Colour inspiration from nature

Somehow the colour of flowers always seem so bright, I like this combination of orange, blue and fresh green. Different shades of green actually... to make this picture more exciting. I often use different shades of one colour, it is calming and adds a sort of depth.
In one of the classes I often started with a green colour for an abstract painting, my teacher would scream: No, please no green...! She always had trouble with green. Not everybody likes green, but I keep using it, it is not a boring colour!

corrugated shed

Colour combinations can be seen everywhere, on one of my walks I saw this old shed of which the colours have aged. I am often not aware how this will inspire me when I am painting, maybe I should pay more attention and start a map in which I sort out all these pictures, as a sort of reference or a base for a painting...

Some pictures...

The weather was a bit disappointing this Saturday, still I had some lovely visitors in the studio. Here are some pictures:

Two of my pastel drawings have become part of my brother's practice in the city Delft:

I've been wanting to go and see the painting of Vermeer "Meisje met de parel" in the museum, and now I've read that the painting will be travelling abroad to other Museums... It is only in the Hague until half June... mmm...hope I make it, see Gemeentemuseum Den Haag.

Open Studio in Loosdrecht

Saturday 28th April I open up my studio for some Spring feeling. Welcome to swing by for a chat, a cup of coffee and a look around some new paintings and products! Open: 10.00-17.00 hours (Nieuw Loosdrechtsedijk 106).

Oh, and my struggle with the assignment of the interpretation of a classical painting (see last blog) turned out okay! I started afresh and interpretated it my way in a sort of illustrative graphic manner. I am quite pleased with the outcome, hope to show it one day...

Busy with...

I am preparing for a textile workshop, brainstorming about creative ways to approach the subject, my favourite part!

And I am also brainstorming about a rather difficult assignment: how to bring classic paintings to the 21st Century? Because I do not have a clue until this moment, I started with getting to know the painting of Johannes Vermeer, "Girl with the pearl earring" and quickly made a start with painting her. It is not finished and I do not know whether I will be using this classic painting, mmm, struggling... but as they say: it is part of the process...

Fabric, fabric and new bags

I am up to my ears in fabric! You should see my studio, it's fabric everywhere. I am making many new summery bags for my open studio-days and for the fairs this summer. I have gathered a lot of fabrics, and it is nice to combine different patterns into new colourful bags.

Put your hands up!

A funny little supporter, cheering you on, hey hey put your hands up! :)