The Artistic Journey of James B. Hartel
James B. Hartel's journey in art began with an unexpected encounter in the late 80s when he met an engineer from Austria while working as an assistant chef in a French restaurant. This friendship led him to Austria, where he had the opportunity to engage with the art scene and meet Arik Brauer, a renowned surrealist painter. Brauer's advice to "Relax and loosen up, let it come out of you!" became a pivotal moment in Hartel's artistic development. His experiences in Vienna, including visits to the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, deeply influenced his work, particularly the self-portraits of Richard Gerstl, which inspired him to create his own.
