Short video Artquerfeld on TeleBasel

 

http://telebasel.ch/waslauft/movieplayer.php?id=348-2

NO!!! It wasn't me!

Curator Anne-Katrin Lombeck is explaining my work.
Yes, I was in Basel this weekend, while the casino overthere was robbed, but I have an alibi!!!
I was in Basel for the exhibition 'ArtQuerfeld' and stayed in the hotel 'Dorint An der Messe', just around the corner of the world famous Messe of Basel, with a fake 'Mark Rothko' on the walls of the hotel room (shame!).
It was a pleasure to participate to ArtQuerfeld. It was a successful exhibition for me and not only the reactions were great, but I also met some wonderful and unforgettable Swiss people.
My special thanks go to Peter Schmallfuss and Daniela Pfister.
We also were lucky to be able to visit Basel with the sun in our faces and had a good time overthere.

Auction almost closes

Silence

Never without inspiration, but sometimes without energy because I don't always know how to divide it properly.
The advantage of taking a break is, that it gives me some air, other input and sometimes simply nothing at all.
Nothing at all isn't bad. It can be great.
Spring is in the air, so tomorrow I'm going to take advantage of the beautiful weather, before it starts raining again.
We'll see what input it will give. Nothing at all to me is good enough ;-)

Basel ahoy!

The exhibition in Basel - Switzerland, is in sight, and I'm busy making the last paintings for it. The theme is 'aqua'. This fits perfectly to my style of painting which is quite liquid, I think.

Perpetual happiness

A fragment of 'Perpetual happiness'

















This morning I entered my studio and my eyes hurt because of the white walls. Yesterday the owners of Galerie Tatiana Tournemine from Paris came to collect my paintings for their galleries in Paris and La Baule (France). I decided to leave the blank spaces, to encourage myself to continue in the painting-flow I'm in right now. I've got a lot of shows coming up this spring, and I want to present the best of the best.
My paintings are in stock in the gallery in Paris (for anyone who wants to see it) because there will start an exhibition of Fabio Calvetti tomorrow, which will last 3 weeks. Next there will be a collective exhibition including my work! They also have taken the newest one 'Resilience of the mind'. It was a pity to say goodbye to it so quickly... I didn't have the time to enjoy it myself for a long time. Fortunately I still have the pictures ;-)))
Today I finished a painting (Perpetual happiness) and started some new paintings (smaller than usual) to add to the selection of paintings I made for the exhibition in Basel (Switzerland) at the end of this month. I use a lot of layers, so it's going to take a while to finish them.

HAITI ART FUND AUCTION UNDERWAY

This is your opportunity to buy an artwork of me and of course all the other artists for a very small amount AND at the same time help other human beings!

My artwork is called: a brand new day. Go see if you can find it!

Resilience of the mind

close-ups of 'Resilience of the mind', 140x110 cm

Last week the mother of a good friend of my daughter committed suicide.
Though I know that humans can handle a lot and the mind can be unimaginably resilient, this time somehow I can understand her decision. Her life was so unbelievably dramatic that, after losing her husband, she couldn't get herself together anymore. My thoughts are with her children and I hope that they'll find the resilience to get through the process of grief and create a good life. What they've been through, is unbearable. I wish them lots of resilience, and a life filled with love and golden moments.

You can say I'm a little busy.

There's a lot coming up.

Actually I'm working on paintings for the art event in Basel (Switzerland) at the end of this month with the theme 'AQUA'.
Also Macro Mode Part 2 is almost ready. Today I got a call from Galerie Tatiana Tournemine in Paris that they will come to collect my paintings next Tuesday. Fortunately I'm on a huge flow and just want to paint, paint, paint and I'm very glad with the results.
So, just a short note right now on this blog... I'm going to rest right now to be able to finish my latest painting tomorrow!

Collection of original macros

On one of the last pages in my new catalogue there's a collage of close-ups from parts of my paintings. I like those close-ups because you can see the layers, you can see how the colors are worked up, and the relief. I think the combination of these pictures is awesome. It inspired me to make original macros on canvas 20x20 cm / 8x8 inch.

It took me much longer to create these pieces than the paintings I made before on 20x20 cm / 8x8 inch. I think this is because the former ones were micro performances. These macros are much more detailed. Also the sides of the stretchers (4 cm / 1,5 inch) are painted very detailed too.

This is 1 artwork, consisting of 6 pieces. A hexaptyc.

It is called 'Macro mode Part 1'

Part 1 because there will definitely follow a Part 2.

The road less travelled

Close ups of my latest painting: The road less travelled.

It's 90x140 cm/ 35x55 inch and has been built by lots of layers. I can honestly say that I 'sculpt' my paintings. Anyway, that's how it feels like.

I lovvve the blue... almost got absorbed by it, while it showed up from under my hands. Couldn't keep my eyes of it. Colors can be so impressive.

Litteraly and figuratively I prefer the roads less travelled. It gives me a feeling of freedom not to follow the expected and paved paths, not doing what most people do or already have done, questioning things and not unthinkingly accepting whatever others say or do. It also makes me very conscious of what I'm doing and experiencing. 

Once again I ask your attention for the auction on Haiti Art Fund

I've donated a small piece of art (like requested, 5x7 inch/13x18 cm) to the Silent Auction of Small Original Artworks that is organized by the Haiti Art Fund.

The Haiti Art Fund is founded by the New York gallery Monkdogz Urban Art Inc. and without any benefit for themselves. 100% of the proceeds go directly to UNICEF, Oxfam and Partners in Health.

The auction is sponsored by the New York based Gallery & Studio Magazine and Artbase, and at this very moment there are 77 artists who've donated a piece of art.

Everyone can subscribe and bid on the paintings. They are signed on the back and anonymus on the website. But I can assure you, I can pick out the styles of several artists and you'll recognize my colorful painting for sure.

Please help the people of Haiti by bidding on one (or evt. more) paintings on the website of the Haiti Art Fund. For very little money you can obtain a nice piece of art!

http://www.haitiartfund.com

Dramatic scenery

Detailed close-ups of the new painting 'Dramatic Scenery',

90x110 cm. Soon to be seen on my website.

Inspired on the colors I experienced in breathtaking Tuscany years ago.

Hexaptych

A hexaptych is a painting made out of 6 panels or canvases.

This one is called 'Hydropower'. I wanted to paint water while it's flowing, streaming, waving, splashing, strongly propelled. The sunlight, sunrise, noon, sunset, gloaming, moonlight and environment determines the choice of colors. I didn't have any pictures, just used the images I collected in my head over the years. Each part is 24x30x4 cm, and each part is signed.

New catalogue - assignment delivered - new paintings under construction

This is the front of my new catalogue. It's a part of 'Summer in the city' (90x150 cm). The left side is on the back of the catalogue.

It's obtainable at every gallery I work with.

A close up of a detail of the assignment I delivered last week: 'The sweetest thing'. I love this painting, and fortunately the clients fel in love with it immediately.

The red is much more intense than is shown on this picture. 

I've finished another new painting 'A new dawn' and started a new series of smaller ones.

Because of the continuous cold and snow this winter, it's much colder than usual in my studio. But nothing can stop me from realizing the ideas I've got in my head. So I wear a lot of layers to stay warm and proceed.

I love it!

Galerie Tatiana Tournemine in Paris

Images of Galerie Tatiana Tournemine in Paris (who represents my work in Paris and La Baule) made during the exhibition of Giovanni Maranghi. I lovvvve his paintings!

Silent Auction of Small Original Art Works

Today I finished a small painting for a special auction that has been organized for the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.
Small, because that is what the specially founded charity-fund (run by a few astonishing and very warm hearted people, I know personally) asked for.
If you are an artist and want to participate, please take a look here:

http://www.haitiartfund.com/

You can send in the image of your artwork (13x18 cm/ 5x7 inch) until February 22. Of course you'll have to send your artwork for real too!

If you want to bid on an artwork, check this site too!
Images of all the art works are shown on this site, and you can make your bids.
The list of donated artworks will be complete after February 22.

The works will be anonymously (signature on the back), but I can assure you that you'll recognize the style of some artists.

By the way, the image on top of this post (close up) is NOT made of the painting I've sent in! Check which painting is mine on www.haitiartfund.com

My art represented in PARIS

I'm back from my trip to Paris where I stayed at my best friends place.
We saw the retrospective exhibition of Soulage in the museum of George Pompidou and afterwards payed a visit to the art collection of the museum, which was great.
I went to the art fair in La Halle Freyssinet to orientate for the possibility to participate next time and to meet again fellow-artist André Nadal and his companion Sandrine Blondel. I love the very original oil paintings of André and was very glad to see the paintings of Sandrine for real. They are really awesome, quite masculin, painted on iron with firm brush strokes. On the last day of my stay in Paris I had an appointment with the awesome Galerie Tatiana Tournemine on Rue Faubourg St. Honoré (one of the most luxurious departments of Paris) opposite the Palais de l'Elysée. My dear friend Amélie had deposited my latest catalogue at their gallery and they'd sent me a message to meet because they were very interested in my paintings. We immediately felt that we had to work together, so as from now my paintings are represented in Paris by Galerie Tatiana Tournemine (http://www.tournemine.com).

My work at Gallery Schortgen in Luxemburg

As of today my work is also represented by the wonderful gallery Schortgen in Luxemburg. Schortgen has two galleries. One in Luxemburg-city and one in Esch-sur-Alzette. They represent two of my favorite artists: Stephane Halleux (1 of his sculptures is on this picture in front of my paintings) and Marlis Albrecht.

Every year I visited their awesome stand on the art fair Lineart (Gent). So I'm very happy now and hope it will be a good collaboration!

The era of convergence

I've been working all day and finally, the largest painting is ready.

(well...almost! I've got to varnish it when the paint is dry).

It took me longer than I expected, but I'm very pleased with it.

It's a diptych, 120x200 cm / 47x79 inch.

It consists of 6 layers and is called

"The era of convergence"

Some close-ups of details of the painting

Weekend break

It's been a very busy week. I've been working like crazy, just because I felt the need.

The negative side of this is that I'm not always able to divide me energy over all the things I have to do. I just throw myself into whatever I'm doing with all my heart, and then, after doing this day after day at the end of the week I'm sooo tired.

This morning I had to stop myself from going to my studio again... there's more in my life and I've got some responsibilities at home as well.

So painting has to wait until Monday... What a great job I have!

An interview with me on 'ABERRATION NATION'

Projections of a wandering mind, 2007, 100x120 cm/ 39x47 inch

















Penelope Przekop is an American author (she wrote several books and is columnist of The New York Optimist), does a series of interviews on her blog with artists about the aberrations in their lives. I read two of her books. One is called 'Aberrations' (very good, I can recommend it to everyone!) and the 'Aberration Nation'-blog on the internet is a sort of extension on this theme. Penelope requested to do an interview with me and of course I agreed. It was sometimes very clarifying for my self to answer the questions, a sort of self-examination. After it was published I added a short comment to it, because some additional information was necessary.

If you're interested in reading it:
http://penelopeprzekop.blogspot.com/2010/01/clone-me-please-esther-barend.html

And if you want to know more: read her blog! It's very interesting and often very recognizable!!!!
Also she's an emerging artist. Keep an eye on her!

New ones under construction

Close up of 2 new ones under construction.

I was so eager to make new paintings that I started 3 new ones today. Although, for one painting I made the foundations earlier this week. But it's a large painting and I planned to put several layers on it.

I felt this rush and couldn't stop. Forgot to eat, forgot the time... I just love those moments! I'll be busy for the next week, because it's going to take quite some time to finish these large paintings. But I'm looking forward to it, so I'm not complaining!

Partytime @ Galerie De Kei

Today I went to Galerie De Kei to attend the first day of their Cultural Festivity Weekend, like they'd asked me to.
It's always a pleasure to attend the openings of their exhibitions because they always do their utmost to make it special.
This time again it was very nice to meet and talk with people who'd already bought one of my paintings, or maybe are going to. And of course meet other art lovers. With a pianist on the pianoforte and truly delicious appetizers, wine etc...it was a very nice day.
There already have been quite some offers on my painting 'Upbeat Mood', and I'm curious about who's going to get it finally.
I've been able to make 2 pictures (between all the talking). One wasn't sharp, so the one above is the only one left.
The festivities will continue tomorrow, so if you're curious, don't live too far away and feel like it... Besides the delicious appetizers, drinks and live piano music, there will be several demonstrations of artists.

Working on a new one

I couldn't get the horrible images from Haiti off my mind these last days. At this very moment we can not do more than donating money, which I did of course. But it still makes me feel powerless. To escape reality I dived into painting, working on a new one, trying to make the world more beautiful than it really is.

Experimental

'Ritual performance' is the title of my latest painting.
Abstract and figurative at the same time.
Literally and figuratively.
 
Simultaneously to me it is:
a wolf in sheep's clothing...
society...
seducing...
keeping up appearances...
choosing your own way without caring about what others think...
dancing...

Opening exhibition Galerie 't Onderhuis

The serious snow showers and slippery roads yesterday, didn't stop me from going to the opening of my exhibition in Galerie 't Onderhuis.

Though it wasn't very crowded because of the weather alert, it was a very nice afternoon. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with my fellow-exhibitor Quraish who's work I admire for years now.

Both our work is represented by galleries such as Delfi Form in Zwolle and Tracé in Maastricht, but we never met before. He's an artist much longer than I am, and when I was still a humble student he was a huge example to me. He turned out to be a very modest person with deep insights. The experiences life has had in store for him (despite he's still young) together with his background, cultural heritage and personal view on life, form the foundation for his paintings.

The exhibition of his and my paintings runs until February 21. Also the ceramics of Marieke van Katwijk are exhibited and in the sculpture-garden the sculptures of Jan Staals are shown.

Opening times of the gallery:
Wednesday until Saturday, 13-17.00 hours
Every 2nd and 3rd Sunday of the month 13-17 hours.
Flierstraat 81D, 4926 AB Lage Zwaluwe

www.galerie-t-onderhuis.nl

Upbeat Mood

This painting is called 'Upbeat Mood', 60x60x4 cm, acrylic on canvas.
I finished it yesterday. I've painted it for a special occasion.
Next weekend, January 16 and 17, Galerie De Kei in Nuenen, Netherlands will celebrate its 15th anniversary. They've organized a Cultural Festivity Weekend.
For the full program: http://www.galeriedekei.nl/15jaarig%20bestaan/programma.html

Hopefully the weather conditions will be better than this weekend. It has been snowing all the time!

My painting will be auctioned for charity.
Everyone can bid on it and the highest bidder will be the new owner.
If you cannot come but want to bid on it, you can do this by mail. Just send your bid by email to:
info@galeriedekei.nl and don't forget to complete it with your name, address and telephone number. 
If you want more information or an appointment contact Galerie De Kei, tel: 0031 40 2841583

But first there's the opening of my exhibition in Galerie 't Onderhuis tomorrow.

New paintings and exhibitions

Yesterday I started a new painting on which one can bid on the Cultural Festivity Weekend of Galerie De Kei in Nuenen on January 16 and 17. And I made preparations for another painting. The thick layers have to dry for a while, and in the meantime I can breed on the next strokes to make.

Today, despite snow, slippery roads and several serious accidents (we're woozies overhere concerning snow and cold) I went to Galerie 't Onderhuis in Lage Zwaluw to deliver my paintings for the exhibition which starts next Sunday.

The trip was beautiful because of the sun that was shining over the snowy landscape so I really enjoyed it.

Can't wait to continue with my new paintings tomorrow!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I wish you a very good, wise, succesful and happy and healthy 2010!!!

My thoughts around this time of year

What I feel, conscious and unconscious, has its affect on my work. This is the part which I cannot explain in words.  

The period around christmas and new year, for me, is a great time to read (food for thought), rest and contemplate. So I read 'The lost symbol' of Dan Brown, a few articles on reincarnation, and I am still busy reading 'an historical account of two notable corruptions of scripture' from Sir Isaac Newton (which confirms my thoughts about how things have been (intentionally) misinterpreted in the bible).

I've always been interested in esoteric wisdom, unseen truths and psychology. Because I'm lucky not to be religious-educated, I got curious, already as a young child. I wanted to learn about religions myself. But the more I read, the less I understood. The more questions I asked the 'theology-teacher' in high-school, the lower my grade-point-average got. "One should not question, one should just 'believe'." ????

But that doesn't work for me. I believe in 'God', but the definition for me is not the one that is preached in churches, mosques and temples.

I can see that a lot of religions are based on the same legitimate values, but why on earth all this abuse of power... every time, in about every religion and in so many ways. There's nothing legitimate about that. (As far as I know only the Buddhists have been peaceful, but it's very interesting to know that Buddhism did not start as a religion but as a lifestyle, which I like better. It was turned into a religion later.)

God/Allah/Yaweh would have never approved of all this. Anyway, the god in me does not. I don't like religions for the simple reason of all rules that are imposed/forced upon us. 

One could become depressed from where we (mankind) stand right now.

But I'm not. I'm very positive, and I think that being aware of, and actually feeling the positive and optimistic energy around us, as well as learning from the past, will help us in making the necessary changes.

I wish you a very healthy, good and wise 2010!

Innovation

part of 'Sea of wisdom' acrylic on paper 

The thought suddenly came up, but I just realized that all self-respecting contemporary artists, have an enormous pressure on them. Simultaneously to the developments in the world of machinery/gadgets/communications etc.. to me it seems that an artist nowadays has to keep on evolving and innovating at the same rate. This is largely due to internet and it's communication tools.

If one doesn't innovate, one will be caught up by other artists. There are so many of them....
I would never want to change with them, but at least the artists living in the 19th century (and earlier) did feel no breathing down their necks of a rapidly changing world. Also there were much less artists to compete with. Of course they had to evolve and innovate, but much... much slower....
To look at the bright side: they had other problems ... and a little pressure can give surprising results!

At work

My studio from above, this morning... working on a lot of things... experimenting... and I'll see what this will bring.

Where the process of creating begins

I've got a lot of ideas in my head. They crawl all over each other shouting that they want to be executed, and rather quickly too.
I don't know where to start, how to start, which one to pick first.
It makes me feel restless...
It should be possible to project an idea directly through my eyes on a screen.
It would make my life a whole lot easier and I would be able to bring to life the different ideas which don't have a chance now.

Sunshine

Part of 'Effulgence of the sun'

Though the sky is grey, and it has been raining a lot lately, in my heart the sun is shining.
Since it's December right now, I don't know what is happening to me, but I absolutely enjoy every minute of it. Normally I feel a bit depressed in these dark period before, during and after christmas. I don't like the forced gaiety around christmas, I never did and I probably never will. I always let myself be carried away by this  melancholic period, but for the moment I found a key how to let it pass. I hope it will linger!

Lineart 2009

Yesterday I went to visit the art fair Lineart (edition 28) in Gent, Belgium.

I've visited this fair every edition during the last 5 years.

And, fortunately, this year the quality of the presented work, overall, was great.

In my opinion too many galleries during the last few years showed a rather conservative collection of art. With conservative I mean that they chose for art from artists with the reputation of selling well. Not a lot of new things to discover for the public. I understand that galleries need to sell, but in order to keep attracting audience, they'll have to make it attractive and develop themselves, just like an artist needs to evolve. It's important to impress, to surprise, so the audience wants to come back every year and see what you present this time.

But that was then, and now we had a lot to see. I noticed that some of the artists really made great developments in their work during the last year. I met some artist-friends who were represented by a gallery and they were all very satisfied with the result of the fair. The gallery ART-ist (Geel-Belgium) I work with, was very content too.

The spirit, overall, was positive, and this is a good thing.

I really liked the new (evolved) work of Serge van de Put, Marlis Albrecht, Kalvis Zuters, Paulis Postazs and Raf Veulemans. And I loved seeing again the work of Jef Bertels, Roland Devolder, Jo Pirard, Dirk de Keyzer, and Stephane Halleux. New to me was the work of André Nadal, the works from several artists from the Ho-Gallery (Seoul), Leon Keer, CallmeFrank and I know I've forgotten some.

Afterwards I visited my dear friend in Gent, and I must say: it was a beautiful day!

The positive flow I'm in continues...

Part of 'Exhibitory', one of the last created paintings.

Yesterday I met a sympathatic couple through the gallery of Jules&Jeremy in Utrecht. They saw my exhibition overthere and fell in love with my art. Because of the specific sizes they had in mind, they asked me if it might be possible to create an art piece on commission. I don't do a lot of commissions, but if it feels good to me AND I can do my 'own thing', I accept (of course in cooperation with the gallery).

Anyway, I don't show the painting before I'm completely satisfied with it. And if the client doesn't like it, he doesn't have to take it.

It's always nice to meet people, talk to them and get inspired by their house and personality. After a meeting like this, I put all the impressions together and let it simmer for a while. Then, one day, when it feels good, I start creating.

I'm already curious for the results! That's a good thing to start with!

BOOST in exciting times

Sales currently are running well again, after it has been quieter than usual for me in September and October.
Of course in times of economic crisis this can be expected.
Fortunately I'm aware that being an artist means that your income is everything but steady. I've learned to live with that.

And putting things in the right perspective helps a lot too, as the manner of seeing does. 
Is your glass half full or half empty?

The many positive reactions on my work kept me eupeptic and optimistic (and grateful) and I'm very glad the negativity in the world didn't affect my work. Actually... maybe it did, but then I've managed to give it a twist in the positive direction. And of course, artists make art because they have to make it…it's like eating or breathing.

In the last weeks there were quite some sales through several galleries and during the Open Studio Weekend some older paintings were sold as well. This is great and it does give me an extra boost to get prepared for a new series of paintings for the new events that are coming up in 2010.

Amongst others:

• An exhibtion starting on January 10 in Gallery 't Onderhuis, Lage Zwaluwe, Netherlands.
• The 15-year-anniversary-event at Gallery de Kei in Nuenen, NL medio January. 
• An exhibition in Basel, Switzerland in March.
• A solo exhibition at Gallery De Kei, Nuenen, Netherlands. 
• A solo exhibition at Gallery ART-ist in Geel, Belgium.
  

I'm looking forward to all of this and wish for everyone, though things will never be the same again, it will become better.

The quest

..
David, 30x40 cm........... Urban night life, 90x150 cm
oil on canvas................ acrylic on canvas
2004........................... 2009

Often art-lovers, but also emerging artists, ask about my techniques and how I came to the current state.

It's a lot of hard work and even more time...
Blood, sweat and tears are mixed up with laughter, happiness and satisfaction. Also there's the knowledge that I've never 'arrived'.. I always have to keep on evolving. Besides the fact that I want to keep evolving, I know that if I don't, it can all collapse, and quickly too!
Anyway if I get stuck in mediocrity I know it will not bring me satisfaction. Neither would copying other artist's style. Even not when it would sell great and bring me lots of money.
I'm only being a little idealistic ;-)

It takes a lot of experimenting, doing, creating, making mistakes etc... to finally create a style which distinguishes your's from other artist's art.
Most of the people who want to become a visual artist, enter a stage of doing what a lot of others already have done. At that point, at least if you want to protrude above the rest, it's a mistake to think 'now it's art because it can be compared with the quality of what other artists have created'. Creating art is a personal thing, it has to carry your soul in it. It has to come from deep within (I think).
If you want to show something new, something different, please don't do (after your education of course!) what the rest already has done. And if you do it, just do it to learn from it and keep on evolving!
When you've come to the point that you create things which other artists didn't make (yet), than you're on the right track! Even if the quality isn't good yet! The quality you can improve after you've found a style and/or composition of materials that is really unique. But most of the time in the process this is equivalent to eachother.

I know most emerging artists want to go fast, but some things you cannot speed up. If you run too fast... haste trips over his own heels.

Delivery of 'Reconciliation' to the winner

The winner John Luijten and his wife Fanny

The weekend and the WINNER!

Before the visitors arrived.

It was a great weekend. Saturday wasn't as crowded as Sunday, but nevertheless very satisfying. I enjoyed meeting again people who already have some/a painting(s) of my hand, and of course meeting new people. I'm still floating on the enthusiastic and positive reactions. Of course sales help too (lol). I tried to talk with everyone and both Ben and I were so busy, there was only one moment I had the chance to quickly take some pictures.


There were only a few people who forgot to fill in their details on the lottery. The box was filled and yesterday-evening my youngest son had the privilege, after shuffling the tickets over and over again, to pick (eyes closed) the winner of the new painting 'Reconciliation'. It is Mr. John Luijten from Luijksgestel (NL). He's already received a noticification through email and in the next days I'm going to deliver the painting to him personally.

Winner of 3 months free hire of the painting he choose to hire is Mr. Theo Kox from Eersel.


Exhausted but very satisfied yesterday evening at 17.00 hours!