David Badia Ferrer is a man of many talents, quite literally, and over the years has enjoyed trying his hand at all sorts of jobs. Now, however, he is a settled family man and a qualified yacht skipper based in Palma although he is originally from Barcelona. Well, "settled" may not be the best word at the moment since his life has taken another new turn over the past 18 months.
The grandson of an extremely talented and passionate artist, David has always drawn. He has also always played the guitar, but he has not quite enjoyed the same success in that area; he is better with a pencil and some oils in his hand.
"Before taking to the sea, I worked for an aviation company and my colleagues would come back with so many great anecdotes, especially flight crews, that I began drawing comics based on their experiences and then fax them all round the company, anonymously of course. It was great fun and also the perfect way of spending my spare time in the office. And then drawing helped me fill in the hours while I was at sea for any long period of time.
"But in between all that I began drawing my children, documenting them growing up. For a period of ten years, I would draw or paint a picture every year and by 2015 I had a collection of ten black and whites images of my children. They aren’t your standard portrait, they include movement, they give you the sense that they are children, playing, running, there’s emotion and love in the work. And, I have to admit, they aren’t bad. So, in December 2015 I approached Rudy Welches, whose daughter Laura owns the No12 Art Gallery on the Paseo Mallorca and we decided to exhibit the collection of my children. The response was really encouraging. I had honestly never set out to be an artist but I began to think that perhaps I really had something here. So I decided to focus on another passion in my life.
"I may not be able to play the guitar very well, but it’s not for the want of trying and I love music and admire musicians. Musicians are not like actors. They are authentic, they are not constantly changing roles or characters for the general public and not only do I love listening to musicians play, I love watching them perform. Live, I can watch and listen to any kind of music. I love that connection, that passion that musicians generate. I love, for example, the way the late great Paco de Lucía used to hold and play his guitar. Watch his fingers and you can see the amount of passion he puts into different pieces of music. I find it amazing and that it why this second collection is dedicated to some of the great musicians of modern times or in their fields.
"I was captivated by Amy Winehouse for many reasons, including her tattoos, Lady Gaga because of her energy, Slash because he is one of the greatest guitarists to have walked the earth, the late David Bowie. That is one of a few on show in the gallery window, and they sit well with where I am at as an artist right now. Well, I say artist, I honestly don’t consider myself an artist. I’m just breaking out, each piece is a new experiment and I hope that as I go along, I improve and the next painting is better than the previous one.
"Initially I started working with acrylics but for pieces of this size and the vibrant colours and impact I wanted to transcend, I eventually found that oils are much better to work with, the effect is more electric, more rock and roll and that’s what I want. Another influence is street art, graffiti. I think it can be extremely talented and pack some serious messages. For example, when I was in Melbourne recently, I saw this gigantic graffiti of Angus Young from AC/DC with horns. I instantly thought I’ve got to paint Angus Young."
And not only are street art and musicians two of his main inspirations, he always paints while listening to music. "I have my favourite tracks on my Ipod, all different styles of music on a loop and I always paint while I am listening to music, it gives me that extra energy. What is more, there is a 'bonus picture' with every painting.
"I guess it’s my way of playing a cameo and they sometimes take me longer than the main piece, but I always include a drawing of me painting the piece. They are only small, but I add one to every painting and they are all different."
(The drawing of David on the Bowie painting is of him as an astronaut for obvious reasons.) However, in doing that, along with all the time and passion he has channelled into his paintings, they all become extremely personal to him and while the collection is now a permanent exhibition at the gallery, he refuses to sell originals.
"OK, I’ve made a very few exceptions and have also painted some to order. That was why I was in Melbourne. I had a request from a famous musician over there, so I took the paintings over. I’ve also had a client from Berlin who has my art decorating his shop and there is a great deal of interest from Stockholm and Dublin, so I can’t complain, I just have to keep on adding to the collection.
"I guess my art is best described as pop art but I’m developing, and am continuing to develop my own style and it has been brought to our attention at the gallery that some young artists are already trying to copy my art. But for me it’s a very personal experience and copies are available for sale. I just can’t part with the originals, they are too important to me. I sign the paintings Badia Ferrer in memory of my grandfather - from whom I guess my talent for drawing and painting comes from."
So, what’s next?
"Well, like I said, I want to paint Angus Young. I am currently doing another statue, I’ve only painted one so far, but I’m not telling anyone who it is. Around Easter we intend to have a cocktail party at the gallery - a catch-up with old friends and also exhibit some of the new additions to the collection."
For more information visit www.badiaferrer.com.