Creating art under pressure, but the right kind of pressure

This is the first time I’ve had to draw and paint under pressure, and I have two important deadlines. I’m not going to complain, though, because these are the two deadlines I wanted. Two opportunities to assert my status as an author and creator.

I’ve already exhibited several photo series, I’ve already presented a film I made at a film festival, I’ve already presented a film I acted in, but this is the first time I’m exhibiting paintings. It’s also the first time creating animated films, something I’ve always secretly wanted to do, and the idea of making a documentary series with painted and drawn animation both scares and excites me. But I’ll talk about that a little later, because the production process is new to me.

This is the first time I’ll be exhibiting painted works, works that unlike anything I’ve done before, come straight out of my brain and end up on a support, with my choice of color, my choice of paper, my choice of dimensions. I love the whole process of arriving at a finished product: after producing the artwork, you have to varnish it or fix it, you have to sign it, you have to order your made-to-measure passe-partout, order your protective plastic packaging, print the stickers with the prices, design and print your business cards, create your certificate of authenticity, and finally tell the story of the finished product.

I insist on the term product, because even if it’s art, a painting is a product. I have to find the smallest possible audience that shares my vision, that likes my inspirations, that likes my writing, that likes what drives me.

It’s not a painting you’re selling, but a piece of yourself.