Into the Wild
The subjects of the free artistic works encompass flora and fauna as well as depictions of exotic and native animals in impressive snapshots. Expeditions to the grasslands of Africa, journeys to the vastness of North America, tours along the rugged coastal landscapes of Scotland, through the lush wilderness of Latvia or through German forests and the Alps – all this leads to different thematic worlds.
The natural variety of forms is brought out in detail and textures of fur, plumage and plant structures are plastically emphasised through the combination of drawing and painting as well as through hatching and glazes. The valeur de couleur of the abstract backgrounds, which is delicately balanced with the subjects, gives the works a unique three-dimensional effect.
How the paintings are created
Hand in Hand
All wildlife portraits are created by the artist couple in a work process that involves many phases. With patience and respect for the chosen subject as well as attention to the different techniques, the works of art develop.
Phase I
Sascha Bianca Maas prepares the canvas applying her special glaze technique with structures matching the subject. Using various instruments, she applies a rich impasto to the painting ground.
Phase II
Ingo Maas makes the preliminary drawing of the chosen subject using graphite on the painting ground prepared by Sascha Bianca. In this process, the painted structures are integrated into the drawing.
Phase III
In further steps, Sascha and Ingo Maas determine together the colours of the glazes which are repeatedly applied and coordinate the constantly evolving structure of the painting with the detailed drawing of the animal portrait.
Phase IV
Sascha Bianca revises Ingo's preliminary drawing layer by layer with different coloured glazes and her specially developed technique of frottage.
Phase V
Now it's Ingo's turn again. He works out details of the subject, emphasises structures of his drawing and intensifies the individual expression of the portrayed animal focusing on each and every small detail.
Phase VI
In constant alternation between Sascha's revisions and Ingo's drawing, the work is successively supplemented, altered and finally brought to a joint conclusion.
Phase VII
After a long and intensive search for the best possible result, both artists decide together when a work is completed. Only when the last strokes of paint and graphite have been applied Sascha Bianca and Ingo Maas sign the painting.
