Etsy, a world of makers

For some years now I have my own shop on Etsy. 

It is exciting, being part of a global network of crafters, discovering so many nice products.

It is also a good opportunity for me to connect with other local Dutch makers. 

I have become a member of two teams in my neighbourhood which have led to new contacts and co-operation.

However, my own network and other Dutch people seem a bit hesitant to visit Etsy. 

I do not fully understand because it works the same as other big online shops.

Maybe we have to talk more about it? 

This Friday we will be exchanging ideas about that with the Ka-Ching team.

Etsy is also an easy way for me to launch new products and this is what I did the last couple of weeks. Taking the pictures and making sure it looks nice does take some time, but hey, 

here are some of my products:

A poppy drawing...

And here is the link to my shop! 

These text signs make a lovely holiday gift!

 

Art on a stool

Wishlist

A car passed by

the woman was wearing a sort of beige/ocre sweater

with black embroidery

wow, I loved it

made a drawing to remember it

maybe I will make my own embroidery on one of my sweaters...

Misty morning and sunny day

It has been busy, so only now I am able to share 

some pictures of the Artfair Ankeveen in September. 

It started off early and misty, at 7.30 we were there. 

It turned out to become a sunny day!

 

Painting sold!

My contribution in painting an old car

During the day I made some portraits, of which I sold 5 including these!

Portraits

Sometimes people are on my mind and I draw portrait after portrait. Most of them are made up, non-existent, images of my memory.

Artist inspiration in Textile Museum

I visited an inspiring exhibition in the Textile Museum. Various artists like Picasso and Andy Warhol made designs for fabric, here you see some examples:

Andy Warhol

inspiration from old books

The exhibition is still showing for a couple of weeks.

The Museum is an inspiring place for creative persons, 

showing old processes of making blankets. 

And in the Textile Lab you find the newest methods and designs. 

There is also a fascinating library which has a very large collection.

Matisse in Tate Modern

The Tate Modern has been showing the cut-outs of Matisse, 

here is a glimpse for some inspiration:

And a link to a nice video:

http://bcove.me/cfj4jcxo

Wish I could have visited!

Matisse inspired me to put together a workshop on his cut-outs.
Students enjoyed the process, here is a modern take on this:

 

Summer still life

 Still lives sometimes seem a bit outdated... 

but I experienced myself that you can learn a lot from looking at a still life: 

dimensions, shape, shades, composition etc.

I am therefore organizing a workshop on August, 13 in the evening where we will be looking at a summer fruit still-life and make a painting or drawing of it.

It can be made in so many different styles; impressionistic, loose, precise, in one colour, 

it is inspiring, you just need to take the time to do it!