Like many artists, copying works of others to learn new techniques is very common when first starting to learn how to paint. One of my favorite artists to copy was Birger Sandzen. When I lived in Roanoke Virginia, I couldn’t wait to ride over to Ram’s Head bookstore at the Towers Shopping Center to pick up the new American Art Review magazine every month. Every issue was sure to inspire me while reading and looking at the offerings of artwork for sale at galleries. Nearly every month I saw one of Sandzen’s works for sale at a gallery located in Kansas.
That is where I first saw “Iris” by Sandzen. Hard to believe now that the only way I could find new art was in books and magazines. I immediately wanted that painting on my wall. This painting had so much form and thick brush strokes of vibrant colors. I just had to have it, but the painting also had a magnificent price tag at $95,000.
I didn’t have the money, but I did have a new inspiration and the materials to create my own. I took an old canvas board with something already painted on it and away I went. The old paint on the canvas gave me a great starting point to emulate the thick painting style of the original. My color matching back then was not that good but close enough for my liking. When comparing the two paintings now, it appears I had a lot to learn. I still have my version today and maybe one day I will see Sandzen’s version.
If you would like to know more about Sven Birger Sandzen, visit the The Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery.