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Bernat
Marroiak is an artist located in the south of Valencia specialized in handmade illustration.
At the highest level
Since last February 17, we have sold 93 original pieces through the Clandestine Auctions. And when I say originals, I mean 93 unique works of art, no prints or limited editions.
If we continue at this rate, the projection for the end of the year will place us at around 600 works Originals sold. It's a very high turnover volume.
Very, very tall.
The other day I started comparing it to the European art market and it would look like this...
EUROPEAN ARTIST RANKINGS
Sales forecast based on available data (Single project / 2025-2026):
- Marroiak (Projection) ~590 pieces (Watercolors, sketches, and mixed media)
- David Hockney: ~300 pieces (Drawings and sketches).
- Damien Hirst: ~270 pieces (Study work).
- Tracey Emin: ~210 pieces (Drawings and mixed media).
- Maseda: ~200 pieces (Contemporary Portrait).
- Yayoi Kusama (this one is not European): ~170 pieces (Unique work on paper).
- Anselm Kiefer: ~110 pieces (Mixed and paper).
- Miquel Barceló: ~100 pieces (Watercolors and ceramics).
- Secundino Hernández: ~80 pieces (Painting and drawing).
Thank you to everyone who bids and to those who are making this small workshop in Oliva achieve something so great.
See you at the Clandestine Auctions
Marjal Pego-Oliva illustrated map
Map of the Marjal Pego Oliva Natural Park created for the Pego Tourism Department. It can be obtained for free at the tourist information office.
The big wave
The Great Wave of Kanagawa is perhaps the best known work of the style we usually call Ukiyo-e.
It was published in about 1830 and soon became very popular among European artists and collectors.
The curious thing about Japanese prints is that the process was openly collaborative and several artists and artisans were involved in the process.
Hokusai (the author of the Great Wave) was the one who conceived, planned and executed the drawing, perhaps with some touches of color.
Then a craftsman transferred that drawing to the wooden planks and patiently carved them.
One plate was carved for each color, plus the line (probably 7 in total).
Finally, the printers inked the wooden molds and made the prints.
Thousands of copies were made of each drawing.
How great the Japanese...
Every morning begins a new day
Well, as I said yesterday, every morning I renew my commitment to Art in general and to my work in particular.
As soon as I wake up and while I prepare my coffee, I get ready to start from scratch. With enthusiasm and illusion.
Then, while I drink my coffee, I review the previous day in case any anger or rancor has stayed with me with a wrongly given brushstroke. And I let it go.
And I start a new day.
PSThis tool works better for me than pencils and watercolors. It doesn't wear out, doesn't break and I can take it anywhere.
PS2: Could it be useful to start from scratch every day with a partner, neighbor or family member? I think so...
How to prevent perfectionism from killing your creativity
There is a tool that I introduced some time ago in the workshop that is giving me very good results. Maybe it will help you too.
Because the thing is this:
In a watercolor you can't go wrong. Every brushstroke has to be the right one. There is no way to correct or undo the mistake.
And what happens is that sometimes you give a brushstroke that is not the right one and you spoil the drawing. A drawing that maybe has taken you 15 hours of work...
And you get angry, upset and want to burn down the workshop, open a bar and never touch a paintbrush again.
The irony is that this anger will very easily lead you to give another bad brushstroke and ruin another drawing.
It is a fish that bites its own tail.
The solution
Every morning, as soon as I wake up and while I prepare my coffee, I get ready to start from scratch.
And while I drink my coffee I commit myself to leave behind the bad energy of the previous day and to start from scratch with illusion and serenity.
In fact, it can be applied to everything.
It's not just for those of us who draw.
It works. It is powerful.
Greetings - PEACE and Love.
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Little stories from the last book
The book of la Safor is almost three years behind schedule. There are several reasons for this, although there are only two main ones:
Continue reading Batallitas del último libroFalse Shots IV
We already have another Fake Shot (the videos I am making weekly as an audiovisual exercise).
I warn you that it is not a big deal, although there is a detail in the video that I would like to reveal the origin of:
Continue reading Tomas Falsas IV
Not even for free
A friend recently told me that he would not be going to India not even for free. I didn't understand going to a country to suffer.
India is intense.
Very intense.
I love it.
The aesthetics, the chaos, the cows running loose in the street...
In 2006 I was over there doing some sketches like the one above and next January I will be back to do many more.
PSIn the image above, a natural sketch of the Ganges River as it passes through Varanasi.
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