Artist Q&A:
Conversation with
Arnold Hegedűs
Q: Tell us about your first encounters with art. Did it feel like an early calling?
Arnold Hegedűs: My journey with art started in childhood. I grew up surrounded by my father’s paintings – canvases scattered around the house, hung on walls, or waiting on easels in various stages of completion. It was an ever-present part of my world.
Q: Was there a defining moment when you knew that painting would be your lifelong pursuit?
A.H.: Absolutely. It happened during the pandemic, around 2021, when I was mostly isolated in the U.K. Completing a few pieces during that time made me realize that art wasn’t just a hobby – it was a lifelong commitment.
Q: What inspires you most to sit at the easel and create?
A.H.: My father’s legacy and workshop are my greatest sources of inspiration. Painting in the U.K. had its moments, but nothing compares to home. Here, every corner speaks to me, motivates me, and pushes me to push my boundaries.
Q: Which artists do you admire the most? We already know your father, István-Ştefan Hegedűs, tops the list. Who else is on your radar?
A.H.: Bob Ross comes to mind immediately. His landscapes and mountains are timeless, and I often think of his words: “Gotta have opposites – dark and light, light and dark – in the painting. It’s like in life. Gotta have a little sadness once in a while so you know when the good times come. I’m waiting on the good times.”
Q: Your YouTube channel is filled with thrilling experiences. How have these adventures shaped you as an artist?
A.H.: Each journey has been a lesson. One of the most memorable was climbing Mont Blanc. We had to abandon our first two attempts due to poor visibility and sought refuge at the Gouter Hut. On the third try, ready to give up once more, a chance meeting with a group of Romanian climbers convinced us to stay another night and try again. That persistence paid off! The lesson I learned was to recognize when to pause but never give up. The mountain, like life, rewards those who keep pushing forward.
Q: Can you share some exhibitions you've participated in over the years?
A.H.: I’ve been part of collective exhibitions at Radio Hall Sighet, the Sinestezia Art Event, the Village Museum, and St. Joseph Culture Center’s “Maramureş Artist Day.” My latest solo exhibition was in Breb, a picturesque village in Maramureş, where I felt my artwork truly came alive.
Q: What’s on the horizon for the fall-winter season of 2024?
A.H.: I have an upcoming solo exhibition in October at St. Joseph’s Center in my hometown. In December, I’ll showcase my work alongside my father’s at the Taylors’ Bastion in Cluj Napoca.
Q: You’ve been called both an artist and an innovator. Tell us about your unique contribution to the field – skull painting.
A.H.: Skull painting began in 2018 when I stumbled upon cattle and horse skulls while hiking. These remains, left from natural deaths, inspired me to bring them back to life through art, preserving their presence and history.
Q: Where do you see yourself in a decade?
A.H.: In ten years – maybe sooner – I envision myself living in a cozy Hobbit house, overlooking Breb and the Creasta Cocoşului mountain peak, painting the extraordinary landscapes that only Maramureş can offer.
