ARTIST PROFILE

Jorge Leal

  • Portugal (b. 1975 in Lisbon)
  • Currently in Lisbon, Portugal.
  • I'm transforming my painting into drawing made out of what painting is made of. This relates with my current PhD investigation.

REPRESENTATION

ARTIST STATEMENT

Drawing is everything.

Drawing equals painting. Painting equals drawing. No more time to wander between the two. Both coexist on paper and on canvas. In my mind there is no separation no more. When I paint I draw. When I draw I relate to painting.

Honesty is visible trough a progressive transparency of the work procedures. Every mistake, pentimenti, and new layer of paint are visible in the final result. The painting-drawing is a narrative about the work process and a straightforward dialogue with the viewer.


BIOGRAPHY

Drawing was always the big thing for me. In my childhood, during high school and while I lost my time away from art being an architect for a few years. Drawing always seemed to save the day from boredoom and hopelessness. 

Since late 2004, when I decided to become a full-time visual artist, I've been struggling to accommodate drawing and painting in my practice in a natural and meaningful way. Sometimes drawing and painting seemed so far-off that I just didn't saw the use for drawing anymore.

The hardship is over. Motivated by my current drawing PhD investigation, I'm finally being able to put the two together. My painting is becoming more like a drawing made out of traditional painting materials. My drawing practice has a new breath and a reason to exist because it feeds my painting. 

The last 10 years of hard work are paying off. Finally things are making sense.