"Painting makes you happy" is the motto of Rita Schmidt's art exhibition.
"I'm happy when I paint an oil painting using the wet-on-wet technique or a watercolour," says the Petershagen artist. From 26 September, paintings can be admired in Rüdersdorf Town Hall. The focus of the exhibition is on the artist's self-painted watercolours.
The motto of the art exhibition could also be "Escape from everyday life" or "Dreams on paper and canvas", because painting is balm for the soul: feeling the scent of flowers and the landscape, hearing the sound of the sea or enjoying the tranquillity of winter landscapes. Not having to think about anything else while painting and forgetting about everyday life and all its obligations for a few hours.
Watercolour painting takes time, leisure, calm and the will to face a challenge. The contemporary artist Hans Georg Köhler aptly describes the process behind watercolour painting: "Nothing is comparable and as beautiful, as difficult, as human, as exhilarating and frustrating as watercolour painting. Watercolour eludes us when we look for it and gives us a gift when we don't expect it. Anyone who gets involved and sticks with it anyway knows what I'm talking about. It is never the same from the first encounter. Watercolour challenges and encourages all the creative forces within us, spontaneity and creativity as well as modesty and the recognition of our own limits."
The "wet-on-wet" technique is primarily based on a slow-drying oil colour that is applied to the painting surface before painting. In contrast to traditional oil painting, this technique is used without waiting for the layers to dry. he technique goes back to the American artist and presenter Bob Ross, who introduced it in his programme "The Joy of Painting". To teach this painting technique officially, you have to be trained as a "Certified Ross Instructor", as Rita Schmidt has done.
About the artist:
Born in Petershagen in 1953
1978-1990 Work in administration and production at the Vogelsdorf panel factory
1989 Completion of the 5-year correspondence course in structural engineering
1990 Mayor of the municipality of Petershagen
1992 to mid-2013 Head of the building department in the Strausberg municipal administration
2013 to 2016 Head of the Citizen Services Department at Strausberg Town Council
since June 2016 Retired city councillor
Over the years, Mrs Schmidt has remained loyal to her home town of Petershagen. From her kitchen window, she looks out over the meadows of the Mühlenfließ. "In the past, I always felt the desire to paint there in nature with an easel. However, everyday life always overshadowed these thoughts." In 2006, Mrs Schmidt made the decision to devote herself entirely to painting. As a self-taught artist, she learnt her craft skills herself in selected courses.
From November, Ms Schmidt will once again be offering watercolour courses and oil painting days in her own studio in Petershagen. Using the special oil painting technique, customers paint a finished oil painting in one day.
Contact details:
Atelier Rita Schmidt
www.atelier-rita-schmidt.de
E-Mail: malschule@atelier-rita-schmidt.de