Wires of life

'Get Under the Wire'

After the explosion of colors in my last work - The Year of the Dragon - I wanted to make a work in black and white. Well, almost only black and white, since I added only one color (in several tones of course!) to it. When I look at my painting now it's finished, I just cannot believe that I've worked on it for weeks (with a pause of 5 days because I had the pleasure of having my fellow artist Bayo - mexican but living and working in Austin, Texas - and his wife staying at my house). It has a lot of details, but at the same time it looks so simple to me. I've been 'in this painting' for so long that I can not look at it objectively anymore.

It is called 'Get Under the Wire', 100x160 cm | 39x63 inch.

Get under the wire, is an english expression, and to me it's that + the exact translation of the words and a lot more. 

Talking of Bayo, his work is really awesome!!! He was in Belgium to attend the opening of his solo exhibition 'Let me in' at ARTISHOX Art Gallery. If you live in the neighborhood, just go there and take a look at his fantastic work. The show runs until March 4. If not, and you are curious: visit www.artishopix.com. You can order his work online! And don't forget to take a look at the work of the other artists, as well as mine on artishopix!!!

The day after BLOOOM - a review!

I'm happy but soooooo tired. Last night I hit my bed at 03.00 hours and did not sleep well. BLOOOM, especially yesterday was too impressive to digest it all. Not only the exhibited art overall, but I received many many heart warming compliments on my work... People even came back after seeying the entire fair (sometimes 2 or 3 days one after another), to tell how they felt about it. I can tell you, it did something to me. Also, sometimes it gave me a strange sensation. It's like it was not about my art but about someone else's. Art Fair and Blooom together showed so many wonderful art that for me it's an honor to have been one of the participating artists. There have been made tons of pictures of my Girls in Paint... if I would have asked one euro for each picture I would have earned a lot of money!! One guy made about 20 detailed pictures of every painting from every point of view (of course without asking)... I would not have been surprised if he would have photographed the backside of the painting as well.
Anyway, I participated with ARTISHOX Art Gallery who also represented Philip Bosmans', Derek Stenning's and Michihiro Matsuoka's work. This combination was soooooo good! Lots of reactions on everyone's work. People drooling in front of Stenning's amazing astronauts, disarming smiles in front of Matsuoka's lovely creatures and astonished faces followed by happy smiles looking at Bosmans' paintings. It was so interesting to observe all those reactions, smiles etc....
It was an awesome reunion with artists I met last year like Pier Paolo Quaglia and his wife Cindy, Skeleton Hearts' Lisa Crawley, Elmer Presslee, Daniel van Nes, Christian Rothenhagen. Of course my dear friends and both artists Raf Veulemans and Miraschi! Also I met again with clients and people who were interested in my art last year came back. Great!
I really did miss Anthony, Claire, Nick and Sacha, but I met some lovely artists like Paul Tobin all the way from New Zealand, Birgitta Sundström Jansdotter, Kanter Dhaenens and our neighbour Ella Buzo from Cabinodd. I'm sure I'm forgetting people, I'm sorry.. the hard disk in my head is overloaded.

A few pictures here. The rest will follow later on facebook.

Finally, this evening the raffle will take place. One of the subscribers to my newsletter (old subscribers and new!) will win my painting: 'Come fly with me'. You can still subscribe until 18.00 hours my time!

Burden and blessing at once

Detail of 'When the lady smiles'
 
I've been extremely productive during the last weeks. While creating one painting, the idea for the next one popped up and I could not wait to start it.
It's a good thing to live with my love, kids and dog. I would forget to eat and would only stop if I'm ready to drop with sleep, when I would be alone. I can't stop painting. It's like I'm infected with a dominant virus which makes me want to paint more and more.
And now I'm really tired because I did not listen to my body. It says 'take a rest'. Okay, I will....in a few days :). The only reason that I'm writing this blogpost right now is that I have to wait for the paint to dry, before I can continue.
Anyway... I'm happy with my production bombardment and the fact that I'm never without ideas, which is a burden and a blessing at the same time.
It makes me restless and I always have to find the balance. But hey... you will not hear me complain!
Next Friday, June 3, my solo show at ARTISHOX Art Gallery in Hasselt - Belgium, will get started. It displays the first paintings in the new series: 'Girls in Paint' and my latest abstract works. They make a good combination I think.
I'll be present on Saturday, June 4 (11.00 - 18.00 hours) and you are very welcome. The exhibition lasts until July 30. For more info and opening hours check www.artishox.com