New ART-BAGS and new PAINTINGS

My website has been updated with several new paintings.
Some of them will be exhibited in a few days on LINEART 2010, Gent - Belgium, booth 1461 of Gallery ART-ist. (www.lineart.be)

Also, when you click the button PROJECTS, you will see new art-bags.
I finally found the time to photograph them in a proper way.
For more info on the art-bags you can contact me.

Finally, the website on CALVET the movie is online!

click on the picture if you want to go to the website! 

I've been very curious but finally the website on CALVET - the movie about fellow artist Jean Marc Calvet (Monkdogz Urban Art Gallery) is online.

The movie tells the extraordinary story of Jean Marc Calvet.
You can watch the trailer, hear some beautiful pieces of the soundtrack, read the very impressive Director's note,
view the paintings of Jean Marc... and next... I assure you, you really want to see this movie!!!!

Sheer delight

Detail of Sheer Delight, diptych 120x50 cm

I've locked myself in my studio for the past 10 days. During the last 5 days I've been working at least 12 hours a day.
My eyes are exhausted of being focussed all the time and the bright colors are dancing in front of me.
Not 2, but 3 new paintings came out. The last one is not dry yet. It had to be painted, I just had to spit it out.
It amazes me how restless I can get, how big the urge can become... strange beings we humans are!
Satisfied with the result I can lay back today and the rest of the weekend...
 

LINEART is in sight

That is why I locked myself in my studio. I'm working very hard on 2 new paintings which have to complete my exhibition at this renown international art fair.

Gallery ART-ist has a spacious booth and will present 10 to 12 of my recent paintings.

Lineart, December 2: special opening night.

December 3 until 7:

Flanders Expo, Gent - Belgium

INVITATION to Lineart 2010!

From December 2 until December 7 - 2010, my art will be presented on LINEART 2010, the international fusion art fair, in Gent, Belgium.

Gallery ART-ist, Geel - Belgium, will represent my art on the 29th edition of this renown art fair.

You are kindly invited!

I've got several free entrance tickets, so contact me if you want one.

I hope to meet you there!

(ABSENCE of) Art can change the world!

In the Netherlands the government has plans to save 220 million euros on art and culture.
In Belgium they are talking about savings of only 14 million.

Of course, there's an economic crisis going on and there have to be savings in every sector.
No doubt that it is a great plan to reconsider every given subsidy in every sector.
I can only hope that a mixed committee will be composed of people who really know how important arts and cultural issues are to reconsider every given subsidy.
I never received any payment at all from the government. I've been self supporting all the time.
But, if the government would not have given subsidy to the art academy where I've studied, I would not have been able to study art, I would not have been able to do what I do right now.

Savings of 220 million euros in a small country like the Netherlands is absolutely ridiculous.
The people who suggested this plan don't have the faintest idea what the consequences of this outrageous plan will be.
They don't know how important art and culture are to a large group of people, consciously and unconsciously.

Don't those members of the government
-ever get goose bumps when they hear a beautiful piece of music?
-know that creating art, whether the quality is good or bad, has an enormous therapeutical effect?
-know that music/art/film/education in arts helps to reduce medical costs, because of their therapeutical effects?
-love watching a good movie/series on TV/play which is typical for their own country/culture or is innovative/touching etc...?
-know that art can change the world?

And this is what is ON the painting

Well... not the whole painting but a detailed close up of the painting 'A peek into Paradise', 220x80 cm.

I think it looks much better than the smutty emulsion that was on my hands, the rags and my palette.

Smutty Esther and her tools

The result after a day of painting.

Well... that what is NOT on the painting, but what's left.

I'm going to take a long shower!

'Je comprenais ce language'

CALVET 2' Trailer from Dominic Allan on Vimeo.

Today the trailer of CALVET was released!
Jean Marc Calvet is my fellow artist at Monkdogz Urban Art Gallery in New York City. He's a self-educated autonomous artist who started painting about 8 years ago....
Via a terrifying trip to hell and back, Jean Marc Calvet was given a second chance at life, and now a successful artist on a quest for redemption, he embarks on an extraordinary journey to make peace with his past. Dominic Allan is the director of this movie. Edith Progue is the music-master.

The last time I saw some of Jean Marc's paintings for real is about 2 years ago. Back then it was already impressing. But having followed his evolution I can see the progress and I like very much what I see. It's GOOOOD! I love the shadows in his work, I love the playing with the layers... it makes it deeper, more intens, just like life itself is.
  
I'm very curious for the movie!

Watch out for it!

One of those days...

Today is one of those days that I'm not at ease with myself and painting is not satisfying me.
Fortunately I do not have many of those days. So if it happens I don't fight it, but accept my 'off-day' after a short struggle with myself.
Clear my head, reading, taking a walk... it all helps. And feel-good-things too!
One of my friends recently sent me the link to a very inspiring short movie.
One which shows that one can be creative, even despite the worst imaginable problems.
Take only 20 minutes of your time to watch it... it will  enrich you.
 

Wait 10 seconds, the film will start automatically.

"The greater the struggle, the more glorious the triumph"

Blooom - photo-review!

I had a great time with ARTISHOX Art Gallery at BLOOOM, the creative industries art show, part of the world famous ART fair 21 in the Staatenhaus am Rheinpark in Cologne, Germany. Thursday at 15.00 hours the first visitors arrived and this party went on until Monday evening 20.00 hours.

What a great atmosphere at BLOOOM. I met so many lovely people... this really makes me feel so good. It was exhausting, 5 days on a row... but the great reactions gave me wings, time after time. Very succesfull!!!