"I dream my painting, and then I paint my dream."
- Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter and one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of art.
Unfortunately, none of this fame or influence was bestowed upon Van Gogh during his actual lifetime. He ignored his physical health, suffered from psychotic episodes and delusions, and was widely considered to be a veritable madman. He sold only one painting in life and committed suicide at 37 years of age, obscure and neglected.
Despite his short time among the living Van Gogh still managed to produce 2100 works of art, including 860 oil paintings typically characterized as bold, dramatic, and impulsive. Decades after his death, Van Gogh's paintings gained him widespread critical acclaim and his reputation grew among artists, critics, dealers, and collectors. In fact, the images of Van Gogh's paintings live on today. There is an entire museum in Amsterdam dedicated to his artworks; it receives nearly two million visitors per year.
Ultimately, the dreams of this neglected and troubled genius live on in his paintings.
Crucially, the dreams preceded the paintings.
Build The Image
Everything that we do starts as a thought. This thought usually takes the form of a visual image in the "mind's eye."
The Starry Night.