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!

This iz Art

A week ago I started a new blog.
It shows links to, in my opinion, great contemporary artists,
video's and websites.
http://this-iz-art.blogspot.com/

Upcoming Open studio weekend!

Just to let you know if you want to come:

I've planned an Open Studio Weekend on
Saturday November 21, en Sunday November 22.
Later more details about what to expect.

My newest painting: I-catcher

Detail of I-catcher

My newest painting is called I-catcher and I'm very happy with the result.
It's 160x100 cm, 63x39 inch.
You can find a picture of the complete painting on my website.

I always say that everyone is free to see in my paintings what he or she wants to see in it. I want the spectator to use his imagination, or listen to what feelings come up.
This still counts, but this time I'll tell you what this painting means for me.

To me I-catcher is depicting a combination of feelings I experience:
-being in nature
-feeling a rush of (private) emotions
-looking at the maelstrom called 'life'
-enjoying the colors of the fall
-being determined to stay positive

In the Spotlight on O+

No shortcomings for media-attention lately!
This time an interview about me on www.oplus.nu.
I'm in the 'spotlight' all week.

O+ is a Dutch website for and about women in business. Its goal is to connect female entrepreneurs. I don't see myself as a business woman, but I cannot deny the fact that being an artist makes that I have to be a business woman as well. So I'm proud they've asked me!

The broadcasting on Dutch Television

Utrecht Special
door mcrtv2

An article about my art on DUTCH COWGIRLS !!!!

1 of my favourite websites is Dutch Cowgirls. I follow it every day because it is very inspiring to me. This Dutch website is about everything that modern women are interested in and more. So you can imagine that I'm very happy that Marieke de Kort wrote an item about my Portable Art!
http://www.dutchcowgirls.nl/life-style/2852


Right now Dutch Cowgirls is nominated for 'Best webLog', second round (only 20 left, so if you like it, vote for it).
Men, don't hestitate to visit this site, there are also a lot of male readers, and you can always go to 1 of the other sites: Dutch Cowboys (men) Search Cowboys (international-English) German Cowboys or Belgian Cowboys.

On Dutch Television - SBS6

Next Sunday, October 25, at 13.05 hours you can see some of my paintings on the Dutch television channel SBS6 in a program called Citytrends (the continuation of the program Summertrends). They've filmed in the gallery of Jules and Jeremy in Utrecht. I guess it will be a short item, but for an artist it's nice to see your own paintings on national TV, so I'm curious.

A few new art-bags and a new painting

This one's mine, so not available anymore

Last week I finished some new art-bags.
Jungle, Lilly, Spicey and Restful.
Look at the 'Prima Donna'-series and 'Space'-series on www.portable-art.eu

Today I finished a diptych, 140x140 cm/55x55 inch:
State of mind. It was a pleasure creating it, with lots of splashes and big movements.
Take a glimpse on a part of it here:

At the Excellent Fair

With Cees Clijsen, owner of 'Galerie De Kei'.
I visited the Excellent Fair (one of the events of the Dutch Design Week) yesterday. It was really crowded and there was a lot of attention for my paintings. The fair lasts until tomorrow evening 21.00 hours.

Dutch Design Week: My work at the Excellent Fair, Eindhoven

One of the events during the famous Dutch Design Week is the 'The Excellent Fair'. It started yesterday and like every year my work is represented by Gallery De Kei from Nuenen, the Netherlands.

Open on:

Thursday Oct. 15: 19.00 – 23.00 hours. Friday Oct. 16: 13.00 – 21.00 hours. Saturday Oct.17 and Sunday Oct.18: 11.00 – 17.00 hours. Monday Oct. 19: 13.00 – 21.00 hours.

If you'd like to go there, you can click HERE to get a free entrance-ticket for 2.

Just print it out and show it... Have fun!

Beursgebouw,
Lardinoisstraat 8,
5611 ZZ Eindhoven
www.beursgebouw.nl

Penelope Przekop

It's weird and nice how things run sometimes.
Bob Hogge, one of the gallery directors of Monkdogz Urban Art Gallery who represents my work in New York City, introduced my name and website to Penelope Przekop. She's an author living in Philadelphia, USA and has amongst many other things written books like 'Aberrations' and 'Six sigma for business excellence'. She was interested in my work and she mailed me, introducing herself and next asked me if I'd be interested to read the draft of her new novel 'Centerpieces'. Vincent and Theo van Gogh are key characters in the novel, which takes place in Paris and New York City. I love the art of Vincent van Gogh, I love Paris and I love New York... all good reasons to read the draft!
I loved it, and could not stop reading... She's got it, she knows how to write and intrigue!
I feel really honored that she asked me to review it.
So, when the book, Centerpieces, is published go get and read it!!!

Besides all that, keep an eye on her, because she's got more skills, she's a painter as well!!
More info: www.penelopeprzekop.com/

Sunday at Jules & Jeremy's

When everyone had left, a last picture (made by Jules). From left to right:
Jules, Jeremy, Mino, Ben, Esther, Jeanine, Jan-Willem and Pii

I really enjoyed the opening of my exhibition at Jules & Jeremy Art & Design in Utrecht during a rainy Sunday afternoon, and evening!! I met some wonderful people including the inimitable artist Pii!! The show runs until December 1, so if you're in the neighborhood, check out this exhibition with the beautiful glass objects of Michael Behrens and the very unique design furniture made by Jules Ponsioen and Jeremy Nagel. Jules and Jeremy are chosen to present their design at the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven from October 17 until October 25. For more info: www.ddw.nl
www.julesandjeremy.nl
www.pii.nl

New article on my art-bags on DailyArtFixx

Check it out!
http://www.dailyartfixx.com/2009/10/10/esther-barend-portable-art/

Besides this nice article there is much more great art described on this blog. Every day I discover new artists here. The collection of artists presented by Wendy Campbell (the blogger) is marvelous!!!

Overwhelming

a tiny part of 'Summer in the city'
YES!
I finished a new painting, Summer in the city, started with another one and a few new art-bags are ready!
Pictures of them still have to be made.
Last Tuesday I sent a newsletter to all of my contacts about Portable-Art.eu and I was really surprised by the amount of reactions. All positive and enthusiastic. Very overwhelming.
Tomorrow I'll continue the new painting, already looking forward to it!!!

hollandartavenue.nl

A nice article about my exhibition at Jules and Jeremy (if you can read Dutch)
http://www.hollandartavenue.nl/?menu_id=1&album=17

My latest project

The pictures of the project I've been working on since the end of August are online now. With special thanks to www.studio63.nl for making the pictures and the quick delivery of the website!
http://www.portable-art.eu

Yes... portable art.
Why?
It occured to me, once again, that it's important to make the difference.
With all the Ikea's, H&M's etc.. in the world (which are great enterprises by the way), you should be able to compose your own personal environment. Not only on the interior and exterior of your house, but of course (that's why there's so much fuss about fashion) in the way you dress. Why not make it more personal... make it unique and carry art with you?
Not by wearing 1 out of 20 worldwide (quite exclusive) or 1 out of 100 (still exclusive), but a unique piece! So you're the only one in the whole world wearing it!
That was the idea... next I had to implement it... and real quick I found out that this was not going to be easy. Quite a challenge to me, LOL!
With every new piece I made, I learned and improved and it takes tremendous much time to create one. But I'm pleased with the result uptil now.

I'm going to continue with this, of course!
But after all these small pieces of art it itches... I've GOT to start a large large painting!!! There's a lot going on also, so I'd better get to work!

Jules & Jeremy

Yesterday Jules Ponsioen, one of the owners of Jules & Jeremy Art & Design in Utrecht (NL) came to collect about 15 of my paintings for my exhibition in their gallery.
The show, together with Michael Behrens, a German artist who makes great glass objects, will run from October 1 until December 1.
Vernissage on Sunday October 11, from 15.00 hours. You're very welcome!

Jules & Jeremy are young, enthusiastic and driven art designers who know eachother for more than 30 years, and work together in design since about 10 years.
Their aim is to find a balanced combination of simplicity, timeliness and functionality and they like to play with contrast, structure and art.

Design furniture can be seen as art and also be placed like an art piece in the interior. Art and design play a major role in the interior and should complement each other. This is why they have art exhibitions in the showroom. The combination of art and design is a wonderful combination and is inspirational to them.

Their showroom / gallery is located in the Utrecht Museum Quarter, on the Oudegracht 259 (between Tivoli and 't Oude Pothuys) but you can also visit them on the famous Dutch Design Week from October 17 until 25 in Eindhoven (NL). More info on www.julesandjeremy.com

Itch

I am completely absorbed by the new art project that I am doing. Something completely different, though with paint.
Can't tell anything yet, be patient!
In between I've made some new paintings as well... when it itches I've got to act upon it!

The extended life of my jeans

A few of my jeans on the floor of my studio.

All of my jeans (and the ones of my daughter) have a second life. I wear them when I paint, so I don't have to be cautious with the paint. I wipe off my hands, palette knifes and brushes without having to think. I can splatter with the paint, I can feel free to do as I please. The textile is thick, so the paint doesn't get through it and ends on the skin of my legs.

As you can see on this picture, after a while thick layers arise. Sometimes it feels like leather. Anyway, it's a nice rough skin. They can be washed in the machine, no loss of colors! Great quality, the paint I use! I continue to wear a pair of jeans until they get too heavy. I'm very glad my daughter is convinced that she's got to wear the latest fashion models, so I never run out of new old jeans.

Mess

Although it's summer, today I was spring-cleaning my studio. It had become such a mess! When I'm at work the only thing I've got eyes for is the painting I'm creating. I don't notice where I put the pot with paint after using it, I don't care on what things I wipe the paletknifes and brushes, I don't mind that the paint splatters around... I'm not aware of these things because I'm concentrating on my painting. That's nice... but the consequence is that I often have to search for the things I've lost, not knowing where I put them. Quite annoying when you need it to continue painting and you were just doing fine. It's not even a question of remembering. Like the palette knife I was just holding, but where is it now? Where did I put the titan white? Oh #$%&#, I forgot to put the brush in water, now it's all dried up and I cannot use it anymore... Because I am like I am, that behaviour will not disappear with a spring-cleaning. But it's nice that everything is in order now. Ready to start again after a satisfying summer break.

Every artist's dream: Herb & Dorothy Vogel

HERB & DOROTHY Trailer from Herb & Dorothy on Vimeo.

Special thanks to The Gallery Diva of Monkdogz who pointed me (and the other followers of Artblahblah.com) to this ordinary/extraordinary couple. I cannot wait to see this documentary!

DailyArtFixx

Lately I keep getting more mail from art lovers and artists, writing they like my work. I'm really very flattered every time and again. Everybody likes to receive compliments and so do I.
A few days ago I received a message from a Belgian fan with a link to DailyArtFixx.com. This is a blog from Canadian art enthusiast and artist, Wendy Campbell, residing in both Tokyo-Japan and Toronto-Canada. At the end of June she published a blogpost about my work.

http://www.dailyartfixx.com/2009/06/29/esther-barend-abstract-art/

I appreciate this very much. Especially because, after seeing the blogpost she's written on other artists, I feel privileged to be amongst such good company. Wendy's got an eye for art and great taste!

I recommend her art blog: http://www.dailyartfixx.com
I'm going to read it every day from now on!

Who would you pick?

So give your opinion on http://artblahblah.com/?p=749

A very interesting art blog anyway!!! created by Monkdogz Urban Art Gallery (http://www.monkdogz.com)

Jo Baer

Jo Baer, courtesy of Petrovsky & Ramone

Last Friday I visited the Van Abbe Museum in Eindhoven with my friend (and visual artist) Ameli Viaux. The museum it self is every artists wet dream to be able to exhibit in. Enormous and (sometimes extremely) high white walls, big enough but not too, so it gives you the feeling of intimacy. The classification of the area is very playful and everything besides the floor is white.

There were 3 solo-exhibitions of female artists and one of them, Jo Baer (born in Seattle, now living in Amsterdam), to me was the eye-catcher. She was born in 1929 and started exhibiting when my parents still were children. But what she's created in all those years and recently, definitely is of all times. When I look at her oeuvre I feel just like a rookie, still wet behind the ears. With this exhibition you travel through a selection out of 50 years of her art which changes from abstract expressionism to extremely abstract minimalistic to radical figuration. Being on top of her success in 1975 she dare to turn away from abstraction and started examining and experimenting with figurative forms. Her goal was to connect social reality and illusion.

I endorse her statement: "All of the so-called abstract artists always have a tissue of meaning. I always did certainly... I meant layers. I meant boundaries. I meant very specific things always” Jo Baer, 1987