The most difficult part of working with watercolor; you can never paint with watercolor in your reluctant moment. This layer-by-layer rendered technique can make a psychology desire and enthusiastically however, because it sometimes takes 3 sometimes 5 hours. In addition, the material is very important. All your materials, especially paper, paint and watercolor brushes should be fully professional. If I need to give information about this; the paper should be full cotton and cold pressed. If possible, the paint should be selected from fully transparent ones and the brushes should be of high quality squirrel hair and those made for this purpose. Goat hair or synthetics.
RK : Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us, We’re excited to have you. Let's jump into the past. When did you first realize that you really loved painting? Were there any instances that you can recall in particular that made you choose to concentrate on creating art?
Adem Potas : I love painting; Since I met pencil paper crayons in elementary school in my childhood years, I remember to draw and paint.
During my secondary and high school years, I realized that I was painting better than my other friends in painting classes at school. My art teachers in these years used to say that I would be a painter. I opened my first exhibition at the age of 13 when I finished secondary school. Then, because I made very successful paintings in high school, I had exhibitions in art galleries and cultural centers both in the school and in the city where I lived at different times. Konya is a touristic city where Mevlana lives and his grave is there. For that reason, many of my works were sold to tourists and local people. This encouraged me to paint very much.
After high school, it's time to make a university-university choice; We have taken the ability examination, which is Turkey's most ancient university, I refer to Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts degree exam. This university opened exams in many fields of art. Painting, sculpture, graphics, stage visual arts, interior architecture, Turkish crafts, photography.
I won most of them. But I chose the stage visual arts department. Because in order to find work in the future, there were both technical drawing and basic art education. After 9 years of academic training; I worked in theater, television and interior design works. Then I established my own workshop. Until 3 years ago, I worked on industrial art, such as interior design, furniture design and show decors.
For about 3 years now I have quit these jobs and returned to painting with passion inside me.
RK : Has anybody guided you along your career path as an artist and if so who?
Adem Potas : In my art career; After I was fed with technical drawing, basic art lessons and art history lessons I took at university, I followed all the design literature and enriched my equipment. While all this was happening, I followed the art masters in my country, in my country, through social media and before the exhibitions. I followed what they did and all the artists around the world. But since painting is an attitude and style job, I created my own painting style. Someone who sees my painting is a work of Potash, I tried to make it work. This is already an intellectual form of creation at the same time.
RK : Artists and art lovers often have one painting by a great artist that has especially influenced them or holds special meaning. What is the one painting that had the biggest impact on you as you were beginning your career, and why?
Adem Potas : All artists are influenced by painters and their paintings. I was impressed by the paintings of all local and universal artists who were taught in art history classes at the university. Starting with Ciyetto, I have always been interested in painting with a perspective. Especially Leonardo Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Albert Dürer and many others. I also like the pioneers of all art movements. But I didn't feel close to modern art movements because I had a style with free enthusiasm, sometimes realistic and sometimes impressionistic attitudes. I would like the picture to be free strong and enthusiastic. That's why I do things my own way. Nature has always been an eternal model.
RK : Why did you choose watercolor as your medium? Was watercolor the first medium you chose, or did you dabble with others first?
Adem Potas : Watercolor is like magic. Technically, it is called the most difficult form of art, in art literature. But before that, I had pattern (black pencil) gouache and oil paintings. I still use those techniques. Special order jobs. I'll add photos of my gouache oil painting.
Since watercolor is a non-odorless technique, it is made without the use of chemical solvents; practical painting is the most appropriate technique to establish a relationship with space.
RK : What’s your favorite piece of art that you’ve created?
Adem Potas : My favorite work of art, this is a very specific question. In architecture, painting, sculpture, literature, and all the fields of design. The main question I understand is the picture; I find Vincent Van Gogh's starry nights, wheat fields, and the nightlife on the cafe terrace fascinating. I really like Claude monet's sunrise and poppies and the tables.
RK : How does creating art make you feel?
Adem Potas : Art is to feel my presence again and again. I think I'm late for every painting I don't make, and when I do it, I feel the meaning of my existence. In short, happiness ...
RK : What is the best part about working with watercolors?
Adem Potas : I gave a partial answer to this question above. But I'd like to say a few more things. Because watercolor is a transparent paint; it gives a technique that gives the feeling of depth the most perfect. It provides the opportunity to work in layers while working with this technique. And there is a process of making a painting that is started and finished. You start and finish. When I describe Watercolor, I make such a definition. “Watercolor paper consists of the procedures that need to be carried out at each drying stage, which starts with the desired stains in the soaking process and finishes at the end of drying. "
RK : What is the most challenging part about working with watercolors? Why?
Adem Potas : The most difficult part of working with watercolor; you can never paint with watercolor in your reluctant moment. This layer-by-layer rendered technique can make a psychology desire and enthusiastically however, because it sometimes takes 3 sometimes 5 hours. In addition, the material is very important. All your materials, especially paper, paint and watercolor brushes should be fully professional. If I need to give information about this; the paper should be full cotton and cold pressed. If possible, the paint should be selected from fully transparent ones and the brushes should be of high quality squirrel hair and those made for this purpose. Goat hair or synthetics. I don't want to give a brand for all this. I am patiently writing all kinds of information to my followers.
RK : What do you believe is a key element in creating a good composition?
Adem Potas : To create a good composition, I pay attention to dynamic sometimes organic forms with vertical and horizontal depths and I want to have a solid perspective. The subjects you have chosen to do in this way are those that have a rare impact,
I want to be selected. I choose the light that is worth making. I will make sure that the story is fascinating and almost iconic. The dimensions of the work are also very important. Therefore; at first glance, I start by making the composition horizontally, vertically or very horizontally or very vertically, so that it is a remarkable work balanced with its dimensions. Therefore, many of my works are in a very vertical form. Because it is a balanced and difficult to make criteria.
RK : How can people buy your art?
Adem Potas : They can buy my works directly from me and my art gallery in Istanbul. @morkaftansat or @gallerybirimza art galleries. When I have exhibitions, I announce them on my page.
RK : What’s a typical day in your studio like?
Adem Potas : I have an office near my house. I'll be there after my daily work. Sometimes when I feel strong and good, I immediately start painting. Sometimes I'm busy with research and subject composition selection. I teach watercolor lessons. In periods, I do watercolor works with my trainees at that time. Another time in the field is to answer the questions of instagram facebook followers.
RK : What do you hope people take away from your work?
Adem Potas : I have an understandable art form that I want people to make meaning out of my work. Art has a charm on people. Those who are interested in my art are like my family.
RK : Any words of wisdom to aspiring artists who want to pursue a similar career?
Adem Potas : Yes, I would recommend to those interested in similar art. Those with special abilities should definitely go to the highest institutions providing art education. Painting is an art form that requires education except for naive painting. But as a hobby my advice to those from other professions should certainly deal with any branch of art. This will help the development of personality, a strong personality with art, a special language, as well as stress management, the disease of our time. It is also recommended by scientists. At the same time insistently recommend that they always paint continuously. It is important to keep the angels always fresh and alive when painting and such plastic arts do not like to intervene. We must work willingly with love and love. Being a good observer and following all branches of art will contribute to a deep intellectual personality. All design areas, in fact, basically trigger the urge to create. For this reason, poetry, literature, cinema, theater, painting, sculpture, automobile design, yacht design and political, political and social events that affect all humanity will feed their art.
I would like to greet all art lovers artists and art workers and especially you.
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