Well... I didn't know anything about painting. I liked wandering around galleries and museums, putting color on paper and expressing myself that way. The desire to go further is what led me to Artquarium.

It was like opening Ali Baba's cave, with so many riches to discover...

I began to discover the language of painting and a lot of theory around shapes, color and composition, as well as art history and so on. With each new lesson, it was like a new door opening, inviting discovery and further research.

After attending the workshop for about 2 years, I'm beginning to realize just how much there is to discover, experience, learn and so on. The greatest gift I've received from Artquarium is the desire to make new discoveries, with the basics to get started. Whether it's in my own work, or opening an art theory book, or visiting an exhibition, Artquarium has given me the tools to be able to take something infinitely precious from it, the joy of growing understanding, knowing there's always more to know, and quite simply wonder. Gilbert's passion is tangible in the studio and is a true gift that he gives to his students.

Of course, it's not all rosy. It's hard work, and sometimes discouraging when you feel like you're getting nowhere and treading water month after month. Gilbert is very black and white when it comes to the language of painting. This may seem totally absurd in today's art world, where there's everything and very few rules to go by.

That said, what I've learned at Artquarium is invaluable: a foundation on which to build, leap and go further from solid ground. Even if I reject everything, I have something on which I can argue and wonder about painting pure and simple. In the end, the inestimable value of Gilbert's teaching is practically due to his shortcomings as well as his passion.

Sam Abbt