Artsy Shark presents Brazilian artist Lucas Albergaria de Magalhães . . . enjoy his portfolio and statement about his artistic journey!
“Before considering yourself a draftsman, you have to commit your first 5,000 mistakes”. I heard this strong sentence, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, from a classmate in university. She told me that after seeing my first solo exhibition. If Leonardo da Vinci really pronounced those words, I don’t know (and after studying a little bit of Italian draftsmen, this sentence sounds to me more like Michelangelo’s). But I believe in the power of it. And hearing it moved me to work harder.
I used to draw a lot when I was a kid. You can see scribbles, doodles on the borders of my textbooks or the back pages from my notebooks. I have a degree in Graphic Design and before graduation, the piles of drawn papers just grew bigger! At some point before getting my diploma I got frustrated with the situation: I had LOADS of creative insights for children`s books, fan arts, art pieces; but I felt that I couldn`t develop them, there was no way to establish a cohesive idea. Part of this feeling was in the use of loose sheets of paper – ideas could be separated or even got lost! And it was difficult to find a certain image or a note again. I feel that basing my art project became easier and clearer right after adopting a sketchbook.
Getting in touch with my first sketchbook (hardbound with heavyweight drawing paper) made me develop a big interest in traveler`s visual diaries – especially the ones kept by Jean Baptiste Debret, Rugendas, Taunay – artists that came to Brazil in colonial times to register their impressions about this country. Also, I admire their courage by passing through difficulties in their journeys to register a scene – and to do it beautifully with a restrained palette of colors. That`s what inspires me. I wish I can become a traveler and develop beautiful illustrated journals and publish them.
I started going to a public park nearby my hometown – Vitoria, Espirito Santo – with the objective of drawing people according to a question I asked myself: “how does a person use a public space?” – a simple question that guided me for 5 years, or 26 books.
I have worked on public parks, airports, subways, historical sites, inside museums and art galleries, folklorical manifestations and art classes. It gives me pleasure to see my sketchbooks on the shelf. I feel like I have a history, a body of artwork.
Sketchbooks have been part of my artistic development since October 2005. I use this support in two ways: as a space to conceive future works – to write, doodle, question myself what kind of visual world I`d like to develop – and as an art piece itself.
The structure of the book appeals to me – you can see sequences of a certain investigation from a draftsman`s work. I like to think of drawing as a part of a whole, instead of an isolated image. Drawing – part of a volume formed by a sketchbook. Volume – the same expression used in airports to designate a single part of a luggage. Somehow, drawing and traveling are associated.
Those five years drawing people made me capable of being a fast sketcher, a discreet observer and gave me enough material to show as a portfolio or even as artwork. Every book is worked through a single medium (portable and practical according to the situation, in preference. There`s no way of using ink inside a trembling bus car). I explore a technique until I get tired of it and then try something else. I`m also very concerned about finishing the book I`m working on the moment.
I upload part of this production at virtual art communities – especially deviantart. As a result from my effort, a Spanish art dealer got interested – but I wasn`t spiritually ready to sell my sketchbooks. Also, there was an invitation to make part of the 1st Biennial of Artist`s Books in Naples, Italy.
At the moment I just finished a 40-page visual diary, based on the memories I have from a 48 hours experience with the Congado festival (an African-based festival, very colorful) at Uberlandia, Minas Gerais. This journal I sent to Naples. My future projects consist of organizing projects for traveling journals, aiming to publishing them in a book format.
You might ask me if I reached the 5,000 drawings that started this project. I don`t know the answer – probably I did reach, but why should I be concerned with this right now? I won`t stop drawing after getting to that mark. Drawing takes me to pleasurable moments in my life. I wish to keep on drawing and traveling as long as possible.
Thank you, Lucas for sharing your sketchbooks and the details behind each book. I like the idea of having a specific theme you are investigating for each book.
A solo exhibit showcasing several of these would be very interesting seeing the progression from book to book and subject to subject and the time line as well.
Continued Success!
I can relate to the benefits of sketching. It really does hone in your skills. Interesting note: Yesterday I was cleaning my studio and found a stack of sketches and “doodles” going back like 15 years. I didn’t even remember doing most of them, but they were indeed signed and dated by me. Anyway, sketching is definitely a vital tool.
I loved reading this, share your love of sketchbooks, and realize that we both started the same sketchbook art experience around the same time.
Oh Shirley, thank you so much for commenting this article. I always take a look at your blog site, but I had no idea we began sketchbooking around the same time! Hugs, my dear!