ABOUT
Paintings that vibrate questions and longings
Art museums are places of power. I spent plenty of hours there. Paintings of Paul Sezanne, Amadeo Modigliani, Max Beckmann, Johannes Vermeer stir up the spirit. It alludes to an interconnected world. If the picture can have such an influence, so what of importance is communication among living creatures!
Birds, cows and people, still life and life, so seriously as it is
It happened that I was standing in a museum in front of a painting and thinking to myself, what if I would paint. Everyone could take one's skills to a new level by practicing. But is there a continuous interest and commitment to do it and do I really need it? I answered this to myself later when I figured out my themes which touch me: birds, cows and people, still life and life... so almost everything. Moreover, until that time I already made my ''bucket lists: a catalogue of all the things I never ever want to do before I die", according to Bert, the cartoon character of Michael Leunig. So I paint.
Joining the dots
Born and raised in Lithuania, I used to study in Vilnius. Recently, I live in Mainz, Germany and I am a self-educated painter. I always liked sketching, drawing and painting with water colors, I also attended silk painting classes. The camera was also my companion to memorise the picturesque moments. Quite long period I was playing with colors, textures and shapes in clothes design and sewing. I also designed pictures for marketing purposes. Then followed my closer interest in cartoons and illustrations. Back to my studies, while studying Economics at Vilnius University, I read dozens of biographical books about painters and sculptors. They all were poor, all obsessed with their artistic calling. I was infected. Probably even earlier. Yet for years I worked as an export and outsourcing manager, later on in a public service in the Ministry of Economy, then I started my own business of functional clothes. Either having enough or not so much time and energy for painting, I could never miss an opportunity to go to an art gallery or exhibition. It happened that during my German period I rediscovered the benefits of oil paints and connected it with the gaze of cows, sparrows and people. Since then painting has turned into my daily delightful occupation. I hope you will enjoy my cows and other characters.
Yours truly,
Jura Kuba