ENNS. The Enns artist Heinz Stockinger works with minerals as colors. The result is bright, color-intensive paintings.
Heinz Stockinger (68) has two hobbies: collecting minerals and painting. It made sense for him to combine these two hobbies. After initial experimentation, Stockinger developed a unique technique over 20 years. This is reflected in a large collection of paintings. Many of these paintings are in his studio – but even in his house there is no wall without pictures.
This output is even more astonishing when you know how much effort it takes to complete a work of art.
Mineral exploration
The work begins with searching for minerals, as Stockinger primarily works with material he finds himself. Stockinger finds minerals such as serpentine, quartz and slate especially in the Harbachtal in Salzburg. Stockinger uses almost 20 different minerals for his pictures.
At home, the artist takes a heavy iron weight and smashes the minerals, sifts them and sorts them.
Tweezers instead of brushes
When painting, Stockinger does not use a brush but rather tweezers. He uses this to pick up pieces of mineral, dip them in glue and place them on the wooden plate on which the picture is created. Stockinger puts it on the plate point by point. Sometimes slate or pieces of wood are used, but each individual picture requires an enormous amount of work. But the results are worth the effort.
The images take on a depth and three-dimensional effect when viewed.
Stockinger’s preferred motifs are mountain landscapes or the cellar alleys of the Weinviertel. Stockinger discovers some motifs when he is searching for minerals with his wife – and manager – Klaudia. He uses photos that he takes of his subjects as a template.
Sometimes Stockinger also receives orders from customers who want to see their own house featured in a work of art. Here too, Stockinger looks for the best perspective, photographs the house and creates the painting.
Blind Association
At an exhibition, Stockinger was approached by a representative of the Blind Association. He said that the mineral pictures were also interesting for blind people because they could feel what was depicted when they ran their fingers over them. Stockinger therefore calls his pictures “comprehensible images” and wants to get in touch with an association for the blind.
A selection of Stockinger’s pictures are currently on display in the displays of the former electronics store on Ennser Hauptplatz. Stockinger will be exhibiting works of art at the Art and Pleasure Mile, which will take place on June 7th in Enns. Even if the images are particularly effective when viewed directly, it is worth taking a look at Stockinger’s work on the Internet at mineralienbilder.at