| ODYSSEUS
YAKOUMAKIS ON PAINTING I
record several things about the paintings I see.
From one side I record technical stuff (in order to use it myself) like the colour
depth or no colour depth, sfumato or not sfumato, texture, use of perspective
etc. etc. I rarely comment on these, even to myself. The more craftsmanship is
developed the more these "tricks of the craft" are put in good use. Which techniques
are used is irrelevant, none is better than the rest. Craftsmanship is something
that is acquired during our entire life-span, and its no big deal even when there's
lots of it acquired.
From the other side I record the feelings, messages and ideas conveyed to me by
the painting. Their intensity is the important issue not their subject. (I can
be awed by an inspired painting conveying messages I totally disagree with) That's
something not acquired. Either it's there or it isn't. That's what Art is all
about, that's how a child's water-colour tossed away can be great Art. How this
is achieved frankly, I have no idea. I can only say it's not a question of craftsmanship.
If craftsmanship exists it only intensifies the painting's impact. Perhaps it
has to do with the creator's sincerity of intentions, but I have a strong hunch
that there is more than that in the play. | 
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