have the same style and aproach...i can even tell why your movements are what they are he thoughts just before the line length or action . the pressure of the movement meanng the presure of which we apli the line the questions that linger long enough to have an effect on the spontanaity of the image. the question of why and when we make the call. the moments of oy knowing its allready done . then taking the next step anyways always knowing ...not that its done but knowing....i know you know what i mean....i think ;). but yeah thank you for it and all that entails. it is as wonderful to watch as i imagined it to be. oh yes....i have watched this video with the image off too . listening to it is ...well you know. a series of work i am doing and done based on just the sound , when litened to side by side there is nesarly no diference at all.....that raises a very interesting question now that i think about it! (listening to you now). a glimpse into our mind. beautiful. sterling

[@lookwhos]

Nice video. Interesting live performance.

[@claulasorba]

muy buen trabajo!!!!

[@carolinecjvisfineart454]

Nice Art...but i will have stopt a little earlier....somewhere in the film i found the art already ready and more then great......it's hard to stop on the right time...because it is a matter of different minds and feeling...but great art...evrey tastet/mind have is own time.....

[@jeff6660]

The negative comments about abstract art below needs a reply. So here goes...for those of you how that are constantly asking what is abstract art about just ask yourself what is music about. I mean music without lyrics of course. You see, it is really about nothing, just sounds put together in different orders. Well painting without a recognizable subject is like the music without the lyrics. First and before anything else painting is just paint on a surface in some kind of order. That is, if you leave out the cow or barn. Get it now? Remember also not everyone likes or appreciates every type of music, and so to with the visual arts...like abstract expressionism for example. So hopefully now you can embark on a new adventure of exploring color and line for it's own sake...some you may like, some not. Just like music.

[@TymstoneArt]

+jeff moser I see where your going but I think your music analogy needs some work. Over the history of sound musicians built on a common language, ie; heart beats, water, wind, etc. Painting did as well and like music, painting often takes strong turns that leave the rest of us in the dark. Here is where music and painting separate. In music, the artists will enjoy the music making process and then share it with a small group and be fine with that process, calling it a success if their friends can dig it. But said friends have traveled with that artists and learned the sound language from and with that artists. Abstract painter often shun a public journey and we only get the finished product to enjoy or not. The Language is theirs, the road signs are in that language and they often feel upset if you ask them to explain. But if they do, they use examples from their own journey that mean nothing to you. Shape, Color, Movement are words that mean something different to different people. If Abstract artist come up with such a language that is common to the genre then sales will grow and more artists will eat and pay rent. But expecting some to hand over $$$ for something that will take their whole + to understand is a lost cause at best. I am an Artist and I have spent my life trying to decode the language of abstract art. Will the world ever know.... the answer might be no.

[@Hotcoffeedoodles]

Very good answer.

[@cristianaricher1837]

I liked the first lines.. you choose to marck.. always learnig..everyday ..in good and in bad times.the art of living..And things incomplete sometimes are better becouse they are this way..we don't know the answers..not all..and there are some things that frustrate us for being like that..we get desapoited couse we forget the artist like other humans are full of unanswered questiions , and spaces are not fullfiled the way we would like... go and have some beer and laughs..or listen to some music..it will come to you, eventually..;)

[@laurelsheridan3817]

I loved watching the process, if a little slow. The painting is wonderful and the people who say abstract painting is rubbish have no eye for beauty.

[@augustleon9369]

art is art. they are all beautiful.

[@anita22seline]

Just because you don´t like it doens´t mean "It´s not art". A lot of artists express themselves with different styles. If you check the video, he has another painting with a completely different style... We have to learn to respect all we do and of course to respect the others... Regards :)

[@lisalovelylpa]

Lots of energy. Made me get off the PC and get back to my painting LOL

[@thirdeyecommunications9237]

Very nice :)

[@simendez]

Hola, como se llama el material que usas para cubrir de negro, vi que le quitabas la envoltura a una especie de barra al principio, parece un pastel... Gracias

[@marokriste363]

where can i get those pastels is it some site product matirials like the Blick

[@PicassoStar1]

If you don't know which way is up...is it art? The answer? Yes, because it takes an artist to decide what is right about the work... This particular work could use some white mass to round the painting out

[@sheryldunshee-menton1523]

Oil Paint Sticks as the name implies are Not water soluble. Oil paint sticks (either Sennilier, Shiva or Winsor/Newton) like those used in this video are made from thickened traditional oil paint. What makes water-soluble oil paint soluble it the substitution of traditional linseed/walnut or poppy oil with more water-soluble oils like safflower etc....any vegetable oil that is easily broken down with soap and water. The only way you can thin these oil sticks/bars is with traditional oil mediums and thinners. However, that is not to say that you can not use any water-soluble crayons/pencils and thin/paint with water and make your artwork basically mixed media with your water-soluble oil paint. You can also use craypas and similar crayons like conte and thin them as well but again because of the binders which are wax & oil, you would have to paint with either turpentine or oil mediums to break down the film of the binders.

[@desmondhall4401]

What is the name of the of the object he used to create tbe initial lines for this piece? It some type of. Pigment in a. Soft.stick form. This artist is very astute and spiritually dynamic! Thanks.

[@sheryldunshee-menton1523]

Looks to be an oil paint stick...there are many brands of this type of crayon.

[@desmondhall4401]

Sheryl Dunshee-Menton Thanks Sheryl. Have you used the product..... if so what are its characteristics?

[@sheryldunshee-menton1523]

Yes I have used Shiva Oil Pigment Sticks they're wonderful for mark making on oil paintings. They come in basically the same colors as traditional oil paints. One thing you saw Martin doing with his Sennelier Oil Sticks, was pealing off the outer skin that forms over the softer oil paint...that's the messy part of the sticks. Once you mark your canvas, you can come back with thinner or other mediums on a brush to blend the paint into your painting. I like the ability to draw on my paintings the oil sticks create some interesting textures as well.

[@sheryldunshee-menton1523]

Other brands besides Shiva and Sennelier are Winsor/Newton Oilbar and R & F Pigment Sticks. They all have similar consistency, some are softer than others...they remind you of oil pastels and can be blended in a similar manner by rubbing and as I mentioned with various oil painting mediums. They help add another dimension to painting.

[@jenniferliang3166]

Those are oil sticks.

[@diegomodzelevsky5711]

Hi Martin, Ilike it, a lot.I Like the proces do you make.Sorry for my English because I'm from Argentina.I made some abstrac art too.

[@jagatsvya80]

Critics are a person who knows all about the car and they probably have gone through each n every technical details of it, but most of the time they fails to drive. i.e.. learn how to swim, by reading a book.... funny people... by the way Good Job Martin... Enjoy your work....N keep Exploring...

[@momakizjapana]

What it the pencil he used? Is that pastel or something else?

[@Art-qy6gd]

I want it !

[@GarnetLynne]

art therapy 101, before the meds kick in!

[@jahha3473]

artist hard at work...

[@eljin00]

Franz Kline's line are much more jagged and straight, Brice Marden's are more fluid and rounded, he has perfect balance and symmetry in both line and space or black and white. Its simply art at its best.

[@sentiny]

Sometimes the strangest part is the evaluation.

[@marokriste363]

doo you use facebook so if you had we can exschanged some matirials

[@hansendesigns]

A little ross painters glove liquid might go a long way here. Anyway, I felt it was near done at 7:10, i was into it after that but didnt like the dark shape he chose to make dark. I had hopes for the smearing but it didnt pan out for me. I coul see liking this but just not this one in particular. (Oh and fyi viewers, those paint sticks are like 10-12 bucks apiece) it was fun to watch though. I wish him well.

[@rogeriocamargorogerinho2099]

very good!

[@laurelsheridan3817]

PS. I really liked Keepers comment. my thoughts exactly.

[@MyNegativeCreep]

Looks great at the stage with its blanks (16:34), but I do not like the big black parts.

[@calin4thewin]

40:36 - the colorful paintings look quite all right, as for the B&W pieces, I don't really get them. Are they preparatory work or finished pieces?

[@user-cr8fv6ek8z]

I like it

[@aishabekaze3618]

perhaps it was the camera in his face that held him back or he wasnt inspired.i felt like he doubted his own work. as an artist the process is important and you just cant wait to capture the image in your head on canvas.creation.this was painful to watch.

[@PeterBethanis]

As Jackson Pollock used to say, the painting just missed.

[@dogdove]

SO brave. (Yeah, in 1946)

[@carlguth]

Nice

[@Bototines]

soooy foooooome wm xd !

[@iwk100]

I guess it is not THAT interesting to see the artist washing his hands quite intensively. The film could have used some cuts here and then. And, yes, for me it is also a bit too black.

[@barbaraclark249]

this is a poorly done video too much focus on artist's face and repetitively boring

[@sonnycorbi6406]

It's "boring" Barbara that's because you are not a visual Artist and lack perception or understanding? - I have been practicing "visual Art" since the beginning of time - (it feels that way) - "this is a poorly done video"? I love this documentary - "Too much focus on artist's face" - this reveals the intensity of his concentration - This documentary will go into my KZbin history - I will watch it several times if not many times - From its inception Martin Wohlwend and eye have painted every stroke, swirl and dry brush of this piece - Barbara from what you have posted I suspect you have a chronic case of left brain constipation -

[@divagirl44]

This guy needs a friggin editor. Who wants to watch him wash his hands. So laborious. I watched it for 4minutes.

[@schalkbloem789]

please help me if i am wrong...and i will take any criticism that's thrown my way....but this is not art, sorry but how can you say a piece of canvas with what i presume is black pastel with scribbling that any person on earth can do is art..is it because the person that painted it is a well known artist and the piece will sell because it is a Martin Wohlmend, or will it sell because it is real art, maybe i don't understand the meaning of real abstract art or i don't know what to look for when referring to what art really is. to me there is no structure and no real story behind that piece. where is the "human nature" or "creation" reflected in this piece. all i see is destruction and chaos and something that someone would adapt or sell as art because his name is behind it....sorry i am sure he is great ambassador for the arts, i just don't see art reflecting here...

[@schalkbloem789]

***** i don't mean to be rude, but if i paint something like that will i get $50.000 for the same work or work that is similar....i don't think so...so it must be the name selling it and not the work itself. i am sure artists like this can take pubic hair and stick it on an ice cream cone and get 50+ for it....just saying!!!

[@schalkbloem789]

Sonny Corbi thanks for the reply!!!

[@salasyflia]

Me parece que pecas de soberbio al decidir,que arte es bueno y cual no.Este tipo de arte,para mi,es visceral,espontaneo y no por eso es malo,no es el tipo de arte que a vos te GUSTA,pero es arte.

[@keepers8158]

I am growing old and growing tired of those who cannot get outside of themselves. Abstract art is not for the conformists, joiners, and meists. Expressionism is what it is. Anal critics should stick to comic books and leave spiritual things to those who are free.

[@chrisdonahue]

lol

[@whowhatwhere8731]

Oh, drear.

[@CaliforniaPickin]

Franz Kline - He's not.

[@ediraysomsmith3818]

bostaaaaaa

[@Portterable]

hahahaha no confio en su remera

[@65ADORNO]

Brice Marden gone wrong

[@originalmfkr9823]

At 22:01 looks like a baby's face

[@IStehSHIT]

ideology

[@jubilanti15]

50 minutes - a long time but I enjoyed it THEN the BBBIIIGGG disappointment! : WEAK ending...like going to the cinema and having to leave before the end of the film!!!!!!!!

[@anibaldesigns]

a eso lo llamo webiar

[@sabrisalleh1]

he got problem with big line. because out of balancing and flow.

[@miyashiropunk]

eso pense yo, tantas lineas al pedo, y bue,

[@27dianina]

HORAS DESPUES SE LO LLEVARON PARA LEL MANICOMIO JAJAJAJA ESO LO HACE HASTA MI SOBRINA DE 3 AÑOS

[@enriqueguillen1597]

This videos is 30 minute of nothing +20 minutes of somehing

[@yulperez]

completamente de acuerdo! que desperdicio de tiempo y material.

[@lcabosa]

tink the same and i`m an artist. i always try to do art like something a person with the house on fire would rush in to save it :) not this crap, they seem like an ancient biblical plague the wannabe artists only becouse thers to much money to trow at them.

[@jbaby007]

His art seems cool but I don't want to watch close ups of his head or him washing his hands...

[@mrdiamondplanet]

i'm not convinced. why is it that traditional drawing skills seem to have disappeared these days? there was once when artists could actually draw, and then go on to experimentation. which, at least lends credibility. now, it's all the other way round! most of what i see these days is 'abstract' nonsense. people trying to make a quick name for themselves, lacking any inherent skill.

[@TomPark1986]

It's true.....I just started to paint and painted an abstract just for fun. I brought a pic of it into my local art store. They were amazed for some reason. Abstract painting is complete and utter bullshit, and no one should ever take it to mean something "deep". The real hard thing is drawing people and getting perspective right which I'm working on now.

[@MartinRWohlwend9]

As the saying goes "All roads lead to Rome" meaning: there's an inexhaustible amount of ways I can approach a painting. For the most part, I use two different methods. One is to be clear in my mind from the outset what I'm going to create. This is when I approach it with all techniques and skills learned to produce exactly what I want. The other method I use, as seen in this video, is pretty much the opposite, to surrender all my knowledge and skills to the material that's in front of me and use the force of energy to do something with it, something not preconceived, something free of my intellect and limited understanding, to let it have a life of its own. This latter method has its roots in surrealism which was the precursor of abstract expressionism. Which 'these days' are you referring to?

[@TomPark1986]

I refer to using skill and technique to produce art with technical mastery and competency.

[@DanSwanson2070]

Tom Park Well, let's see your work, Tom. At least Martin has the balls to post his video and take comments. I'm sure there are plenty of curators at MOMA who wouldn't agree with your assessment of abstract expressionism.

[@TomPark1986]

Fair enough. Here's my website. tomfournierpark.com/ I started painting about half a year ago. Mind you, all I've stated were my preferences when it comes to art, not that I am a master at anything.

[@copycatt33]

Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con Andis , no hay vida parece un zobie pintando

[@tarcrystalline]

No.

[@sianaa.degitz8745]

+Tar Crystalline why "no"?

[@55sarajevo]

Good for nothing ...

[@MrEzi0n]

Beauty yes, quality no.

[@pablojc]

more crap.... art is lost... we have to go back to traditional painting, something with real content or subject

[@MartinRWohlwend9]

fdfdssss an artist is usually one who mirrors the world around us in some form or fashion, hence, I can't argue that your statement doesn't have any truth to it, cause the world seems definitely lost to me. Quite frankly, often when I look at contemporary art other than my own, I feel the same. But then again, that's art which successfully mirrors the world around us. Besides traditional painting, there's much more in what we understand as art which deserves to be explored.

[@pablojc]

Martin R. Wohlwend I do not agree with that. Art doesn't need to be a mirror of the world. Many artists paint what they feels inside using things from the real world. The problem with abstract art is that it's a random thing. You start "painting" whitout knowing what you are doing instead of express what you really want to take outside. I respect artist who put their feelings in the canvas with dextery, knowing what they are going to present to the public, making them feel the same. Maybe people can paint abstract art with feeling but it fails anyway because abstract art doesn't lead the public to the artist intention (if he had any...usually they don't)

[@elflaco6654]

+fdfdssss - A quote from the Minimalist Artist Agnes Martin (who was represented by one of the top art galleries PACE)... My paintings are not about what is seen. They are about what is known forever in the mind. - Agnes Martin... When you say tradition what period in art history are you speaking about? You have to know what your talking about before you speak. In your opinion what is real content/subject? Even Duchamp's Urinal has subject and content to the point he broke the mold on what was then considered art. Art is lost? Where did it go? LMAO... Your looking at an abstract artist at work. Why don't you look at the more traditional artist work and enjoy that, if you don't enjoy this. Point being there is all kinds of art, film, music, dance, performance, visual now more than ever if you can't find art that you like than your at a loss because there is more art in more styles than ever to enjoy. Keep looking and you will find traditional art or whatever art it is you like.

[@pablojc]

el Flaco 66 Another quote from this "artist": I paint without knowing what I'm going to do. Period. Try thinking about those words please. If you paint I understand if you feel under attack by my previous comment, but it's ok. There are a lot of people around calling themselves artists with abstract paintings cause it's the easiest way. You just paint couple of strokes, and that's it. "Art". Oh, and try to meditate about what really art is, you don't need PACE people or Duchamp's fans to tell you what it is. Not even me. But think, THINK!

[@KayInMaine]

+fdfdssss Abstract art is more how the viewer sees and feels it. The artist is seeing and feeling creating the piece, but it's the viewer who reacts that is the beauty of art (all art).

[@andrisaraujo2047]

no se dejen engañar...para que hacer tantas lineas se despues la vas a cobri...esta forma de arte es una degeneracion del arte..del verdadero arte...un arte perezoso..no hay trabajo,no hay armonia, no hay vida,....lo siento pero..la verdad debe ser hablaba...muncha gente dar millonadas en esta forma de arte..estar claro que estes pobres ricos solo siguen una tendencia de moda...pero en realidad no sabe de arte, no saben de si mismo

[@BooArt1]

Langweiliges Video !

[@tombrown3440]

This made me cringe, the cheesiest thing I've ever seen I think

[@trinitaterion]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO NO MORE PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP

[@verticalhorizon4633]

Useless crap... and we all know it.

[@aishabekaze3618]

lol

[@MrxxPityFans]

What a waste of a beautiful canvas :(

[@55sarajevo]

nothing special !