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Artwork for THE BENT POD
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THE BENT POD

Christian Rex van Minnen

Conversations with the world's greatest living painters- about technique, history and the strange and beautiful life of making pictures. Hosted by painter Christian Rex van Minnen.

The Bent is a painters' club founded in Rome in 1620, banned in 1720 and revived 300 years later at thebent.club. Inside: live paint-along sessions in the Old Master's method, a ever-growing curriculum, vibrant community discussions and member profiles to share paintings and connect with one another. For painters and lovers of Old painting. The Bent meets weekly, the door is open.

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  • 2 episodes
  • Avg 2 hr 4 min
  • English

Episodes 2

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  • September 17 · 1 hr 33 min

    Ep. 2 - Larry Madrigal: Pentimento

    In this episode I sit down with one of my favorite painters and good friend Larry Madrigal. I can talk to Larry for hours, and we often do. This conversation covers topics related to digital space, art, authenticity, and humor. It delves into the impact of technology on art, the importance of human creativity, and the role of humor in life and art. The discussion also explores the concept of hidden layers in paintings and the significance of repentance in art, known as 'pentimento'. We get into the technical aspects of painting, exploring the use of light, layers, and the depiction of figures, and also touch on the challenges of creating contemporary paintings that capture the same intensity and atmosphere as old master paintings. We talk about vulnerability, the complexity of living a good life, and the process of developing interesting compositions. I love Larry's process and how he develops his ideas for paintings, he is both hilarious and a very serious painter, my favorite combo! Chapters 00:00 Exploring Digital Space 02:07 The Importance of Authenticity 03:37 The Role of Humor in Art and Life 29:30 Hidden Layers and Repentance in Art 31:21 Exploring Painting Techniques 43:09 Challenges of Contemporary Painting 59:27 Depicting Figures in Contemporary Art 01:03:29 Exploring Vulnerability in Art 01:04:18 The Complexity of Living a Good Life 01:06:46 The Evolution of Ideas for Paintings 01:09:29 The Significance of Connections and Conversations

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  • #1
    September 3 · 2 hr 35 min

    Ep. 1 - Sara Birns: Hold Onto This For Dear Life

    The first conversation on The Bent Pod- and the origin story of the club itself. Sara Birns walked into Christian's Santa Cruz studio with a sketchbook and became the first apprentice to a project that would reintroduce the lost techniques of the old masters in a radical new way. Tech burnout, master copies, a Gary Busey with a Beehive, the workshop that failed its way into becoming a club, and why learning to paint this way is learning a secret language. "Hold onto this for dear life. This is gold." Sara Birns is a painter working in the old masters' method- The Bent's first apprentice, now a working artist exhibiting and collected globally. Conversations with the worlds greatest living painters, every other week, the club lives at thebent.club. Get Bent.

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