"This is what every art historian dreams of finding in their lifetime and they never do. Here he is." How art valuer Elizabeth Arthur discovered a brilliant, obsessive mind.
A fascinating story and the art looks amazing. The exhibit is on at Hamilton Art Gallery until 29 October.
His sister, left to deal with her brother’s deceased estate, thinks Martiensen’s paintings are rubbish and immediately makes moves to get rid of them.
She sounds like a peach. I wouldn’t have let her visit either.
All jokes aside, absolutely sick linework on the art. It takes a lot of practice to get the smooth steadiness of a confident stroke (slow careful lines go wobbly) and also have it accurate.
Nice contrast on the colours too. It’s arresting and allows a lot of detail without being a confusing mess, and the composition does the same. There’s movement of your eyes from the different contrasting shapes but there’s enough space and harmonious arrangement that it doesn’t look cluttered or overwhelming.
I also really like how the shapes are overlapped and changing each others colours. It gives the illusion that they’re transparent. And the different lines needed to make those colour transitions are perfectly on point so that doesn’t ruin the effect of each being a single piece.
I don’t know a lot about the subject, don’t really go for abstracts and can’t really tell the deeper emotional themes behind the art but I agree this guy was very talented.
She might be like me and just not know anything about art at all. I’d look at my sibling’s scribbles, and not assume for a minute they were worth anything. I have an arty wife though who would be able to provide a second opinion.
She sounds like a peach. I wouldn’t have let her visit either.
All jokes aside, absolutely sick linework on the art. It takes a lot of practice to get the smooth steadiness of a confident stroke (slow careful lines go wobbly) and also have it accurate.
Nice contrast on the colours too. It’s arresting and allows a lot of detail without being a confusing mess, and the composition does the same. There’s movement of your eyes from the different contrasting shapes but there’s enough space and harmonious arrangement that it doesn’t look cluttered or overwhelming.
I also really like how the shapes are overlapped and changing each others colours. It gives the illusion that they’re transparent. And the different lines needed to make those colour transitions are perfectly on point so that doesn’t ruin the effect of each being a single piece.
I don’t know a lot about the subject, don’t really go for abstracts and can’t really tell the deeper emotional themes behind the art but I agree this guy was very talented.
Also considering he painted that well at speed
She might be like me and just not know anything about art at all. I’d look at my sibling’s scribbles, and not assume for a minute they were worth anything. I have an arty wife though who would be able to provide a second opinion.
The story though is fascinating.