How to express emotions with colored pencils? This is best told by the Spanish artist Paco Martin. Colored pencils are his means of expression and he enjoys experimenting with shapes, volumes, textures and composition to try to recreate the harmony between the small objects of our everyday life. Paco Martin passed on the technique of drawing with colored pencils to those wishing to get acquainted with it from different countries, and Bulgaria is one of his frequent stops on these trips. Recently, the artist organized together with the Cervantes Institute a creative workshop in Sofia with the participation of children from 7 to 12 years of age.
In an interview with the Spanish edition of Radio Bulgaria, Paco Martin explained how the creative workshop “Art with colored pencils” came about:
“I often come to Bulgaria to organize creative workshops and conduct private lessons. A friend suggested that I contact the Instituto Cervantes, where they replied that they were interested in my work. We wanted to organize the studio a year ago, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic it was not possible. But now we have the conditions for that. And I’m very happy. “
Paco Martin says that he has organized similar workshops in Spain and Great Britain, but not with such small children as in our country. He claims that working with them has brought him great joy and satisfaction. The artist also published some of the specifics of his work.
“The technique I work on is drawing with colored pencils. This sounds a bit childish, as if it’s mostly for young children. But with colored pencils, wonderful and completely realistic works can be achieved. Because the pencil allows you to draw with great accuracy. Since I was a child, I have loved drawing with pencils, and although I have used both pastels and oil paints, I have always preferred pencils. I have been dedicated to this work for 8 or 9 years. “
Paco Martin has no professional education, although he studied at a school of fine arts. He is a teacher by profession, teaching mathematics, physics and chemistry, but in recent years he has devoted himself much more to drawing than to teaching. And here is what he likes to recreate with his art and is there a market for it:
“I like the objects of our everyday life – what is called a classic still life or a modern still life. I really like to paint things I’ve seen on the street or in the supermarket. I like to emphasize the beauty in them – for example, to show off the beauty of tangerines, the candy machine, etc. I would paint everything – a portrait, a human figure, a landscape, but I like objects and details the most. I love glass, reflections and shapes. And, I think there is a market for this art. I have sold a lot of works. Perhaps the Anglo-Saxon market is most open to them, as is the one in the United States and Australia, where I have sold the most works, as well as in Spain. But it is important to know the technique. One of the missions I have set for myself is to spread it as much as possible. This way people will get to know and appreciate it. If a realistic work drawn with pencils is done well, it is difficult to distinguish it from one with oil or pastel colors.
One of the youngest participants in Paco Martin’s creative studio in Sofia is Moni, who shared his impressions with Radio Bulgaria:
“I learned a lot of new painting techniques and it was very interesting. I chose to paint a picture with cherries. The most difficult thing was to achieve the reflection of light on the cherries, as well as to observe their shape. I want to learn more about painting in the future. ”
At the end of the creative workshop, when asked if they would participate next year, the children answered with a resolute and strong “Yes!”.
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