My friend Rembrandt

During my first study of Rembrandt's work, I posted the following comment on my Instagram account (dougblanksart)

      Question, is this work painted by a genius or was it painted by a friend of mine? Well, both answers are correct really, so  2 points to you.
     I've spent an interesting few weeks trying to decipher the visual shorthand used by my friend Rembrandt. I say friend, because when you apply 100% of your concentration and delve deeply into his technique, sometimes it feels as intimate as being right there with him… Imagining his paint-daubed hands, even smelling a whiff of turps on his breath, and of course, in this case, gazing into his eyes!
Before I started painting, I learn that over two hundred years after Rembrandt's death, a young Vincent Van Gogh would visit galleries, and gaze at Rembrandt's paintings for up to 5 or six hours at a time trying to figure out his secrets. It sounded crazy at the time, but now I find myself doing the same thing… Well, not quite six hours. 

     Some of Van Gogh's early works were great examples of Rembrandt's bold style that he'd studied so deeply (and we all know where that led him). 

     Now look at Rembrandt's  eye and see what you can deduce. You can certainly see in which order some of the colours were applied - underpainting and highlights. Maybe you'll even detect a harmonising glaze on top of which further additions were applied, or perhaps a raw umber glaze that has been wiped off to leave lines in the crevices of impasto paint sculpted with something or other-perhaps a paintbrush allowed to go rock hard. 

     Now look at the obvious clues, but as you make, and test, these discoveries one thing becomes clear ( to me at least). 

Rembrandt did not simply slap paint on in a careless and casual manner and somehow, because it was him, a little bit of magic took place, resulting in a masterpiece that has had artists scratching their heads ever since. 

Rembrandt was indeed a great artist, a totally focused artist and technician who worked in a deliberate and considered way. And I think you stand a better chance of moving forward if you accept that. 

     I am visiting Amsterdam next month to continue my personal study of this amazing man. In the meantime, if like me, you are fascinated by Rembrandt, I would welcome any information or suggestions you might have. - Doug Blanks