Exclusive Interview with Barbara Mohr – Artist
Barbara Mohr was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. After school, she wanted to study
art, but was not satisfied with the way it was taught and decided to change her education. She
worked in the aviation industry and travelled a lot. On her travels she got to know countries
and peoples. She continued to draw on the side; the drawings and watercolors were her
diary. During a stay of several years in Spain, she attended an art school on Mallorca. There
she learned the technique of oil painting. Enthused by the possibilities of oil painting, she
began to paint on large canvases. The paintings captivate with their exact realism and clear
colors. While still attending art school, she took part in art prizes. A first exhibition followed
on Mallorca. After her return, various exhibitions followed in Germany. She has been living
on Mallorca again since 2015 and joined the group “Artists of Mallorca” in 2022.
NY Glam: Tell us a little about yourself and your career beginnings.
For me, drawing was something natural. Even as a child, I drew everything I saw. At that
time, hardly anyone had a camera, let alone a smartphone with a camera. So the only way to
remember a beautiful flower, for example, was to draw it. Already in primary school, the
teachers assumed that I would study art. However, it was to be a long time before I found an
art school in Spain that suited me. There I learned the technique of oil painting. Before that, I
always used pencil and watercolor.
NY Glam: What projects are you currently working on?
I always work on several projects at the same time, as oil paintings need some time to dry. On
the side, I am currently drawing in pastel on a series about street artists.
NY Glam: What art do you most identify with?
I am a big fan of realism. I want to depict everything as it looks in nature and as I see it.
NY Glam: What themes do you pursue?
Actually everything that comes to my mind or beautiful things I see. I try to capture beautiful
nature such as landscapes, plants and animals in my pictures.
NY Glam: What’s your favorite art work?
A self-portrait by Rembrandt. I saw it in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. I
was fascinated by the eyes, he was looking straight at me. They are fantastically painted.
NY Glam: Tells us about some of your recent exhibitions. What memorable responses have
you had to your work?
German gallery owners told me that realism is not in demand, customers love abstract art.
Thus, I was surprised that the visitors were enthusiastic about my pictures, no matter what
age group they belonged to. I had not expected that. However, my works appear much more
colour-intensive in nature than in the photos. No photo can reproduce the intensity of the
colours in my paintings.
NY Glam: Tell us about one of your projects which you are very proud of.
I painted dolphins on a large canvas for my daughter because she loves these animals. There
are three dolphins jumping out of the water. At an exhibition, a visitor said he felt he could
jump into the water with the dolphins, it’s very realistic. When I paint animals, I always try to
breathe life into them.
NY Glam: What does “being creative” mean to you?
May I tell you a little story about it? At the age of five, I wanted to sew a dress for my doll.
But my mother didn’t give me a sewing needle, it would be too dangerous. So I glued the
pieces of fabric together after cutting them. The dress was very stiff and stood out. For me,
creativity means finding a solution to a problem.
NY Glam: What are you trying to communicate with your art?
Communicating with my art, I never thought about that. Our planet is beautiful. With my
pictures I try to capture the beauties that are on our earth. There are enough ugly pictures,
every day we are flooded with negative news in the media, terrible pictures about wars etc..
NY Glam: What role does the Artist have in Society?
Actually, artists have many roles. Creating memories, pointing out grievances and calling on
humanity to stand together. But to do that, you have to have a big name and be well-known.
NY Glam: What are your thoughts on being an artist in today’s world?
An artist’s life is not easy. And there are many very good artists on our planet. It is not only
the art the artist produces that matters. Personality also plays a very big role. The better an
artist can present himself, the more charisma he has, the more success he has.
NY Glam: How has painting influenced your life?
My drawings were my diary and even today I like to draw special things I see as a reminder.
For me, painting is something natural. I was always convinced that anyone can paint and I
don’t think it’s a special gift.
NY Glam: What art movement or artist would you say influences your work most?
That’s a difficult question. There are some artists I like. For example, Georgia O’Keefe, I
admire her way of painting flowers. Or Gerhard Richter, I like his photorealistic works better
than his abstract ones. But also Salvador Dalì, with his surrealism, he once said: “Begin by
learning to draw and paint like the old masters. After that, you can do as you like, everyone
will respect you.” Picasso, Miró and Dalí have one thing in common, they can all draw
perfectly. And for me good drawing is a basic requirement for an artist.
NY Glam: What can we expect from you this year?
In the last 10 years, for family reasons, I have painted very little, only drawn for myself. I’ve
been back for three months, opened accounts on social media and am trying to get back into
the art scene. I also left Germany and moved to Spain. I’m letting myself be surprised by what
happens in the future.
NY Glam: Can you share with us three favorite things about your city/culture?
I grew up in Hamburg, one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. Now I live on Mallorca,
one of the most beautiful islands in the world. I am fascinated by the Spanish culture with its
fascinating history and the many historic buildings. The Spanish are a very special people,
they respect everyone, are very helpful and friendly.
NY Glam: Where can everyone keep up with you to learn more? …social media…website
Website: www.barbara-mohr.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art_barbaramohr/ @art_barbaramohr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Barbara-Mohr/100016831930158/
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