Northern Croatia - glass painting
by Miriam Kherkof
Sous-verre, glass painting, reverse glass painting. An ancient painting technique applied all over the world. The Croat region Podravina is known for this art form. Several reverseglass painters live and work in the area. They usually use the technique to create what we call 'naive' or 'spontaneous' art. Combined this resulted in a revival of this technique in the second half of the last century. One of these painters is Josip Gugovcan. Josip, a nice, modest man, exhibited his work in several countries like the USA, Japan and the Netherlands. His work is still sold all over the worlds. In his paintings the old Croatian society comes to life. The reverse glass technique is one that will stop the spectator for a moment. It seems like you're looking through the painting, a 3D picture in many, many, detailed layers. In the glory days of this artform everybodys wanted to learn and practise this technique. Josip remembers this time mainly as a time of mass-production, rushing and deadlines. These days the tranquillity is back, the beauty and the art of the painting. Every once in a while a painter will visit Podra- vina to learn the art of reverse glass painting of the old masters. Amongst them a Dutchman Nol Zoutman . The reverseglass painting opens new possi- bilities for both amature- and proffesional artists of all levels. In fact, people that never painted before can start with this. This technique requiers precision, patience, planning and persistence. Well practised one can create very special products, that will make it more than worthwhile to learn, ex- ercise and apply this technique. That's what we want to offer with this course. The chance to -on site- learn and use a new technique, that is practised everywhere around the world these days. During a relaxed, pleasant week in inspiring, enchanting surroundings, with an international party, you'll produce -with Josips' help and guidance- a painting. Thus getting to know the technique, so you can use it yourself later. You'll not only enjoy the artclasses, the location has much more to offer. We stay in an old Croa- tian farm, that has been restored in its' old glory. It's not just a farm, it's in fact a museum containing a large, invaluable etnogra- phic collection. The farm is located in a beautifully wooded area, in a small farmersvillage, where the atmoshphere of old times still seems to linger. The hills, the farm, the villages, the cities, the nature, the inspiration, the peace and quiet... See you, this spring, in Jagnjedovec, the Sunniest Village of all Croatia...
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