Painting outside

 On several occasions I have painted outside but not often. I have been anticipating to do this, but also thought I should try it... So after reading some tips on painting outside I took the time and went for a walk with a rucksack filled with some basic kit.

I found a bench and a quiet spot and made two paintings: the first was a bit strict and precise, and the second one was more loose. This is the second one:

And this is my view for the drawing, I like the lines in a landscape, and the different stages of foreground, center and background. Also winter times show the contours of the trees in a beautiful way.

But after an hour I got cold, so I tried to dry my painting on the fence, and then hiked back to my bike.

Will I go again? Yes! If only because there is still so much to learn :).

Keep going

 Each face is different, and when I see a tilted head or a certain look that speaks to me, I like to try to capture it. Just as this ballpoint sketch on a small piece of paper:

I've been working on all sorts of different things, some Youtube studies on landscapes, working on a larger landscape on canvas, and making little portrait drawings. Creativity has to found you working is a quote I once read... so better take that pencil or brush and see where you end up...

Little pencil portrait

Last weekend my studio was open for 2 days, I display my latest artwork, the cards which I do not sell online, some handmade gift packages and so on. In the meantime I am working at my desk. This weekend I sold this little pencil portrait, it was purchased as a gift for someone. It makes me so happy to be selling my artwork, so it can be seen and enjoyed.

Wishing you a good week!

Open Studio

 On March, 6 and 7 I am opening up my studio for local visitors. Spring is in the air so it is nice to welcome people to the studio. It is open from 11-16 on Friday and 11-15 in Saturday. Please contact me for more details.

I'll be presenting creative DIY packages, greeting cards, small art and accessories, all handmade by me.

On the table

This is the latest piece of work on my desk, a horizontal landscape with acrylics on paper. It is a landscape from the heart, and probably based on one of the many landscape views I see during my walks. I like the endlessness of meadows and flat land, it gives room to breathe. This abstract approach of painting also gives room to the viewer's imagination and thoughts, which is unsubconsciously one of the reasons I think why I paint... to let the viewer be transported to another world. 

Abstract blues

 This time some abstract work: I enjoyed working with these colours and seeing the result. I used some sgraffito as well. I wanted to try out this Fabriano paper (it is perfect) and used some yellow, blue and black for this. The outcome is very lively and surprising, the only thing is: what to do next? Do I leave it like this because it is lively, or do I continue with other layers? I have not decided yet.

Little portrait

This week a little drawing by Rembrandt was sold for 27 million, a sketch of a lion. Well preserved, framed and taken care of. I was thinking about this when I made a little portrait drawing of a girl, with a French Conté pencil. All the little sketches tell something about the maker, they have value. And when you have become famous they are immensely valuable :).

It was a small girl on a random picture in a brochure, but I wanted to capture her look, a bit innocent and dreamy. I love the soft touch the Conté adds.

Frozen winter days

 We spent a week away hiking in the hills. It was chilly, frosty and beautiful. Not much sun, mainly fog, so colours were softened and magical. It was a bit cold to take pictures but the frost had clung to the branches and the details were really beautiful.

After the walk we warmed up inside, drank coffee, and a bit of reading and creating.

Now it is time to get back to the studio.

Markers and ochre

 Small drawings are made in between other jobs, and this is how this page filled itself. A gardening show (who recognizes Monty :)?) was the inspiration for this, made with marker and ochre pencil:

Go, take a pen and draw something, why not?

Morning walk

 Crispy days and bright skies brought us out in the early morning for a morning walk. The stillness and soft colours were beautiful:

I made a quick interpretation in my sketchbook with marker on a base of acrylic paint:

Wishing you a good creative week!

Else Berg - study

 I found a book on the painter Else Berg, and it is an interesting read. It is written by Linda Horn who took a lot of time to collect all snippets of information. 

She tells about the life, travels, art connections and the real-life of being an artist. The paintings and work of Else Berg cannot be complete because a lot of works are missing, maybe lost in exhibitions, or send to family and then got lost, or sold randomly without any contact address. They are however talked about in letters and cards which they wrote to friends, so they did exist. 

I really like the book, to read about such enthusiastic painters, how they made connections with the art world, how they went travelling for new inspiration, the uncertainty when critics talked about the new work and so on. I am sure I will look at her paintings in a different way, and will be curious to discover new works.

New Year

 The start of a New Year at your feet... it feels a bit daunting always to me. Therefore I prefer to take a break, but this year I have a lot to do so it'll have to wait.

Instead I am trying to focus on some tasks and get some planning on paper. I also started on a document of Encouragement, filled with tips and wise comments of colleagues, fellow-artists, soulmates who are in the boat of creative entrepreneurship as well. Information and tips come and go, I just don't want to forget those words of encouragement which keep your creativity going. It is making me happy already!