In the Artist-Spotlight: FRANZ DONNET
Tell us a little about yourself
Who are you? What do you do for a living?
I am a trained pastry chef and have also lived out this side of myself very creatively. Over the years I have been part of international shows and competitions, over this period I have learned a lot about the structure, anatomy and coloring of a wide variety of things. My challenge was to represent what I had created as realistically as possible.
Modeled sugar floristry
Now I work in the hotel industry and produce desserts for a variety of events and occasions.
What should people know about you?
I really enjoy laughing, and often at myself too. What can I say, I'm just a bit of a klutz
How did you get started with art?
Even as a small child, my hands were busy with something. I searched for wild clay in streams and made abstract shapes out of it and let it air dry on the tops of my neighbor's fences. As soon as it rained, everything was gone. Well, over time it continued, and so I came to colors through clay and glazes and went into drawing. In my English tutoring class, this lovely lady and I were painting instead of studying until one day it was discovered. But it wasn't all that crazy, and so my mother and I came up with a deal that I would continue to receive English tutoring, but also learn something creative. So when I was around 11 years old, I started taking part in a watercolor painting course for adults once a month. Over the years I didn't find time for it anymore because everything revolved around cakes, chocolates and the like.
How did you find your style?
Over the years I've tried out a lot of things in both the cute and the picturesque areas and picked up a bit of everything, and so my style has developed over time, becoming more modern, provocative and in the direction of realism.
For me, art is characterized by the fact that I use my watercolors and paper in such a way that it resembles an oil or acrylic painting.
What would you say is your favorite project that you have done?
I am part of the queer community, which I also show through my art, every person is uniquely special in their own way and I want to capture that feeling in my pictures. This is how one of my favorite motifs came about 3 years ago, which I photographed with my best friend and converted into a picture. This is the only painting that is not for sale. My personal highlight!
Nefertiti's fruit
Do you have any big goals you're working towards with your art? And if so, would you let us know?
In any case! I have a clear goal in mind.
In the beginning, as in so many areas, it is not easy for a young artist to find his place, but above all a place to be able to develop creatively. I feel/was like that too. I would love to teach painting courses to pass on what I have learned. One day I would like to have a place where all of this is possible, to be able to pass on art to others, to collaborate with other artists and to offer newcomers a space to let off steam.
Tell us a little about your artwork
My pictures aren't all exactly coordinated with each other, I paint what moves me at the moment.
For the picture on the far left, I wanted to show in a provocative way that money and pleasure take on such drastic proportions that it is sometimes hard to imagine...
A little treat from my childhood, the status symbol for money and food that isn't on the menu every day, all as a small morsel that usually disappears unnoticed in the mouth.
The middle picture is supposed to put a little smile on your face in the morning, it sounds so simple but is so important.
The picture on the right is more abstract and surreal. My childhood always consisted of looking for amber on vacation by the sea, which still captivates me to this day.
To be seen at Kaffemik
What is your relationship with coffee?
For me, the best moment is when I can sit in a café with the right atmosphere and think about new projects, ideas or sketches, preferably with a large cup of hot, freshly brewed coffee