Marcin Jach

What is your background?

I am a self-taught landscape artist from Poland, based in Cambridge. I have been painting with oils, acrylic and mixed media since I arrived in the UK in 2005. I exhibited in Poland but became more committed to art when I moved to England as it was an escape for me when I first arrived. As life goes on, being creative is an essential part of my life.

What inspires you and what is your creative process?

My easel is my inspiration, along with the creative journey and learning experience; it is the excitement of the unknown. As a landscape artist, my surroundings inspire me and the beautiful city of Cambridge often features in my paintings. Inspiration also comes from holidays to various European locations and my personal observations of life happening in front of me.

What is your favourite subject matter and why?

Currently, I am a landscape artist. I am interested in the coastal scenery of the UK and Europe. I also like interesting cloud formations which allow me to be more expressive and intuitive, rather than working to recreate from a photograph. I like city scenes from Cambridge where light and dark contrast with the architecture, which helps me to create an atmospheric and mysterious vibe of the composition. I'm into vibrant and often striking colours combined which works well for seaside landscapes. This is how I feel and how I perceive colours surrounding me. I also like music and have been learning to play the guitar since 2019. I am into art which illustrates music. I find it fascinating how sound and melody can be expressed in the form of the visual art.

Who are your biggest influences?

Zdzislaw Beksinski is my biggest influence. Although very dark, I always adored his sheer attention to details and clear inspiration by great masters such as Turner, James Whistler and Casper Friedrich David. I’m also inspired by musical artists: Mark Wilkinson (Marillion, Fish), Storm Thorgerson (Pink Floyd) and Travis Smith (Opeth, Riverside) as well as book & game illustrators such as John Avon.

How have you stayed inspired and energized during the pandemic?

During the pandemic I started exploring my narrative and my awareness of my own painting style. That allowed me to understand colours further and enjoy the creative process more. I had a little more time for creative activities such as playing the guitar; it’s really interesting how music boosted my visual way of expressing myself and I am listening to music now in a completely different way. So, it has been interesting and despite being incredibly challenging, I think I grew more confident with my art during lockdowns.

What is/are your favourite medium(s)?

Currently acrylics. Mainly for the vibrancy of colours, if used in the right way. I would like to work with oils when I have a proper studio, but for now I'm happy to explore acrylics more. I like mixed media but the use of it is dictated by the subject, as sometimes it doesn’t work as expected. I like watercolours for their unpredictable nature.

How long does it take to complete a piece, and what is the entire process? Do you like working on different pieces at the same time?

It depends on the subject and overall size of the piece. As I'm not getting much practice with portraits for example, they seem to be more challenging than landscapes for me. I also like to take my time to study a piece at certain stages of a painting. Due to family and work commitments, I can be working on a large piece for at least 2-3 weeks, sometimes longer. When I'm working with smaller projects and I want to be more expressive with the image, then the painting process can be finalised within 4 to 9 hours. I tend not to work on multiple projects unless I need a break to gain fresh perspective about a current project. I tend to do this when I'm working on portrait commissions.

Name an artist(s) you’d like to be compared to.

Probably Zdzislaw Beksinski. I’ve managed to drift away from his dark mood of painting. But I guess it would be flattering if someone noticed some distant echo of his style in some of my work.

What subjects do you pursue and why?

I love painting sea and mountains. I also have a fascination with skies, capturing cloud formations frequently on camera during my travels. I love the sunrise and sunset, which I express with vibrant hues of orange. I have been particularly inspired by landscapes on the Canary Islands – each island offering something unique – but also around British coastlines which I adore.

I aim to achieve atmospheric light effects from sharp and dramatic contrast – warm against cold colours. I create sometimes what I would describe as literal collision between the sea and mountains – rocky volcanic formations crushed by waves. Then I might create a gentle fusion, where the calm waves gently touch the sandy beach. This meeting of the forces of nature expressed through vibrancy of contrast and colour, is what makes my paintings recognisable – my trademark, I think.

I'm passionate about colours. I developed my respect for abstract art through experimentation and using my colours with a growing sense of confidence. Sometimes I'm switching to a more intuitive way of painting and abstract art helped me to see where that moment began.

What other artists have been inspirational to you in your work?

I love meeting my contemporaries at exhibitions. Really, I learned a lot from my children and witnessing how they respond to art. Either as viewers or just when being messy with paints at playtime.

What do you hope people feel when they view your work?

I hope that they hear that inner voice telling them to buy it ;-).
But also, after talking to me they will actually give it a go and paint something themselves. Art isn't exclusive to gifted and talented people, it is for all of us willing to explore and start a new adventure.