Hi! My name is Stephan and I make abstract paintings on wooden panels. 

 

I regard my paintings as small parts of walls. What makes you see the missing parts is your imagination: if you only get the chance to look at a small segment of an entire wall you will have no other option but to imagine the rest. That’s how it becomes personal. That’s what can make it meaningful to us. 

 

Your view point decides where your imagination takes you. That way my little piece of wall becomes your personal experience. Your memory. Your history. The point of view from where you stand. And no one else.  

 

What you cannot see becomes just as important as what you can see. That missing part can only be filled with real stuff from your own life. 

 

All those walls around us are a reminder of where we are and what might have happened here. Who might have been here. Or been there with you. My paintings are meant to remind you of places you have been, in real life or in your mind. 

 

All my works are made with acrylic paint on wooden artist panels. There are also various other materials involved such as wax crayons, graphite sticks, indian ink, spray paint and the good old ordinary pencil. 

 

Creating layers and substracting layers is what happens in my process. Sounds a bit tedious but that’s what I love doing. There aren’t many brushes involved (spoiler: none) when I add a new layer, I rather use a variety of baking utensils or sand paper. Anything that takes a little bit of control away from me and invites chance into the process. 

 

What I am usually left with is a surface that looks and feels somewhat worn and tired, a little bit past it’s expiry date. Let's call them "has-beens". 

 

In a world as fast and superficial as we experience it today painting is the slowest thing I can imagine myself doing and I hope looking at my panels can bring some of that slowness to your life too! 

 

Through painting I found a connection to many things gone by. Lots of valuable memories that seemed lost. Although they weren't: I had just stopped looking for them! Through all that noise which daily life throws at you I had stopped to pay attention to what's important. Sometimes you’ve got to step back and listen to your own voice again. 

I'd like to make people think and reflect - when you take your time and pay attention there's always another layer to explore. In a painting, in yourself and in just about every person around you. (And every wall… just saying).

 

Have a look around my website and if you have any questions or feedback I'll be delighted to hear from you! You can reach me at zarmann.art@gmail.com or over on Instagram under my handle zarmann_art.

 

Take care, Stephan