ZIZO label

Planning March

2012-03-06T01:56:00.000-08:00

I've just delivered some paintings for an exhibition, I find it very exciting. Working on a painting is quite a personal process, which you do on your own, so when you have finished it and are ready to show it to other persons, you hope that they will enjoy it as much as you did yourself. I feel sort of relieved to have delivered the paintings, and look forward to getting on with other things I am working on. I am now making plans and lists on what to do in March. My studio needs clearing out, now that it starts getting a bit warmer, there are some markets I have to decide on, planning open studio etc. In the meantime I keep drawing at home:

I've been painting patterns, and am not quite sure how to use them, but we'll see...

I've been reading a lot in art books, books on native indians and interior decorating magazines. Today the new IKEA Live magazine came and it features several artists and a new fabric line by IKEA. More inspiration for me!

ADAD #29: easter egg

2012-02-29T01:54:00.003-08:00

Last drawing of the project, inspired by the embroidered easter eggs you find in Scandinavian countries.

ADAD #28: windowview

2012-02-28T00:58:00.000-08:00

ADAD #27: abstract flowers

2012-02-27T02:53:00.002-08:00

Following the tutorial by Carla Sonheim, I made some abstract flowers with gesso, watercolour and pencil.

ADAD #26: pattern

2012-02-26T02:27:00.002-08:00

As I mentioned before I really enjoy making patterns, my inspiration often comes from interior magazines, colour combinations or pictures. I think I would have enjoyed being a fabric designer and printing my own fabric, there are many fabric designers who make gorgeous things, for instance Cloud 9 fabrics in the USA, see their website here.

ADAD #25: fish

2012-02-26T02:19:00.002-08:00

The picture is not really good, a bit on the dark side, but the drawing isn't so special either... but hey that happens.

ADAD #24: dog in blue

2012-02-24T05:53:00.001-08:00

I took the dog from a couple of days ago, and painted it in a setting with watercolour. I have never used watercolour a lot, I always work with acrylic paint, and you know you can't do everything. But I do like the transparency and the illustrative effect of it, so it is just a matter of practice, getting to know the material and use it in my own way.

ADAD #23: a bouquet

2012-02-23T08:21:00.003-08:00

A combination of watercolour and pencil.

ADAD #22: collage interior

2012-02-22T08:10:00.000-08:00

ADAD #21: fantasy animals

2012-02-21T00:29:00.000-08:00

I like sketching in blue!

ADAD #20: ballpoint sketch

2012-02-20T02:03:00.003-08:00

Two Portuguese women, peacefully looking out into the street, I saw the picture in REIZEN magazine.

ADAD #18: Tuscan landscape

2012-02-17T10:06:00.001-08:00

You see these a lot: old farmhouses, some with olive groves, others with some cipresses next to it, and then the flowing hills, in soft green or ochre, nice!

ADAD #17: San Gimignano-impression

2012-02-17T10:01:00.001-08:00

This is an impression of the Italian village San Gimignano, a really lovely town known for its numerous towers. A family vete about who built the highest tower resulted in several towers. From the village, situated on a hill, you have a marvellous view of the Tuscan landscape with its cipresses, medieval houses and so on. The town's square is the place to be for the best ice in Italy!

ADAD #16: medieval woman

2012-02-16T02:13:00.002-08:00

ADAD #15: 1001 nights

2012-02-14T23:16:00.001-08:00

Dreamy flowers in soft pastel colours reminded me of the story of 1001 nights, full of stars.

ADAD #14: greens and blues

2012-02-13T05:54:00.000-08:00

A bird's eye view of the earth... I love the calming effect of greens and blues. I made the abstract landscape with aquarel and colour pencils.

ADAD #13: tribal

2012-02-13T01:02:00.000-08:00

made with aquarel on a postcard

ADAD #12: aquarel look-alike

2012-02-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

ADAD #11: sketch

2012-02-12T06:25:00.000-08:00

Inspired by a painting of Kees van Dongen.

ADAD #10: hello Inuit

2012-02-09T23:50:00.000-08:00

Funny how experimenting with different materials and techniques can lead you to new designs and drawings. I used some left-over paint to make some circles (you never know when they come in handy...), then drawing a funny face and then seeing the Inuit wrapped in against the snow.

ADAD #9: in the forest

2012-02-09T00:07:00.000-08:00

With some sienna EastIndian Ink I started the drawing, then finished it off with permanent marker and watercolour paint.

ADAD #8: another portrait

2012-02-08T05:41:00.000-08:00

ADAD #7: take it one step further

2012-02-07T05:01:00.000-08:00

I liked the technique of Modigliani, but of course it is more interesting to find my own style. So I took it one step further, and drew in my own style again a portrait. This time of a girl in winter. It is minus 10 degrees here, and even indoors it is a bit cold...
Looking at the picture I do not think I have found my own style yet.

ADAD #6: Modigliani portrait

2012-02-07T04:58:00.000-08:00

A portrait made while looking at the style of Modigliani. It is again one of the exercises in the book Drawing Lab, which suggested you should take one of your parents in mind and then start drawing. So this is my father - Modigliani-style... he often wears blue and white coloured clothes.
I used a permanent marker, and watercolourpaint. It is very small, postcard-size.

ADAD #5: the sea

2012-02-06T07:22:00.001-08:00

Made a scan from my sketchbook (my camera is being fixed...)

ADAD #4: Fred

2012-02-04T02:51:00.001-08:00

ADAD #3

2012-02-04T02:46:00.000-08:00

ADAD #2: Jamie

2012-02-02T00:58:00.000-08:00

I made a "cheater blind" (see Drawing Lab by Carla Sonheim) of a rather famous Jamie:

FUN!

Since it is about -10 degrees Celsius here, it is soooo cold to go painting in my studio, brrrr! So I've decided to work at home, and just fiddle with some techniques... And of course I am anxious to see whether we can go skating!

Start A Drawing A Day: #1

2012-02-01T04:26:00.000-08:00

a pencil drawing while watching a programme about painting:

A bit of everything...

2012-01-30T03:08:00.000-08:00

Hi! It's been a while since I wrote. I had to find my way around this year 2012. But I think I am getting into it now! I've been spending a lot of time in my atelier, making new paintings. I tried not to think a lot about them, but just let my intuition flow and see what this will bring, and I had fun!

This is one of them:

The art classes I am following are also very interesting, I enjoy the company of the other students and I love looking at the results. The last classes have been about models and portraits, I like this a lot.
But it is also very intensive and I find myself looking at noses, ears and hair a lot...:-0, it is almost an obsession... so I have to shift now and then to other subjects, like abstract paintings...

(pictures by student Jan)

I have also been drawing a lot in my new sketchbook, trying different techniques. I decided to use the month February again for my "A Drawing A Day" project, just to stimulate myself to post and make a drawing each day.
Do you want to join me in this project? Please let me know!

Colour boost

2012-01-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

For those in need of a colour boost... I know I do.

Taken from a painting I've been working on today.

Happy holidays!

2011-12-24T06:32:00.000-08:00

Time has flewn by, it is the end of the year already... I am wishing you all the best for the new year, and the peace of Our Saviour, who came as a Prince of Peace, for you and me.

I love to look at the world of children

2011-12-20T03:22:00.000-08:00

knights on the lookout at the top of their castle

animals are placed in their meadow

parking!

Cloudy brooch

2011-12-12T03:22:00.000-08:00

While I was making the tree pins from felt (see picture at the right), I also designed a cloud-brooch , with some sunshine and a friendly hello!

Ties at Junior Masterchef

2011-12-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

I made this drawing with one of the exercises of Carla Sonheim, you make a drawing without looking at your paper but following the contours (this explains the wonkiness and the large right shoulder...). After that you fill it with lines, I think it is called non-cheating drawings... it is one of the lessons in her book Drawing Lab. And so much fun to do.Ties is one of the participants of Junior Masterchef in the Netherlands, unfortunately he didn't make it into the following round.

Small houses at winter fair

2011-11-30T13:09:00.001-08:00

These days I have my own shop at the winterfair in Soest (NL)! A small Anton Pieck house filled with all handmade gifts, cards, accessories and paintings and drawings. I am there until Saturday afternoon, welcome to drop by, especially if you like christmas trees, sledges, a woodfire and shopping!For route, times and information see: www.warmewittewinterweken.nl.

Book Open Studios bij Swedish LottaJansdotter

2011-11-24T05:45:00.001-08:00

I am an enthusiastic fan of the Swedish designer Lotta Jansdotter (www.jansdotter.com), I like her designs, the simplicity and pureness of it. I have bought some of her books. The last one is this book Open Studios in which she shows the studios of many designers. It is so nice to see all of them at work in their creative space!I am now selling this book for 19 euros (mailingcosts are 2.76 euros if you are in the Netherlands). I am hoping to make some room for other books on my wishlist... please contact me if you are interested.

results!

2011-11-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

The paper workshop was really nice, about 20 ladies took the plunge to make torn up pieces of paper into a picture. I always like the diversity of the results, strong colours, soft colours, abstract, flowers or a landscape:

Another workshop challenged the participants to make a woollen hat out of old jerseys and shirts. Nice for the winter which has been predicted to be one of the coldest ones! brrr!

this week: workshop paper-collage

2011-11-14T11:34:00.001-08:00

This week is paper-week: with a group of women I'll be tearing paper apart to make it into a new nice piece of art. I made two examples: a landscape and an arrangement of tulips. I hope to inspire them to make something beautiful!

new painting

2011-11-07T02:54:00.000-08:00

acryl, ca. 30*40 cm, on paper

New in Etsy-shop: fabric denim hearts

2011-11-03T03:15:00.000-07:00

colour of mountains

2011-10-31T03:54:00.000-07:00

Autumn in Derborence, Switzerland
words of association: fresh, clean, calming, gigantic, heavenly, powerful

colours of autumn

2011-10-31T03:50:00.000-07:00

green, orange, bright yellow, red, dark red, brown

Lessons at the academy

2011-10-24T01:21:00.000-07:00

In September I've started lessons in painting and techniques. After working alone for a while, I really longed for some guidance, some criticism on my work. And I really like the challenge, the different technique and learning from my colleagues).
Our first assignment was to paint an animal according to three periods: impressionism, expressionism and cubism. I chose an owl, because I think they are magnificent and also kind of mysterious. I had already seen lots of pictures and made some live photos, for example this beautiful one:

This is my version of impressionism:

(photo: ZIZOlabel ©)

At the end of our class we are studying our paintings (not all are finished).
(photo made by one of the students: Jan).

"Live" drawing

2011-10-18T05:25:00.000-07:00

I was asked to illustrate "live" at a school nearby. Because of the week of children's books, teachers were reading stories and while the children were listening I made a drawing in front of the class. It was really fun to do! The kids were attentive listeners and asked questions as: what was the first drawing you ever made?

For the smallest children I made a colour drawing, related to the story about finding the bear. Copied 60 times and the colouring could begin!

Woonbeurs #2

2011-10-03T04:54:00.000-07:00

Next to the Woonbeurs there was the designers-fair "Meesterlijk", here we saw a lot of jewellery-designers with new concepts and ideas.
I really liked the products of AT.they make lamps out of leather, I like the form, the colour combination and the cleanliness of the product.

There was a lot to see, and my eyes wandered to this wooden floor, which for the occasion was made into a mural panel. It's like a painting and somehow this colour combination makes me happy!

Inspiration from "de WOONBEURS"

2011-09-29T00:31:00.000-07:00

In Amsterdam "de Woonbeurs" is taking place where interiormagazines, designers, decorators etc. are showing their new ideas and products. I've been there 10 years ago and now decided it was time for a new introduction.

I really enjoyed it and I like to share some of the things I saw. For instance, the wall hangings made with plants. Nicely decorated and nice to see some green!

Each interior magazine builds its own house, I like the one of VT Wonen the best: a bit trendy, new use of old materials, some new designs, really nice. I liked their idea to make a bench/sidetable of wood, simply held together by some belts and then styled. Ofcourse the downside is that you have to have a very large house to achieve the same effect :-), but this idea can be used in different ways if you are a bit creative...

Painting

2011-09-26T03:07:00.000-07:00

The African landscape and their strong African women always inspire me. I've seen so many pictures and documentary's, and these impressions resulted in this painting.

A Dutch woman who has done amazing work in Kenya is Ria Fennema, she is the manager of several children's homes and is strongly involved in many African lives. She is helping students with their education and makes a lot of effort to create job opportunities for them.

exhibition in Studio, this Saturday!

2011-09-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

Together with two ladies, Kitty (glass-art) and Ellen (bronze art), we present our work in a special exhibition in my studio, welcome!

The power of ochre

2011-09-19T01:37:00.000-07:00

I have the unusual habit of looking down to the ground, in search of patterns. On a visit to Amsterdam once, I saw the nice patterns of the pavement, of a board used on a new apartment.
Last week I saw this moss-version, just outside my house. This ochre-colour is such a strong one, and gives a positive glow, really nice! Subconsciously, I brought something back into a really tiny scribble of a painting..., which when you enlarge it to this size, is quite nice.

delicate cardboard painting

2011-09-15T02:04:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely day at the studio, just working with a clear mind on several paintings at a time and enjoy what's happening. I had made a painting on a thick piece of cardboard, spreading some layers of acrylic paint. I liked the purple-blue combination (cloudy effect) and decided to emphasize this delicate combination by adding white and a touch of gold. The colours are quite cold, but I like them.
(30*40 cm) =SOLD

Garden

2011-09-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

I've been busy and since today was a rare sunny day I took the chance to work in the garden, it was really time to clean up... and after finishing up I took my camera. While working in the garden my eyes see the different colours and textures, time to snap some photos.
The sedum is slowly showing her colours and the bees seem to like that! This combination of soft pink and this green with the white, I like it!

And finally a nice garden bouquet to enjoy the colours indoors, gives me a holiday feeling, nice for the weekend!

I've also been working on some paintings, I hope to show some in a short while.

Colours of August

2011-08-29T03:32:00.000-07:00

several shades of green, from dark, warm green to lighter green, soft pink, bright pink, purple pink, warm red-orange, beige and yellow grass... an August-range of colours... to lure us into Autumn...

Colourful birds

2011-08-29T03:02:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed making these colourful birds, first I drew with a permanent marker and then I coloured them with pencils in several layers. This colouring is quite a relaxing exercise, I discovered.

Was it only one week ago that I wrote about the SUN....? Well, it has been raining for several days now and the sun seems to have left us..:-( The rain kept me indoors, with the advantage that I started colouring and working on a workshop-preparation, but I'll tell more about that another time.

It was a sunny weekend!

2011-08-22T03:35:00.000-07:00

The sun was at her best this weekend at the art fair. Lots of people wandered about, enjoying the sun, the craftmanship of wood artisans, the icecreams and visiting the art fair... it was a nice event! I had some nice interest in all my handmade products, lots of people taking my businesscard, so we'll see...

One of the chainsaw-artists was making something special: an owl on top, and an amazing owl at the side spreading his wings, and a third owl was to come at the bottom.. such craftmanship!

this Saturday: summer fair in the forest!

2011-08-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Near the small village Lage Vuursche an art and craft fair is held in the woods. There are a lot of activities around the theme forest and wood. I'll be there at the art fair with some new cushion pillows, flowery bags, postcards and so on, all handmade and my own design.
Welcome! See het Houthakkersfeest!

More inspiration from the Museum

2011-08-11T00:28:00.000-07:00

In the Textilemuseum, there were many machines from the industry and when you look with eyes of colour and patterns there are nice pictures to be made.
I love the grey-white-yellow combination and the softness of the pattern.

You could say this is only one colour, but ofcourse this one colour consists of many tones (lighter-darker), and here the pattern of knots is well... complicated?

A day in the Textilemuseum

2011-08-05T01:20:00.000-07:00

Why not use the Summer for some inspiration and nice outings? I've spent a day in the Textile Museum in Tilburg, to look at the craft of making blankets, patterns, new weaving-techniques and so on.

These cards are used as patterns for the damask tablecloths. They have holes punched in them, and these holes represent a pattern which is then made by the machine. Often floral patterns and very complicated but beautiful.

We also saw the process of wool to blanket: a process of weaving and felting. The soft touch of the felted blankets was done by pulling the blankets over thistles, so to soften the fibers. Unfortunately, the demand for blankets decreased and many factories in the city Tilburg had to close down. In the museum there is an exhibition about the history of these factories, and another bonus is the library where you could spend hours looking through books to see different techniques, old patterns, new designs and so on.

There is also the Lab, where students are trying out new patterns and new techniques, you can see them at work.
This is the cafe where you can enjoy lunch..., nice and colourful weaving on the benches.
More information you find on the site of Textielmuseum.

Project #6: new illustration

2011-07-29T03:27:00.000-07:00

Doodling, scribbling, drawing without thinking, drawing while listening to someone: you read about it more and more. It is a nice way to just let your creativity flow, no boundaries, no thoughts, just let it go. One of my favourite "doodlers" (is this a word...?) is Taro Gomi, I wrote about him before on my blog. I've got one of his books in which he stimulates children to finish drawings, to doodle and he is inspiring.

So, I also doodle, sometimes while sitting on the couch watching some television, but often in church while listening. Last time this polar bear appeared while doodling, I like him, so I drew him again and put him into a nice colourful frame. He inspired me into making this drawing into some varieties, I made them into some postcards which can be seen in my atelier!

Project #5: furniture make-over

2011-07-18T02:07:00.000-07:00

As some of you may have discovered, I like to experiment and try my creativity at different projects. These stools were waiting for a make-over, the top ones got a base-coat of red paint, then another layer of this sandy colour, then I sanded it down to give that country-feel, and painted stripes on it (they remind me of a teatowel-pattern) and finally a layer of varnish as protection.

The grey ones were painted white at first, then a grey layer, and then a white layer on top of it. The white didn't stick very well, but became this bubbly effect. I decided to let it dry because I really like this pattern! I finished it with a coat of varnish.

They are for sale for 39 euros each. Anyone?... :-)

project #4: illustrated wild pig, something different...

2011-07-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

project #3: finished painting

2011-07-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

A new painting, a sort of grouse-bird, inspired by our trip to Scotland. Acrylic paint on cardboard, waiting to be framed...

©by ZIZOlabel, photo: C.A., photo is part of painting

Project #2 Drawing Lab

2011-07-07T02:27:00.001-07:00

Project #2 comes from a book I ordered: Drawing Lab, by Carla Sonheim, this book is full of drawing exercises to increase your fantasy and to let go of any restrictions. I sat down for some water colour exercises with a cup of tea and some cookies. I made several paintings but this crazy bird I liked the best... he's a bit punk isn't he?

Project #1

2011-07-05T01:27:00.001-07:00

I am working on two acrylic paintings. My startingpoint was to make something quiet and balanced, but then I noticed that the cardboard I was using, was working with me to make nice lines, structure and depth in a subtle way. Because I used the colour white as a base, I could paint several layers on top of each other. Very thin layers so that the structure is still visible.
I left the paintings for a while, not knowing exactly what to do with them. I could not leave the thought that they are actually beaches, so I decided to make some beach tents on them to recall that summery feeling...
At the moment the paintings are waiting for the final touch because I am not satisfied with the black lines,they are too thin and not visible enough when you are standing some meters away.
Would I have thought to make some beach-paintings? no! Am I happy with them? yes!

Structure vs. chaos

2011-07-04T02:39:00.000-07:00

My studio is a bit of a mess as you can see. I am often working on several projects at the same time, for example: while waiting for the paint to dry I am making a sketch for an accessory or an illustration... This will go on for some time (read: weeks), and I happily leave the studio in a complete chaos, until... my head gets into a spin because of all the different ideas and I need some fresh structure to complete and finish and close some of the projects. Then it is cleaning, storing and so on until I have empty workspace for some new projects...

Soon I will show some of the new projects I am working on.

Nice movie!

2011-06-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

I can recommend this movie: Tous les soleils. A french movie, funny, nice views, some Italian, some French, and the story has many surprising and beautiful plots.

I also really liked the music, it is from L'Arpeggiata, they sing old Italian folksongs, they make you smile and lead you right into SUMMER!

In Hilversum it shows in het Filmtheatre which is a nicely decorated and intimate cinema, only 7.50 euro... need I say more...

Result of "Pray for Japan": 12877,75 euro!

2011-06-18T03:28:00.000-07:00

Remember the catastrophe in Japan? Martine of omstebeurt-een nieuw avontuur coordinated a fund raising and I send in a small drawing to raise money for Japan. Paumes in Japan exhibited these 200(!) art-works and raised more than twelve thousand euros! Wauw, great to be a part of this!

Here is what Paumes writes on their website:
Thank you for your cooperation to "Pray for Japan" exhibition. It was held for Japan earthquake and Tsunami relief.

More than 200 foreign artists have sent us their warm messages and works.
And many people visited our gallery. So we could donate 1465562 yen to Japan Red Cross.

We would like to continue the action for disaster area in Japan.
Many thanks again for your warm feelings to Japan!

PAUMES

Pot of gold?

2011-06-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

We're off for a hike through the meadows, we saw some pheasants and black-faced sheep.

Could it be that the pot of gold is in our holiday-home...?
No, we didn't find it...

Ullapool in Scotland

2011-06-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Ullapool: a small village on the westcoast of Scotland, nice harbour, small beach and fantastic views!

Colourscheme: green

2011-06-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

I've been in a country of green...

and it is called: scotland! No wonder I have seen so many studios, craft centres, paintings... who would not be inspired?

welcome this monday!

2011-06-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

This Monday I will be in my studio, I've layed out some nice accessories I have made and you can see some new paintings. I'll be there 10-17 hours. Until then?

Working on your own...

2011-05-26T04:16:00.000-07:00

involves many things.

I've started my own business in 2009, and am enjoying it! But there is a whole road to travel on which you find so many things to learn or to decide. Starting by the basics: how am I going to do it? What is my plan? To: how am I going to continue, to challenge myself?
A while ago I sold one of my paintings and was requested to make a "twin"- painting. I really enjoy these assignments in which you are challenged to re-invent your technique to make a similar painting, but equally beautiful and interesting.
This is the result: two paintings.

And then comes the other challenge: taking a nice picture. Having framed them the glass is mirroring, making it difficult/impossible to make a front picture. So it would be better to take a picture before framing them... but then the presentation is less finished and they look nice framed... mmmm...
So now I have to learn a bit about photo-techniques and my camera, which is just another aspect... keeping me on focus and busy!

Flowers, drawing and so on

2011-05-17T00:44:00.000-07:00

With again some computer issues... (frustrating that I cannot solve them myself) I am now working on the laptop. I've been working a lot in the garden and enjoying the nice weather. I have several flowers of the family akelei, and this is the darkest one I have. A really dark, middleaged colour purple, I like this one.

I have also been in the studio working on two paintings, a large one trying to simplify and control my style. Saturday I visited some colleagues here in the village in their open studio. This was really fun to meet them and see their work. In between I am drawing a lot, this was a scribble I made while in a meeting.

I haven't stopped drawing

2011-05-10T01:58:00.001-07:00

Drawing is fun! This drawing I made after seeing the video of Carla Sonheim, which she made for the Etsy Lab. She explains a technique to draw fantasy animals (as Picasso often did). The result is surprising... in the sense that you would not normally draw a bird like this. So your fantasy gets teased and broadens your horizon. I found the colouring with pencils quite difficult, so this is a happy colourful bird...

OPEN STUDIO - welcome!

2011-05-05T08:35:00.001-07:00

This Friday and Saturday my studio is open for visit. I've redecorated and painted part of the studio resulting in more light!
The outlet store of office furniture is also open, so if you need any second-hand desks or chairs for a small price... welcome.

10-18 hours, Nw. Loosdrechtsedijk 106 in Nieuw-Loosdrecht

New paintings:

I made and designed some new accessories:

New colourful bags

2011-04-26T02:02:00.000-07:00

I have made some new colourful bags with my own pattern. Isn't this one sunny?
My studio will be open on 6 and 7 May, filled with new accessories, and cards!
More info to come...

Preparing for an exhibition

2011-04-12T01:05:00.000-07:00

This is the new gallery in Twello where I will be exhibiting some of my works. I went to visit the "gallery-in-progress" and the space is lovely. It is called Kleinvoorde, and will be opening soon as a place to see art and drink some coffee or tea.
I have made some nice, new and rather large paintings, and look forward to see them there. I'll post about this later.

paper, paint and sunshine

2011-04-12T00:56:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a while, but I have some computer-problems, and working on a laptop with a usb-stick is not really my thing. But I wanted to tell you about a workshop I did in March. I went to Corine, she is a decorative painter and runs her own business called Kraak Decoreert. We worked on a collage with paper paint, techniques etc.
I found some pictures with food and a linnen cloth and that was my start. We used paint with "glaceermedium", this makes your paint transparent and it is then possible to make several layers. We worked hard (so many ideas...) and enjoyed the sunny day.

Pray for Japan

2011-03-28T01:42:00.000-07:00

While we are here enjoying the warmth of spring, Japan is facing its tragedy... Today another earthquake... I am glad we can show some sign of support by making something creative for the Japanese Red Cross. I send in my invitation, a heart balloon sending lots of love to Japan. Check the site of Omstebeurt - een nieuw avontuur to see all the artworks which have already been collected!

Pray for Japan

2011-03-24T02:56:00.000-07:00

I'm joining "Pray for Japan", an initiative to raise money for the people in Japan. Corine wrote about this charity exhibition. A small publisher called Paumes will be organizing a creative exhibition in Tokyo in April to raise money for the Japanese Red Cross.

You can also participate!
See for more information the blog of Omstebeurt, Martine is coordinating this for the Netherlands.

Friday - making day

2011-03-12T01:12:00.000-08:00

Heather Moore from South Africa introduced me to her Friday - Making Day. For her business skinny laminx she tries to have a creative making day each Friday and then shows her results.
Well yesterday was one of mine. Together with a friend I started on the preparation for a workshop I will be giving. And this is my result:

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of my friend's result, totally different but with a nice story to it.

>>> Onwards to more Making Day's!

Spring flowers

2011-03-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

Time is going quickly, so nice to have some sunny days at last... I went out into our garden, curious to see whether some flowers would already show. And yes, here they are:

The white-violet pattern of stripes is pretty impressive, certainly when you look closely. The yellow of the last picture is so soft, nice!

A Drawing A Day..: reflections

2011-03-01T03:40:00.000-08:00

The month February is over, and my project ends here. At least online, I think. I really enjoy drawing and I discovered that my fantasy is being stimulated by drawing each day. So my intention is to continue drawing in a sketchbook, finding a sort of structure/style.

What I really like about drawing is:
- you don't need a lot of materials, even a scrap piece of paper (I used a French muesli-package) and a pen is enough to get going. You'll get inventive in combining different materials to see what effect they have.
- having one base or theme as a drawing and then making various versions of it stimulates your vision and thoughts on an object: "What if I use one line, what if I make it in colours, what if I make an abstract version?"

Frustrations are my own expectations, you want to draw something in a sort of style and you can't get your hand to do it. Or your hand is stuttering, as if it does not want to draw the line fluently. You make mistakes, that's it, and you have to accept them and start again.

Today's drawing is one of the exercises Carla Sonheim has in her book "Drawing Lab". She did a video for the Etsy Lab, you find it on her website. I think I am pleased with the result of this really funny and weird looking bird. Thanks Carla!
And thank you readers for joining me in this project!

A Drawing A Day..: #28 last one...

2011-02-28T02:45:00.000-08:00

Last drawing... tomorrow some reflections.

A Drawing A Day..: #27 mixed media

2011-02-28T02:44:00.000-08:00

(fineliner and pastelcrayons)

A Drawing A Day..: #26

2011-02-28T02:40:00.000-08:00

In Flow-magazine there is an article about drawing and this encouraged me to try my hand at making a small character, nice article by the way. It says: anyone can draw, just try!, see www.flowmagazine.nl.

A Drawing A Day..: #25

2011-02-25T01:10:00.000-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #24

2011-02-25T01:09:00.000-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #23

2011-02-25T01:03:00.000-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #22

2011-02-24T00:54:00.000-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #21

2011-02-24T00:53:00.000-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #20 Fox

2011-02-24T00:52:00.000-08:00

Rhinoceros attempt no. 3

2011-02-24T00:50:00.000-08:00

I made a more detailed version. It is still not the perfect one, but I think I am getting there. Now that I am home I will look for a picture of a real one and then try again.

A Drawing A Day..: #19 rhinoceros attempt

2011-02-24T00:46:00.000-08:00

I remembered that they have a pronounced lower jaw, so maybe that was it. Attempt no. 2.

A Drawing A Day..: #18 rhinoceros attempt

2011-02-24T00:43:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be nice to make a gray rhinoceros on gray cardboard, but I did not have a picture so I drew from my imagination. Anyways this is my first one... A kind of nice animal, but what is it exactly...? Something is missing or wrong, I don't know.

A Drawing A Day..: #17

2011-02-24T00:42:00.001-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #16 Susie

2011-02-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #15

2011-02-24T00:40:00.000-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #14 Pjotr

2011-02-24T00:39:00.000-08:00

A Drawing A Day..: #13

2011-02-24T00:36:00.000-08:00