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!!!