How we work: Frank Auerbach, artist

Auerbach has a strict method: he paints and repaints his sitters, often scraping his paintings down to the canvas after each of the many sittings, and becomes agitated, weepy even if they're even a few minutes late for their weekly sessions. From such a destructive method come paintings which will always happen 'in one take' at a final sitting. (Where they haven't met his standards, he has been known to buy back and destroy an inferior painting, sometimes years after completion.)

"It seems to me madness to wake up in the morning and do something other than paint, considering that one may not wake up the following morning." Outside of this regime, he does little, sleeping in the studio most nights, rising at dawn to begin sketching on the streets in the area around his studio in Camden (the floor of his old studio, which was previously Leon Kossoff's, was described in Robert Hughes's biography with its floor "encrusted with a deposit of dried paint").

He rarely leaves London, and used to take just one day's holiday a year, to Brighton.

More how we work. (Want to contact Auerbach? Click here.)

Comments

[Laura Gasgarth]

I would like to know if it is possible for you to send me some in depth information on a selection of the works based upon the body by the painter Frank Auerbach. I am creating a study based upon his work for my A-Level art personal study and this additional information would be very much appreciated. Thank you very much.

[Ronnie mitchell]

I am also creating a study based upon Frank Auerbach's work and would also greatly appreciate it if you could send me some more indepth information on the techniques and inspirations he used. Also any general information of him and his works would very helpful.
Many thanks

[kathryn williams]

i am creating a study for my A-level portfolio based on the artist frank auerbach.it would be much appreciated if you could send me some information and images about his work including things like his influences and why he decided to become a painter.That would be great!
Many thnaks

[fariha]

i am doing a study on auerbach's paintings and his teckniques. please could u send me sone detailed onformation on his works and paintings and sone pictures.
i wouls appreciate that very much, thankyou.

[Hayley Stockdale]

Hi, i am again, doing a study of Frank Auerbach, and would much appreciate it, if you could send me some in-depth information and pictures of his work...
Thanks.

[Lisa Gostev]

Hi, i am writing a term paper on Frank Auerbach and would appreciate it if you could send me some information about the painter. Thanks

[Lorna Bladen]

Hi
I would be most appreciated if you could send me some indepth information on Frank Auerbach's techinques and how he makes his works of the figure abstract and how he makes the media etc... Some information on his inspirations and abstract figure paintings would be great aswell!
Thanks

[Hugh Richards]

Possibly a strange request... I currently teach art and music at a small school near Wem in Shropshire and would like to contact Mr. Auerbach in respect of his childhood years at the relocated Bunce Court School at Trench Hall.

[rodcorp]

Hugh, I think you'd need to get in touch with Auerbach's dealer, which is - I think - Marlborough Fine Art.
http://www.marlboroughfineart.com/

[catharine]

I would like to gain some information regarding a comparison of Frank Auerbach and Remrandt .Aethetics philospophy in particular

[Henry Rath]

To Whom it may concern,
I did a search and your site came up as a representative of the work of Frank Auerbach. I have a framed painting that looks like it was painted in tempera, watercolor or gouache. It is signed on the back Frank Auerbach. I was wondering if you might be able to tell me if it looks like his style or anything he might have painted. I would like to send you an attachment of the painting. I would be interested in selling it, if you are not interested, would you be able to put me in touch with someone who would be able to authenticate it..
Sincerely,
Henry Rath

[rodcorp]

Henry, you'd need to speak to Auerbach's dealer in the UK or US, or an art appraiser, or directly to an auction house.

[Pedro]

I think that the better source is the book "Frank Auerbach" by Robert Hughes as you already said. Anyone could find it but it have some edition problems. I mean, the quantity... always is out of print...

[Julian Williams]

I am a big fan of Frank Auerbach. Have been since I discovered his work when I was a student at the Art Institute of Chicago 16 yrs. ago. I love his paintings and drawings which don't easily open up to the viewer. unless the viewer opens themselves to the work. I find not only is the work interesting, but Franks life as well.

[Fawzea Josef]

Dear Mr Mam;
I have a the painting was don by Mr Frank Auerbach artwork 1974 and title {still a lif with flower and fresh Coffey }and you can see that if you look at the painting (I am hoping you can help me by finding a buyer for me ) )
Thank you sir.
Fawzea.
[email protected]

[Mandy Fuller]

Dear sir I am currently researching the two kinds of alchemists. As an amature artist I am more interested in the paint itself and what it can do.I have a great interest in the way in which Mr Auerbach paints and would like to know more about his thoughts on the paint and substances he uses and the way these affect his painting techniques. His work now has dramatically changed from his early work of thick impasto. Has this in anyway influenced what materials he uses, the application and the way he thinks and feels about it. Kind Regards Mandy Fuller

[Mike Palma Ellingsen]

Hello,
I am very curious about what type of oil paint Mr. Auerbach has used in his paintings. I myself also paint in a thick impasto style, very inspired by Auerbach, but I have only done this with acrylic mixtures. I am ready to mix my own oil paint using pigments and oils, so if Auerbach used some kind of filler or medium I would be very curious to hear what this could be.

thank you very much,

/Mike Palma