"Gardening" Painting

1959 Born in Wismar, East Germany<br>1981-1984 College of Applied Art, Heiligendamm, East Germany <br>1984 88 Diploma in Design, Leipzig; design work at Leipzig Central Station<br>1988 Emigration to Stuttgart, West Germany; interior architect up to 2004<br>1991-93 International Colour Academy in Bretzfeld and Salzburg: Colour psychology <br>2005 Freelance artist and member of BBK/VBKW <br> Courses in free painting and ceramic sculpture<br>2007 Member of Ligne et Couleur, Stuttgart<br>2008 Annual participation in art auctions for the benefit of Brazilian street kids via<br> the Giovane Elber Foundation<br>2009 Annual participation in Vaihinger Art to support children suffering from cancer<br><br>People <br>Petra Seibert<br><br>Abstract or figurative? That is how I believe the world was created: from the big bang (chaos) to order (huge masses engulfing smaller ones and forcing them into orbit), i.e. order slowly emerging from chaos. That is exactly how I work. I generate a state of immense chaos a wonderful warming-up process and my fast pace of work, initially without a plan, creates the best possible connection to the inner images or, should we say, to an inner disposition, an inner opening I feel should never be missing in painting.<br><br>To start with, my prime concern was to completely switch off my brain. My art classes, initially, are all about switching off your brain and when you visit an exhibition of paintings, I recommend switching off the brain (though please dont pull a headset over your ears). In other words, I wanted to let go, not want anything specific, allow things to happen and be prepared for surprises. It was all about training senses that had been buried by reason. About finding where the pictures are, making contact with that place and reaching a state of flux without inner evaluation. Silencing that inner chatterbox. Of course it was a process of stirring and searching, mainly in the abstract. But for me this turned out to be a dead end. From my own experience I knew full well that clinging to the object can kill creativity (e.g. the life drawing drill during my design course). Besides, everybody teaches you to progress from the figurative to the abstract. But I felt that something was wrong.