In one of the last letters artist Vincent van Gogh ever wrote, he proclaimed: "The truth is, we cannot speak other than by our paintings." Today, a group of filmmakers, artists and hardcore van Gogh devotees are taking the artist's words quite seriously.
A biopic about Van Gogh's tumultuous life and mysterious death entitled "Loving Vincent" is currently in the works, and the film will be made entirely of animated paintings in the swirling style of van Gogh's canvases. The trailer above shows a taste of the stunning intensity of paint brought to life.
The film, directed by Polish painter Dorota Kobiela and filmmaker Hugh Welchman, is told entirely through the images and characters van Gogh brought to life -- the starry nights, the snow-covered fields, the gloomy absinthe drinkers, the hardworking postmen.
There are over 120 of van Gogh's iconic paintings folded into the narrative, their inherent buzz of motion translating to literal movement thanks to the painstaking, hand-painted animation. The plot was woven together from 800 letters written by the artist himself, and features dramatic reconstructions of the events leading to his death.
If you are a skilled painter and huge van Gogh buff with some free time on your hands, "Loving Vincent" is currently recruiting painters to train in van Gogh's style and contribute to the epic vision. Those selected will train and work at the the film's studio in Gdansk, Poland, until August 2016. Visit the website for details on the audition and recruitment process.
Painting Animation Work Stations (PAWS) are the work stations, specially invented and patented by BreakThru Productions, to create an extraordinary work space that allows thirty painters to complete the 80-minute Loving Vincent movie in two years. The painters will hand paint 56,800 frames, inspired by the style and the hand of van Gogh.
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