Our third spotlight member is Andrzej Siewierski of Poland...
Andrzej is our first European member! Let's meet Andrzej Siewieski!
NWPS: What area do live in Poland? Have you lived anywhere else?
I live in Łódź, which is located in the very center of the country -
130 kilometers from Warsaw the capital of Poland.
It is an industrial city with great history, in the past a textile
powerhouse with great number of factories and palaces.
Used to be a place of great money and normal people -
Łódź used to be named "The Promised Land".
I have always lived here.
130 kilometers from Warsaw the capital of Poland.
It is an industrial city with great history, in the past a textile
powerhouse with great number of factories and palaces.
Used to be a place of great money and normal people -
Łódź used to be named "The Promised Land".
I have always lived here.
What do you find really interesting to paint in your area?
I live within administrative borders of Łódź but my house is located
in the nature preserve located within city limits.
Next to where I live there are a few ponds and large forest.
I used to portray it when I was practicing jogging
throughout summer, fall winter and spring. It ended in me
painting a whole cycle named "Wandering around the forest".
To sum up - there is always something new and interesting to observe.
Did you always want to be an artist?
When did you know this was your path?
When did you know this was your path?
I attended a high school of fine arts and it led me to the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź.
My major was graphic arts and photography. I always wanted to be an artist.
My major was graphic arts and photography. I always wanted to be an artist.
A few of Andrzej's earlier works to show the progression of your career:
Do you have othe employment? Retired from?
Or were you always an artist full time?
Or were you always an artist full time?
I run a small company where I design unique women's clothing.
They are designed by us using natural materials - only in short runs (a few pieces at a time).
Every piece is unique and some are hand painted - just like paintings.
In a way we have always created what can be called "Wearable art".
I think it can be said I am a full-time artist.
You paint beautiful and thought provoking works.
Your diverse subjects show a boldness and confidence.
What, if any, are your favorite subjects?
Your diverse subjects show a boldness and confidence.
What, if any, are your favorite subjects?
To be honest I do not have any favorite themes.
Until some time ago I used to think it was landscape
but lately I am fascinated by still life and urban scenes.
I enjoy challenges and the thrill of emotions - will I be able
to make it ? Is it going to work out ?
It was this way with a still life piece titled "Dinner at the hotel".
I took a photo in the morning and I just had to paint it -
even though I planned to paint something entirely different!
All those lights shining from different directions,
reflected and aimed at various surfaces! Tablecloth, glasses,
water, juices silver cuttlery - it was pure craziness - but it drove me!
I was almost hypnotized - I had to paint even though I
had no idea if it will work out well. It did!
It was the first still life I ever painted.
Until some time ago I used to think it was landscape
but lately I am fascinated by still life and urban scenes.
I enjoy challenges and the thrill of emotions - will I be able
to make it ? Is it going to work out ?
It was this way with a still life piece titled "Dinner at the hotel".
I took a photo in the morning and I just had to paint it -
even though I planned to paint something entirely different!
All those lights shining from different directions,
reflected and aimed at various surfaces! Tablecloth, glasses,
water, juices silver cuttlery - it was pure craziness - but it drove me!
I was almost hypnotized - I had to paint even though I
had no idea if it will work out well. It did!
It was the first still life I ever painted.
Which artists influenced you the most?
In Poland there are many fine pastel painters.
As for soft pastel there are a few fantastic artists:
Stanisław Witkiewicz "Witkacy"
Stanislaw Wyspianski
Teodor Axentowicz -
these are all artists who left an imprint on my work.
At the moment I enjoy the works of American artists
like Lorenzo Chevez, Lisa Ober, and of course by my
colleagues from NWPS.
Is pastel your only medium? If not,
Which do you like most? Do you mix your medias?
Which do you like most? Do you mix your medias?
I used to work with oil paints, but what I fell in love with was soft pastels.
And what's great is that they seem to love me back.
I do not mix medias as I prefer to keep them pure.
What I find interesting though is the ability to use soft pastels
I do not mix medias as I prefer to keep them pure.
What I find interesting though is the ability to use soft pastels
almost like whatercolors - achieving a similar result using a
"slippery" paper building layers of color. The end effect can be
spectacular and highlights the versatility of soft pastel -
something I love about this technique.
spectacular and highlights the versatility of soft pastel -
something I love about this technique.
Are you primarily a studio painter or plein air?
I am mostly a studio painter but I keep
attending quite a few plein-air sessions.
It is all about the moments we can capture - during the plein-air
It is all about the moments we can capture - during the plein-air
the light keeps changing very fast and that's how you have to work.
What I love are the details, things that are not obvious at first sight.
At those times a camera or a tablet helps to capture
What I love are the details, things that are not obvious at first sight.
At those times a camera or a tablet helps to capture
the moment and work with it. I enjoy working in the studio but working
in the open air is completely different.
Have you taken workshops? Do you have or have you had a mentor?
Do you work with other painters?
I am the vice-president of the Plein-air Section of the Culture Creators Union.
This allows us to visit different places throughout the country and
paint in many cities in Poland. What I love is the baltic sea - which
quite often is the place where we host our sessions.
It was the inspiration which helped me to enter your exhibit.
I also work with my wife - Bożena Siewierska a painter
who also participates in our sessions.
This allows us to visit different places throughout the country and
paint in many cities in Poland. What I love is the baltic sea - which
quite often is the place where we host our sessions.
It was the inspiration which helped me to enter your exhibit.
I also work with my wife - Bożena Siewierska a painter
who also participates in our sessions.
You have been accepted into the NWPS
International Exhibit, congratulations!
What made you chose NWPS?
International Exhibit, congratulations!
What made you chose NWPS?
I had one work accepted to the NWPS International Exhibit - "Cloud" -
and it made me very proud. What made me chose NWPS was the fact
that I keep buying "Pastel Journal" and that's how I found out
about your exhibit. I sent three works out of which one was accepted.
There is an organization called the Society of Polish Pastel Artists -
but they neglect their members and it is next to impossible
to get information about most basic matters.
Throughout more than a year no one cared or contacted me
(other than collect the membership fees) -
but it does not matter anymore - I have You.
I want to say that I am very happy to be with you,
support your ideas and be there when you need me.
Thank you for accepting me into your group.
I am proud to be an NWPS member.
but they neglect their members and it is next to impossible
to get information about most basic matters.
Throughout more than a year no one cared or contacted me
(other than collect the membership fees) -
but it does not matter anymore - I have You.
I want to say that I am very happy to be with you,
support your ideas and be there when you need me.
Thank you for accepting me into your group.
I am proud to be an NWPS member.
If I had to do it all over again? I guess I would experiment more.
I would keep trying and not surrender to critical opinions.
I would work harder and not let others push me from my path.
I would work harder and not let others push me from my path.
Everyone has their own way and they should try and follow it.
We can feel it and we should let our intuition guide us.
As for advice for others - I guess I would say that criticism is well
We can feel it and we should let our intuition guide us.
As for advice for others - I guess I would say that criticism is well
and fine but one should not worry about it too much.
I would advise to try to grow, expand, meet people and go outside
I would advise to try to grow, expand, meet people and go outside
- do not keep yourself isolated.
Join NWPS and everything will be ok :)
Join NWPS and everything will be ok :)
Anything else that you'd like to share?
I can add that it is very important to keep looking for friends and
people who feel the same way. I was lucky - I did not give up
and I found you - NWPS.
people who feel the same way. I was lucky - I did not give up
and I found you - NWPS.
Kind regards,
Andrzej Siewierski
NWPS Member
Andrzej Siewierski
NWPS Member
