Portrait of Sherry Donovan, oil,
30 x 24 in.
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Sam Adoquei's 7 Things
Historical artists, peers, friends, books, ideas, music, movies —
all of these things and many more shape us as artists. Here, Sam Adoquei, known the world over for his striking and evocative landscapes, portraits, and still lifes, describes seven things that have influenced his art and his distinctive outlook.
1 Michelangelo. Michelangelo is the perfect example of the power— the energy—of what art can do and how art can make people feel and think. To achieve this, you need more than just basic skills. You need a strong, forceful mind supported by passion and intelligence. Looking at his work raises my expectations of myself, of what I can produce. He was the first to make me feel that I don’t have to prove myself by displaying what I can do, but rather that I should do all that I can to be worthy of my talent.
2 Franz Hals. The freedom to create whatever you wish as an artist depends on being aware of your own talent and having total command of the grammar of painting (the craft). Without this mastery of your medium, your dreams and visions will face frustration, so it is very important to acquire as much skill as you can afford. Some things are beyond your control, but skill is always in your hands. You only have to look to Hals to know that masterful skill is accessible. It’s up to you to work at it. As I sometimes jokingly tell my students, "Let’s get it over with," meaning focus on mastering your medium and the rest will come.
3 Mozart. Mozart’s versatility is astonishing, which is why I spent at least five years of my life trying to translate his compositions into paintings. It was the biggest task I’ve ever undertaken. Mozart doesn’t always do things the same way. Sometimes he uses a light touch and sometimes dark, sometimes he is smooth and sometimes choppy. From him I learned that if you want to be great, you can not rely solely on any one way of doing things. Although I’ve won the highest national awards, my reason for painting is not to win or to prove how skillful I am; my reason is trying to say something about the subject, which will dictate how I’m going to paint that subject. That demands versatility. I should be able to say a lot with simple language.
4 Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix is like Franz Hals with a guitar, only younger and more modern. He dazzles with freedom, power of experience, passion, and soul. I admire his work because it’s deceptive. It looks so easy, but it’s actually sophisticated and complex and original. I see many of these qualities in another young musician whom I admire, Julian Casablancas of the Strokes.
5 Ali Farka Touré. Touré, an African singer and guitarist, loved nature and loved God. He’s one of the top seven people I’d like to meet in heaven. His music reinforces my deep connection to God and nature. It is a form of a certain spiritual idea that cosmic law rewards all good thoughts and that good minds will produce good work. Sometimes the challenges and terrain I face may try to derail me, but Touré’s music affirms that I’m on the right track. No amount of modern life can dilute the thoughts that control my engine. However appreciative I am to nature, it should be felt in my work, not expressed in words that come so cheap.
6 Leonardo da Vinci. It’s not necessarily his work that has influenced me—although, of course, it has, that’s obvious—but it’s his mind, his adventurous mind. He has the mind of an artist who wants to try different things. And his odyssey is important to me. He grew up in Italy being treated like a second-class citizen because of the circumstances of his birth. Through his work, however, he earned respect and recognition. His life teaches us that when we dare to be different, dare to be good, dare not to fit in, we will face struggles. Men, with their animal instincts, will always be strange to strangers, but I’m glad we are like this. After all, it is part of the cosmic deal with the universe that opposites must live close together.
7 Basic Philosophy. Philosophy is the thing that allows me to have an open mind, to be tolerant and accepting of all of these other things without question, to learn without judging too much, to dream, to acquire something from all influences, and to be pleased with the cosmic world and the way the universe is designed. This philosophical mindset has prepared me for more tough experiences than anything else.
Born in Ghana, West Africa, Sam Adoquei’s groundbreaking experience and exceptional achievements make him the kind of unique and rare artist that we don’t often see in the history of art. His work is represented in numerous private, corporate, and museum collections around the world. To learn more about this artist, visit samadoquei.com.
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