|
 |
| SEARCH BLULIFE : |
Friday November 21, 2008 |
| ART: The creation of beautiful things or thought-provoking works.
Creation by human endeavor rather than by nature… |
| HERO TOLSMA |
| Art, in my opinion, is the expression of thought and ideas realized.
The beauty being the interpretation. This month’s artist, Hero Tolsma,
is a super painter that equally expresses the erotic while transmitting
the feeling to his audience. The idea in Hero’s work is a dream world populated
by beautiful men. This month we sat down via the Internet and talked with
this artistic talent. Take a look at what he had to say and I hope he sends
me a ticket to his imaginary world.
By Clark David
1. Who is Hero?
I'm a regular guy from the Netherlands, living on a little island that
only can be reached by rowboat, which gives me much privacy and no one
disturbs me when I paint. My obsession is to paint. I like music and the
Internet. It's hard for me to express my feelings and I use my art for
that. I think a lot of people around me know only the part of me. I want
to show the world I like people, but in my own personal style.
2. How would you define your art and style?
I am a realistic painter. In every painting is some kind of story.
I never tell it, it’s in my mind when I make it. Other people make their
own story, sometimes partly right, sometimes totally wrong. But that isn’t
important. I try to get life in it some how. Trying to find and show the
beauty of the person, in which I believe every person has some. I think
the style is my own which I developed in the years.
3. Do you think as a Dutch gay man, you have a different view on
the homoerotic vs. an American?
Not sure about that, maybe. I make it and the most people I talk with
are interested in it. I guess the different view is much more the difference
between the painter and the public. |
|
|
4. Do you worry about censorship?
Here in Holland not at all. People in this country are very open minded
or you can say as well not interested. From abroad I have received mail
about some paintings which was not very nice. Before the website I have
now, I had one in the U.S.A. I think it was on GoPlay. At one moment they
removed all my paintings with nudity in it. Some Child Protection Group
had protested against the advertisers and they said they stopped advertising
if they didn’t remove them. I have sent e-mail in which I explained the
difference between porn and art, but they didn’t replace them, so I removed
all them. I can't imagine this happening in the Netherlands.
5. Where are you from originally?
I am a real Dutchman.
6. How long have you been painting? When did you discover you liked
to do art?
I'm from a very creative family, when we didn’t know what to do my
mother always told us to draw or paint. My late mother and sister painted
as well, while another sister still continues to paint. I discovered to
do erotic art about 25 years ago.
7. Do you take commissions?
I did that in the past much more, now very selective. The reason is
that some years ago I discovered it destroyed a part of my creative mind.
I made sculptures for some time, was involved in fashion and music and
after a while I started painting again. So I still take commissions but
I’m very selective. |
|
|
8. If you met Van Gogh or Rembrandt at a sexclub, what would you
say to them and why?
Hard to imagine, both are totally different men and have different
styles. I think first I would find out if they pick up the models from
there. I would try to get in conversation with Van Gogh, but probably not
that much about art. I think I wanted to know more about his lifestyle,
thinking, etc. I think Van Gogh is much more interesting as a person.
9. If you could invite anyone from history (dead or alive) to go
to a nude beach for a picnic, who would you select and why?
I guess you wanna hear a name from a public person. I would go to a
nude beach with Johnny Depp and have a picnic with him also. He's a very
interesting guy, deep dark mysterious eyes and I like his way of acting.
He follows his own way in choosing the roles he plays. It would be very
interesting to have that picnic.
10. What is your favorite period in art history?
The last 100 years of art is my favorite. I like modern art. Dali and
Carel Willink are some of my favorites.
11. What do you expect to be doing 10 years from now?
I hope I still paint and produce much more as I do now. I have many
unfinished paintings around me because of changing ideas or failing inspiration.
12. What can gay and bi men do to support the arts more?
I think gay and bi men are already more interested in art than the
hetero men. The Mail which I get from abroad is almost always from the
gay scene. I think the support which I get is very inspiring, it's already
great. |
|
|
13. How long have you had your website?
I made my website in July 2000. It's a simple website but I want to
control it myself.
14. What is your favorite painting from your collection and why?
What inspired you to do it?
I put mostly erotic paintings on my website so it’s better to ask what
the favorite Painting on my website is, because I've made much more but
for privacy reasons or because I don't think they are erotic I didn’t put
them there. My favorite painting on the website is "Mans".
15. What are your goals for 2004? Any exhibitions or shows coming
in the near future?
The Internet changed a lot for the need of exhibitions. I have an invitation
for Italy, but still not decided. I hope for 2004 to meet more interesting
people and to get much inspiration.
16. If you could paint any guy in the world (dead or alive), who
would it be and why?
Again, I think you wanna hear the name of a public person. I would
paint Rudolph Nureyev. He was a beautiful ballet dancer, strong and weak
at the same time with much expression.
Well Hero, thanks for reaching across the stretches of Cyberia and
telling us what you’re about and your work. We sincerely welcome speaking
with you again and best wishes for the future. Thanks so much from all
of us here at BLULIFE.
And guys…please check him out at: http://www.heroesart.nl |
|
