Pull up stakes

Empty walls in my studio.
Lots of paintings, packed in bubble-plastic stacked against the walls.
Boxes filled with pots of paint and tools.

I loved painting overhere... I loved my place.
It was a great studio to work in, but now I've packed my stuff, it's no longer my place anymore.

Fortunately I've got a very nice studio to look forward too.
I just have to wait another month and a half before I can start to paint again in my new studio.
Well 'wait' is not exactly the right word... I'll be preparing the next move: pull up stakes to a new house!

AN INTERVIEW WITH ME ON FAD!

I feel honored to be interviewed by FAD!

I like the questions very much. They are fresh, with humour and completely different.

 

FAD is a London based art website covering contemporary art news, street art, video,design, etc. They cover new openings,art fairs from around the world and have extensive interviews with artists themselves. As well as news from the London scene they cover Berlin,Paris,New York and even the Asian market. It’s an eclectic mix of cool happening art stuff.

If you want to read they interview and all the other cool art stuff on FAD:

http://www.fadwebsite.com/category/art/

FOUND: a new location!!!

Everything has been arranged, finally!
We've found a new space to live and work.
It's only 18 km from my studio in Eersel!
Though it's not located in the Netherlands, but in Belgium!

To be exact, it is located in Lommel, only 2,5 km on the other side of the border.
My studio space is not as enormous as in Eersel, but big enough and it feels good (which is the most important thing!), It looks good too!
As from September 15, it will be ready for me to start a new series of paintings!
By then I'll announce the exact address of course and my new telephone number.
My website-address stays the same (it's proven to be of service: dot eu), my email-address too, and one can call me on the current telephone number until further notice.

What direction are we heading?

It was really awesome to see everyone going completely nuts when the Netherlands reached the finals of the FIFA championship yesterday. One big party on the streets and squares. Everyone was shouting, dancing and singing. Even for a long time after the game had ended.
I wish it could be like that more often. Seeing everyone so happy, feeling the positive energy and euphoria...
We could create wonders together...

I wish I could feel the same about the political situation in the Netherlands on the long term.
Though I think Geert Wilders is having a good time. He eagerly uses the fact that the CDA stands aloof and does not want to join in the negotiations on a cabinet of CDA, VVD and PVV. Now he can crawl into the underdog position.
I think it is a wise decision of the CDA, after loosing so many votes, not to have the arrogance to still want to govern. It is best for them to go into opposition.
While I certainly am not in favor of Wilders ideas and the way he handles certain subjects, I do believe that he should participate in a new government, given the considerable profits of his party during the recent elections. 

He should not oppress, nor should he be oppressed.

Thus he can show what his party can or ... or just can not achieve.
By participating in the government, he might win support... or he will loose support.
Proclaiming something, is completely different from putting it into practice. He started off on the wrong foot anyway. A day after the results of the elections, Wilders sacrificed a very important statement (which he absolutely was not going to drop, he promised before) in order to be able to participate in the government. Question mark, question mark.. exclamation mark, EXCLAMATION MARK!

At this moment he is more or less in the underdog position (which he partially provoked himself, slick as he is), which might have the opposite effect that his support will grow, purely on his remarks. This can be a dangerous development. If a new government (without his party) fails in the coming years, his party might grow tremendously without ever having proved that he's the one with the right solutions... or NOT!
I'm very glad that the Netherlands can not be ruled by only one party!

Everyone should face the truth that worldwide all races are mixing up, and we'd better join than fight eachother!

Creating fear is easy, overcoming it is much harder.
If we don't succeed to overcome fear, more contradictions, more radical leaders and more hate will be created. It's action and re-action.

We could learn from the sports. We can do it together. We've just got to believe in - and go for it!
No oppression but confrontation, communication, accepting losses, facing the truth and creating new opportunities.

Final!

Though extremely tempting... not my holiday destination

Well, my Open-Studio-Weekend in Eersel has finished. In despite of the tropical weather it has been more than succesful, and I'm feeling very thankful for that.
Next steps to take in July... finding a new studio, packing all my stuf and relocate!
I'll keep you posted. In the meantime I wish you a great summer!

Ready for the exhibition-weekend!

Everything is ready for the open weekends in my studio
What I didn't know on beforehand is that tomorrow in the afternoon all the roads will be empty. It will be very quiet in the streets because a lot of Dutch people will be, covered in orange outfits, in front of the Television, watching the World Championship Soccer tournament.
The Netherlands will be playing against Japan.
But if you don't like it and don't want to watch the rain falling down all afternoon... you know where you can go.
Hope to meet you!

Relocation of my studio

Suddenly I have such a tight schedule, that I'm slowly going nuts (as far as I ain't nuts already!).
I'm good at multi tasking, but I 've learned that I definitely am not a good juggler when it concerns 7 different things at the same time. All at once everything comes together:

• The contract of my great studio-space ends in July. 
• We're looking for a new space before the end of August, where we can both live and work (and realize new dreams). It's not easy to find what we have in mind on such short notice.
  
• This means we have to pack and move everything from my studio AND worse.... all the stuff from our current house. Not to forget the organisational part concerning contracts, subscriptions, making a list of addresses etc...
• At the same time I've got a lot of very important private proceedings to deal with.

But first:

• I've got a final exhibition in my studio at the end of June

Pfjew..... I think I won't be bored
.... Wake me up when September ends.

Finissage solo exhibition

Next sunday (June 13) is the last day of my (uptil now) very succesful solo exhibition at Gallery De Kei in Nuenen, the Netherlands.

Take your chance to visit it, before it ends!

Sign of the times

I've finished a few new small paintings from the 'Sign of the times'-series.
Now one more assignment is waiting for me.
I'm looking forward to it, but I have to wait for the delivery of new canvases before I can start.
Next I'll be taking a break. Anyway.. I'm planning to take one.
The last months were loaded with lots of professional and private pursuits and I feel I have to take a break. Meaning a pause in creating with my hands.... it never stops in my head though!

On the film set

Yesterday my friends and I went for a walk on the Sahara (I cannot help it, it's really called the Sahara, and it's not situated in Africa but in Belgium). I often go there because of the forest, nature, beach, water and quietness. Suddenly we noticed something strange on the horizon. Above the slope of the landscape we saw 2 roofs with chimneys which weren't there a few days ago. We got curious, walked up to it and found out that it was a film set of the new Flemish movie 'Frits and Freddy' with Tom Van Dyck and Peter Van den Begin. I'm really very impressed by the Flemish film industry and its actors. I love their sense of humor, acting, feeling for cult and art etc... Although, lol, the art in one of the houses was really awefull and awesome at the same time because of the setting it was situated in. I'm really curious about the movie (a comedy) which will be shown in the Belgian cinemas as from December 15, 2010.

Film impression of exhibitions

After clicking on the play-sign, click again for a larger view on Youtube

The day after... ;-)

It was a lovely ánd successful (yes!) afternoon, last Sunday, during the opening of my solo show at Gallery De Kei, Nuenen, Netherlands. I had a great time meeting again clients who already possess one (or more) of my paintings, and new interested people. I love being alone in my studio, doors locked, music loud, far away from daily life and just dive into my paintings. But next it's great to hear what people experience when they see my art for real. And it's very important for my development too.

Last preparations for opening show at Galerie De Kei

The paintings are delivered and already installed in the 'Art Salon' of Gallery De Kei, but I'm still busy editing and fine tuning the video presentation.

Sunday (May 2) the opening of my solo exhibition will get started at about 14.00 hours. 

If you're in the neighborhood and want to see my art for real, come and join me. There's a video presentation, a free mini-catalogue, live music, a drink and a bite. Galerie De Kei, Opwettenseweg 74, Nuenen, Netherlands. www.galeriedekei.nl.

The opening will last until 17.00 hours, the show lasts until June 13 2010.

Galerie Schortgen in Luxemburg

Today I drove to Galerie Schortgen in Luxemburg to bring a whole lot of paintings for my exhibition in Parc Merveilleux, organized by Galerie Schortgen.

Galerie Schortgen has 2 galleries in Luxemburg. 1 in Luxemburg-city, 1 in Esch-sur-Alzette. The image above is from the gallery in Esch-sur-Alzette.

Great space with really awesome artists.

Last time I went to Luxemburg to bring paintings to the galerie in Luxemburg-city, it was soooo cold! 

This time it was a very sunny day, so much lovelier than the cooooooold!

If you're in Luxemburg in May, you can see my paintings in the pavilion of Parc Merveilleux in Bettembourg. For more information www.galerie-schortgen.lu

Another fair with Galerie De Kei

Dramatic scenery, 90x110 cm

This weekend several of my paintings will be presented by Galerie De Kei on the Excellent fair in 'Beursgebouw Eindhoven',

Lardinoisstraat 8, 5611 ZZ Eindhoven - Netherlands.

You can visit this fair on:

Friday April 23, 16-22.00 hours

Saturday April 24,  13-18.00 hours

Sunday April 25,  11-18.00 hours

From deep within

This week I made 2 new paintings. When I looked at the result afterwards, I could only conclude that obviously they came from deep within me.

Left a detailed close up of 'Dream catcher', 80x140 cm and right a detailed close up of 'Voyager', 90x140 cm.

Art fair at Evoluon - Eindhoven (NL)

Today I visited the art fair in the Evoluon in Eindhoven, where my paintings are represented by Galerie De Kei. As a child I used to visit the Evoluon to see the newest inventions and innovations made by Philips. I always loved the flying-saucer-concept of the building. Today this is a wonderful location for something like an art fair. I was early because I wanted to go to the wholesale afterwards to buy a lot of new paint. But nevertheless there already was a lot of interest for my paintings. Always great to see and hear!

If you're interested in visiting the fair, it lasts until tomorrow 17.00 hours.

Sunny Paris

A few pictures of my paintings exhibited at Galerie Tatiana Tournemine in Paris.

From April 1 the group exhibition of artists in residence got started and I'm one of them. Up to 6 of my paintings (5 large, 1 small) are shown right now in sunny Paris. Of course there are some paintings in stock too. I think my paintings go great with the sculptures of Isabel Miramontes from Mons, Belgium.

If you're interested, do pay a visit to Galerie Tatiana Tournemine on 104, Rue du Faubourg St.-Honoré in Paris, www.tournemine.com. This exhibition will last until June 1.

A small gesture can have great consequences

Ready for a brand new day, 13x18 cm/5x7")

On March 31 the silent auction of small original artworks organized by the Haiti Art Fund was closed.
My small painting has been sold for $100 and I'm very satisfied with this result!
THANK YOU silent buyer, on behalf of the stricken population of Haiti.
All the small paintings that have been sold together, make a large amount and 100% of the proceeds directly go to Unicef, Partners in Health, Oxfam and Habitat for Humanity.
It must have been a whole lot of work, so thank you, Monkdogz Urban Art Inc., Marina, Bob and Sébastien for all the efforts!

Interview in Eindhovens Dagblad

Today an interview with me in the full edition of the Eindhovens Dagblad.

I've been asked to answer some questions about cars. Probably because I like dynamics, acceleration and speed! ;-)

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!