Artist Heidi Neumann
Heidi Neumann is a German born artist currently residing in the U.S. She is mostly self-taught, but did study art at the Academy of Art and Design in New Delhi, India. From 2007 - 2010 Neumann studied Occupational Therapy in Leipzig, to use art as therapeutic treatment, but life took her in a different direction. After my studies, she lived and worked in various countries such as Australia, Switzerland, England, USA and China and traveled through many more. In 2017 she moved to New Delhi and studied fine arts in the Academy of Art and Design in New Delhi under the guidance of Kumar Vikas Saxena.
“Modern Geisha”
By Heidi Neumann (Finalist 2nd Edition)
Acrylic on Canvas
“"Modern Geisha" is part of an ongoing series depicting women from various eras and cultures. This particular painting is inspired from the photograph "Fashion Geisha" by Akiomi Kuroda. My work examines the idea of a traditional geisha but in a modern abstracted version.”
From childhood, Neumann loved colouring and drawing and was fascinated by the large variety of colours around her. She began to observe and become interested in the lighting and shadows in nature and exploring this in pencil drawings and portraits. She then discovered surrealistic painters like Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte and was inspired by their innovative use of colour, form and message. The paintings of Gerhard Richter are also an ongoing source of inspiration for Neumann. The idea that the “viewing angle and distance can change an abstract painting into something clearly identifiable and photorealistic” is fascinating to her.
“The Devoted Woman”
By Heidi Neumann
Acrylic on Canvas
“"The Devoted Woman" is part of an ongoing series depicting women from various eras in time. This particular painting is inspired from the photograph series "Dame di Cartone (Cardboard woman)" by Christian Tagliavini. This work examines the idea of renaissance painting but in an unseen modern abstract version.”
Currently, Neumann’s work now is mostly inspired by her travels. She loves painting places and particularly people from different cultures. Neumann uses realism and abstraction in her paintings, trying to create a feeling of uncertainty, like in a dream in which certain images seem very clear and others are only bits and pieces of shattered images. She utilises modern technology when creating abstraction in a picture in order to plan and conceptualise her artwork, and traditional painting techniques to create a unique piece that combines modern and traditional elements.
With her current work, she attempts to further the idea of "modern-traditional" by exploring renaissance painting styles and traditional pictures of women and representing them in a new modern abstract way. The viewer is not only required to discover an image made mostly from the geometric shapes, but also to create his/her own story about the women portrayed.
“The Mistress”
By Heidi Neumann
Acrylic on Canvas
“"The Mistress", is the first painting of an ongoing series depicting women from various eras in time and cultures. This particular painting is inspired from the photograph series "Dame di Cartone" by Christian Tagliavini, which shows a woman in renaissance clothes made from cardboard.”
Neumann exclusively works with acrylic paint on canvas, gold paint, and occasionally experiments with her palette knife techniques. She is also excited to utilise gold leaf in her future works.
While living in India, Neumann used a local art supply brand named Camel but since relocating to the USA, she has moved to using Liquitex as it has “very rich colors and covers the canvas very well”.
“The Regret”
By Heidi Neumann
Acrylic on Canvas
“"The Regret" is part of an ongoing series depicting women from various eras in time. This particular painting is inspired from the photograph series Magical (fashion) by Ekaterina Belinskaya.”
When asked what advice she had for her fellow artists, Neumann said this “I think the most important thing I learned is to find your own style and explore it. I have met many artists with wonderful talent but have not found their own style. Their subjects and techniques vary from painting to painting and it is difficult to identify their style. Other artists have a style but no subject and their work feels a bit “all over the place”. I feel that concentrating on one subject for some time opens up entire new ideas and allows you to really reflect on your work.”
“The Woman And The Secret”
By Heidi Neumann
Acrylic on Canvas
“"The Woman with the secret", is inspired from the renaissance painting “Vanity” by Frank Cadogan Cowper. My work examines renaissance paintings through the abstract lens of modern technology.”
Neumann elaborated by saying that “When I found “my technique” I began to try out different styles of paintings, like landscapes, portraits and illustrations in that style. After trying all these different styles, I not only figured out, which I feel more comfortable with but also started having an idea for a series. I feel it helps me a lot to think of a subject matter for a series I want to work on first, before I think of an individual painting idea. When I decide on the subject, I usually look for pictures that fit with that idea. After finding the first picture that inspires my work, the first painting often leads me to the next painting idea.”
To view more of Heidi Neumann’s work