These are the days of Miracles and Wonders

Artwork and story from Jert Smit

These are the days of Miracles and Wonders (Paul Simon)

After high school I took the entrance exam at the Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. It was in the sixties when Art had to be Conceptual and Abstract. Figurative art was for the dummies of little talent. Clearly belonging to that group I was rejected, started to work in the Advertising industry, worked for big agencies and had my own, married, got kids and never touched a brush or a pencil again.

Until I retired a few years ago and started to draw as a hobby. Family and friends encouraged me to take lessons and I followed a few short term drawing and painting courses.

But after a while I felt little progression without knowing how to change that and stopped for some time.

Then I saw the “How to self asses your drawing skills” video of Vladimir London. That was a revelation. Such meticulous and exact description of the stages in becoming an all round artist. No humbug about “ the Mind splitting Concept” and “the Great Idea”. And on top of that the chance to get the same education only very few students are allowed to follow: at the Academy of St Petersburg or Moscow. At an absolute premium price, with a lifelong membership. I can do it online, from my own home at any moment of the day or night 24/7. These are verily the days of Miracles and Wonders.

So I enrolled in the Drawing Academy and from there into the Old Masters Academy. Slowly but surely I’m going through all the basics and subsequent levels, having the time of my life. It has enriched my life with museum visits that are much more fulfilling, books and video’s that reveal much more details and countless encounters with the most interesting people.

I concentrated on the oil painting the last period and did little drawing. Until I came upon an interesting plaster torso and I could not help myself but to draw it with just a little piece of white Conté crayon on dark blue paper (50×65 cm).

I don’t expect to become the new Michelangelo, Velasquez or Lucian Freud. I’ve no ambitions in that direction. But in the end I do want to fully control the craft. Everything extra is a bonus.

By now in this stage of my life I know I’m still a competitive bastard, who likes a challenge and wants to win, it’s undeniably in my nature. But people should only vote for me if they are touched by my drawing of the “Plaster Torso” and even consider hanging it on their wall.