When drawing or painting the human figure I am happiest. The challenge of capturing the spirit of a model from life requires the stamina of a sport and the timing of dance. It is music, a melody of line and form that is never static, expressing the infinite attitudes of the human form. It is an intensely honest and spiritual pursuit, because to the artist there is no such thing as an ugly or unattractive body. We are all figures. Our bodies house our souls and our souls seek expression. So to draw the body is to draw the soul. We are, quite literally, walking works of art.
I owe all I have learned to my late teacher and mentor, Cesare Borgia. He believed in me, inspired me and passionately taught the importance of daily discipline in
mastering one’s craft:
"To look is one thing. To see what you look at is another. To understand what you see is a third. To learn from what you understand is still something else. But to act on what you learn is all that really matters. To do is to be."
Ciào, Cesare.
michael@mcalloway.com