The Artist at work: Marvin Steel, The man who really CAN paint Flamenco!

Click here to listen or download this interview (mp3, 9 MB)

Guest: Marvin Steel
CLICK HERE to see more of this Artist’s work online

Marvin Steel, Painter, Flamenco themes
Photo of the Artist

Topics covered include:

The non-inspirational side of the Artist’s work. The necessary skills and training.
With the support of his mother, how Marvin started training as an Artists at the age of six.
In 1957, training in Spain at the Royal Academy of San Fernando.
Learning the dark, moody character of Spanish Art. Learning to paint fast
Marvin Steel’s Theo Van Gough phase and identity crisis during his youth.
Growing up with Flamenco music, culture, dance, associated culture.
Gypsy, Jewish, Arabic, and Indian influences within Flamenco.
Mastering glazing, and being the self-taught, including spending many, many years painting and studying the human body – female and male.
Why, these days, Marvin Steel avoids looking at other people’s paintings. Looking at the subject you’re interested, rather than what other Artists paint.
Technical precision versus capturing the spirit and sense of movement of a dancer and his or her “personality” – and especially the sense of drama.
The traps which other “Flamenco” artists fall into.
Painting a bad Flamenco performer can lead a painter astray.
The structure of Flamenco dancing, rhythms (“compas”), and music. Getting “wild” within the structure.
Playing Flamenco guitar.
Discussion of some of the paintings depicted below.
Motivated by fun and enjoyment.
The way audiences respond to Flamenco performances.
How many painters copy details from photographs and end up with something that is “meaningless.”
Forthcoming exhibits.
Doesn’t paint to sell, but has sold almost everything.
The difficulty of tearing himself away from his work.
200 or more sketches and paintings over the last year.