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Dali: self portrait

“Two extraordinary things can happen to a painter in the 20th century: being spanish and being named Dali”. S.Dali.

That quick self-portrait is a master piece. Impeccable structure: don’t look for “mistakes” there is none. The real sense of depth thanks to the delicate shading (look at the chin…), the unreal materiality of the eye and the staring inside, that flaming light where so many emotions cohabit… all wrapped in a sort of brevity that serves the purpose of an instant sketch. Work of a master.

I told to myself: “no more lines” – or rather just the useful ones.

Raw cheap materials, why?

I draw with very basic materials, charcoal, kraft or white paper (although of a good quality, acid free, etc.), ink, graphite, all cheap and very common. They’re also tough materials if framed properly. Of course drawings live better and longer in a folder, I had an Ucello in my hands once. It felt incredible.