Back in the studio...

I have been working on a new painting,

for which I used a picture as a starting point,

here is the start,

it is a work in progress:

Acrylics on canvas.

I love painting people. In class we often had to draw and paint a live model.

I find it challenging and difficult,

but that is exactly what I like about it :).

Staring into the distance

I made a small painting,

this is a close-up:

The weather is very sunny and warm here which I have been enjoying.

In the studio I am experimenting with some different techniques,

a new card series with painted paper is in the making,

I am finishing some abstract paintings and in between I am drawing.

On my wishlist: visiting several museums this summer.

Holiday impression

When I am on holiday, I only make quick sketches or some small watercolour paintings.

I prefer to hike and make lots of pictures.

We spent some weeks in Scotland,

and the autumn colours were amazing. 

Views on lochs and coastlines were beautiful.

And now it is back to work!

New work - painting on Friday

Being busy with all sorts of things makes it difficult for me to find time to paint.

I committed myself therefore to spend Friday morning in the studio to paint,

and to just paint what comes to mind,

and it's been good.

I worked on this winter-scene, sledging in winter, I love it and with a view on the Alps, 

it is a great and fun activity. You can find this painting in my Etsy-shop here.

Somehow I also made some portraits, for example this one:

And still working on this one:

Process of making

I have been working on a painting,

sketching, composition, first try, second try...

it is a process of learning and looking.

first idea, making composition

Painting from intuition

sketching again

many layers, corrections are put into this, not finished, in progress

Cleaning up for the open studio this Saturday

Ah, time to clean up, sort out my studio!

My studio is open this Saturday for visitors to come 

and see what I have been up to, or to maybe look for some handmade holiday gifts.

I have this enormous pile of paintings on paper: which ones are good enough to show and sell? And am I ready to part with some of them? After all, I know when I made them, what the process was. Someone adviced me to hold on to some paintings which clearly reflect my development as an artist... and I have taken that advice. But I also love to sell my paintings, I like sharing what I've made.

Last month

Last month:

was a very warm one, with lots of sunshine.

I've been enjoying these summer times, sitting in the garden, going biking, meeting with friends and working.

In my studio I've been working on several projects,

on a very large painting which has been on my wishlist for long, 

and now I took the time to study the model

and to paint her. 

Here you see a part of the painting. I'll probably be selling it through my website:

Also I've been working on a custom order 

of someone who wanted her wedding-gown to be in a painting.

I like doing custom orders, but they are a bit scary as well. 

How to translate their ideas into a painting and do it in my style?

But it worked out well and both the customer and myself are content.

This is a tiny part of the painting;

I've been drawing as well, just because you need to practise, because it is fun to see what you can draw and to find your own signature of drawing. I made this self-portrait with waterpaint.

 

I need to work on some mini-art for an art market as well, and I am working on a series of paintings, this may take a while but I am already learning a lot from it.

Today in the studio..

I've been working in my studio today, while thinking about the next step I looked up and saw the grapes between the green vines.

The other window is showing the first steps of autumn, it was chilly today. 

Maybe because of the chilly temperature I painted this woman, with a coat blowing in the wind. She came to life while turning my paper round and round. I gave her a bit of pastel crayon for a bit of fragility.

Yes, it was good to be in the studio.

New painting

I've listed a new painting in my Etsy-shop. Well, new... I must admit that I have made a lot of new paintings in the last couple of months, but somehow I never get round to making the right pictures (it can be a bit dark in my studio), so it can take a while before I have them online. Updating my website is another one on my list... But I am glad to share this one finally!

Painting

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.

Project #2 Drawing Lab

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?

Really small paintings...

These paintings measure 5*5 cm, I used them for some christmas cards.



I like this in abstract painting, that your hand sometimes does things you're not aware of, and when you look at your painting closely you find all sorts of things: movement, subtle working of colours, contrast, lines and sometimes really strong pictures. Would be nice to make these small paintings into large ones, only I find it very difficult: the lightness of the movement is not so light anymore and seems forced.


Anyway, a bit of reflection on my own work at the start of this new year. What will 2011 bring for anyone of us?

new acrylic paintings...

made several new acrylic paintings, two of which can be found in my etsy-shop.

finished!

I worked on an assignment, to make a second painting, and now it is finished. I am happy with it and my customer as well! The photo is a bit dark... and the glass is mirroring...sorry about that.


photo by: ZIZOlabel

Flowers in white

I am working on a new series of paintings. It started with something I read in a drawing magazine, it included an exercise and I started working on it. They suggested to make a flower arrangement in bright, primary colours, but I chose to make mine in soft ton-sur-ton colours.

I made two white flowers, at my exhibition they were sold... nice! But my husband Siegurd asked me to make two for in our own house. I made the ones in green, and they are displayed in our living room.

I recently made a pair in a sort of petrolblue, slightly smaller, a duette of tulips.
What do you think about them?

I am now thinking of naming this serie, but I have not come up with the right name yet. Maybe "my own hand"... because of a dear old man who saw me using my paletmes, and said: it is always your own hand who makes the painting and nobody elses. I loved this comment, coming straight from a passionate and interested heart.

An unexpected sell!

Last Saturday my studio was open for visitors, and we had a really nice day. A bit cold, but I really enjoyed myself. The thing I like the most is being able to share my thoughts on some of the paintings I am working on. To me it was really stimulating!
Anyways, at the end of the day, I unexpectedly sold this painting. I was thrilled but also found it difficult to see it go... Luckily I made a picture!
While making this painting, I worked totally free, not thinking about restrictions, rules or what other people may say about it. I liked it and that was it! So I think the sell of this painting confirmed to me that I should stick with what I think about it, and that this may appeal to others as well. A good lesson for me.

Some reflection on my way of painting

copyright by ZIZO label

I have always been creative, I think what I enjoy most about the process of creativity is developing new ideas, creating something new. I have a couple of notebooks in which I write down my ideas; a colour of a dress, a colour combination or a pattern can already make me start thinking about ideas. Often one idea leads to 5 other possibilities, it is endless. They just pop up in my head. It is sometimes tiring though…
When I paint I often start with a colour combination or a movement. I think I would describe my technique as intuitive painting, I start and then make movements, use different techniques and take a step back to look at the result, at the balance, the exciting parts. And then sometimes things start to happen, or have happened, and I ask myself: how did I do it??

I have learned a lot during the courses I followed (by Cinzia Bailo, http://www.cinziabailo.com), by just doing it, by looking at other people’s choices of colour. You never stop learning and the ideas are endless…