Not often do you see watercolors of this size and style. Artist and exhibitor at MASTERS EXPO Chris Luka combines watercolor with acrylic ink, fineliners and gold leaf which characterize the works of the Amsterdam-based artist; art with a gold lining, in other words. In The Time Ahead, MASTERS together with Chris Luka looks into the future: which masterpieces will he bring to the exhibition in December, for example?
Not often do you see watercolors of this size and style. Artist and exhibitor at MASTERS EXPO Chris Luka combines watercolor with acrylic ink, fineliners and gold leaf which characterize the works of the Amsterdam-based artist; art with a gold lining, in other words. In The Time Ahead, MASTERS together with Chris Luka looks into the future: which masterpieces will he bring to the exhibition in December, for example?
If you could have invented something yourself that has already been invented in the past 50 years, what would it be, and why?
"I would have liked to have invented something in the field of quantum mechanics. After all, it is the basis for all our communications and digital technology that I use a lot in creating and sharing my work. Among other things, it has also taken the art world to the next level. For example, think of NFTs and exhibitions can be experienced digitally in 3D spaces. Social media also continues to be a great tool for sharing the creative process with a larger audience and ultimately selling the works. If you want to view/buy art, you can visit a museum or gallery. But you just have to come across something you like. Now you can already do a very targeted search online. For example, I notice that many people who visit my studio/gallery have already made an online connection with a particular image. They then also go home with this specific work 99% of the time."
Who was the first person to tell you about your business plan?
"My muse and dear wife Ylva. And there was not really a well-considered business plan. "For years I worked as a creative in the entertainment industry, but during corona this business fell silent. I started actively painting during this period and sold several works in a short time. So the decision to start painting full time happened quickly and organically. I also believe that when you experience traction right away and find that you have a solid and unique product on your hands it is a matter of optimizing. This choice was not difficult for me. If a passion comes from your heart, and you find that obsession is secretly eating away at your sleep, you are on the right track. With the right commitment, success is then inevitable. First the passion, then the dough..."
'A work of art often ties the entire interior together and also sets the tone and energy in a space'
What do you want your art to bring about in people?Â
Stories of visitors in the studio run out of one. For example, I meet many couples who are entering a new phase of their lives with a new home. They want to seal this move with something unique and lasting. Others are looking for an heirloom for their children, for example. All these stories carry emotion and I find this interaction incredibly fun and satisfying. On Valentine's Day 2021, a boy surprised his girlfriend with a visit to the studio and bought a piece for her. This year, on the same day, she appended a photo of them posing together in front of the work. Saying they are still so happy with it. I love that I can be a small part of this. A piece of art often ties the whole interior together and also sets the tone and energy in a space."
If you can buy all the talents that exist in a store, what entrepreneurial talent do you think is necessary?
"Resourcefulness and ability to improvise. As an artist, you can come up with something great once or twice, but if you can't evolve further, you get stuck. The way you present yourself or do the marketing, for example, you have to keep reinventing and adapting that without losing sight of the core business.
But I also think it's important to have a good team around you that you can rely on. Meanwhile, my father and sister work in the studio. As long as you can keep the people close to you that you can really trust, then you already have a head start. Every day when I walk into the studio I consider myself lucky."
What will you bring to the fair in December?
"MASTERS EXPO 2022 will be a preview for the creative path I will take in 2023. There will be some very special new works on display that are part of a limited edition. I am also working on some unique original large format paintings. These will be on display (and for sale) for the first time at the event."
The fair focuses on craftsmanship, innovation and entrepreneurship. What do you hope the fair brings you?
"Exactly that: gaining inspiration, knowledge and sharing with fellow exhibitors, but certainly also with visitors! In addition, an artist's strategy is different from that of a large corporate. But it is precisely by bringing them together that unorthodox ideas and solutions often emerge. The unique original works I create require a lot of time because of high detail and amount of 24k gold leaf and are partly because of this in a higher price range. I think the audience of MASTERS EXPO fits this nicely".
Curious about Chris Luka's work? Check out his website here.
MASTERS EXPO is Europe's only exclusive business fair and focuses on craftsmanship, innovation and entrepreneurship. Approximately four hundred exceptional (family) companies from nearly twenty different industries - from business to lifestyle, cars to design and watches to boats - will enter the exhibition floor from December 8 to 12, 2022 in RAI Amsterdam. Keep an eye on the website for the start of ticket sales.
