Monique Lassooij

Merry X-mas and a little video only Mr. Bean can do....

2011-12-25T07:32:00.000-08:00

Seventeen in Art Basel

2011-12-01T20:54:00.000-08:00

Xavier Cortada created 17 drawings on carbon paper, as a metaphor for the impact (or "carbon footprint”) that humans have had on these species, even across the boundaries of protected nature preserves. Cortada's original drawings of the seventeen species -- including the Wood Stork, the Key Largo Rat, and the Smalltooth Sawfish-- will be on display at his studio.

For Art Basel seventeen local artists were invited to reinterpret Xavier Cortada's "80.15 W" carbon paper drawings.

The seventeen invitees are: Vince Herrera, Ernesto Kunde, Alex Yanes, Sean Ritchwood, Diana Contreras, Eleazar Delgado, BMD, Anthony Burks, TMNK, Kid, Courtney Rutter, Clay Frye, Yoko Sigiura, Sri Prabha, Alexandra Seda, and me.

I was lucky enough to get the Piping Plover as my subject, the little bird at the beach that seems to have a love-hate relationship with the tides. Below is my interpretation and it will be for sale at the exposition.

The Openings Reception was tonight on December 1 at the Gallery at Cortada Studio

104 SW 9th Street, Ground level | Eastside, Suite B, Miami, FL

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!!!

2011-11-24T06:32:00.000-08:00

Darkness in Pompano Beach

2011-10-24T04:48:00.000-07:00

Last night I received the confirmation that my 3 entries are juried into the group show "Darkness" at the Rossetti Fine Art Gallery in Pompano Beach.

Pretty Pretty Flower

Artists were encouraged to enter works with dark themes and imagery. In other words for the artists to tap into their darker side. I chose to stay with one of my favorite subjects - children - and painted 3 fictional portraits (12" x 12"), using ink, charcoal and 4 colours of Acrylics (White, Red, Grey and Payne's Grey). I did not feel that full colour would do justice to the subjects and chose to stick with a limited palette.

I was aiming for a slightly subtle level of darkness and I was surprised that it was actually hard to restrain myself from going into a"SAW" kind of blood filled darkness, while setting up the portraits.

I am really pleased with the result and of course that I am juried in. The exposition will be open for public October 24th and the opening reception will take place on Thursday 27th from 8 pm - 10 pm at Rossetti Fine Art Gallery in Pompano Beach.

Zebra I Presume

2011-09-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

Currently I am working on a new set of paintings which will be different from what I have been painting lately. I wanted to step away from the pouts and nudes, and explore different subjects in my paintings.

The first painting, which I finished today, is about perception. Again the photo I took does not do justice to the colors at all, but it gives you some impression.

This painting - I named it "Zebra I Presume" - is in acrylics, ink and graphite, and is 36 x 36".

Mona, Mona, Mona.....

2011-09-08T19:57:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I received an invitation from MANO Fine Art to create my interpretation of one of the world's most famous paintings: The Mona Lisa.

Talk about a creative challenge and a very inspiring one indeed for me. Leonardo da Vinci was the artist that wanted me to paint as a little child. My father came home with a book about Da Vinci's work and I was in awe with every picture in that book. By the time my father sat down to look in the book himself, my little fingerprints were all over every page.

I made a triptych (3 canvasses of 12x12") like a little story board and put Mona Lisa in a different background and not as the pretty little model with the mysterious smile, but an active young woman . I named the triptych "Mona Lisa Rules".

And here is my little teaser for this exposition: a small strip of one of the canvasses.

If you want to see the rest of this painting and all the other interpretations, you should come to

MANO Fine Art Project Space

4225 SW 75 Avenue

Miami, FL

Opening Reception will be on Saturday, September 17 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm.

Visit the facebook page for more information.

Out of Context

2011-08-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Galerie Jenner in Fort Lauderdale came up with another creative idea for a show: Buy a paint-by-numbers-kit and get inspired. Anything goes as long as it is OUT OF CONTEXT!

So a couple of weeks ago I went to the art supply store and stood in front of all the "paint-by-numbers-kits" section, trying to figure out which one to choose and what to do with it.

Anyway, I choose the kit numbered "PJS49" and that is also the title of the painting.

I worked with the subject and let myself be inspired by this kit.

It was for me a complete out of context experience and I had a lot of fun with it and I think that it shows in this work. For now I only show you a little piece of the whole painting (30 x 40").

If you want to see the whole painting and all the other creations based on painting-by-numbers-kits, come to Galerie Jenner on Saturday October 15th.

The Art of T-shirt

2011-06-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

All last week I worked on 2 T-shirts for the "Art of t-shirt" exposition at the Sol Gallery in Miami Beach. Last Sunday I was finally able to deliver the t-shirts at the gallery and yesterday I received the email that my work was accepted. Even better.... so short notice and they even added my name on the flyer/poster.

The opening reception will be Friday July 1 and it includes life music by Uprooted Reggae Fusion Band and a screen printing demonstration and will be in honor of two charities in humanitarian causes:

So-Me, which is a clothing line aimed at intellectualizing fashion and taking a stand against all intolerance through fashion.

No More Tears, a not-for-profit organization that rescues victims of domestic violence.

The exposition will be until July 31st.

And below a glimpse of one of the t-shirts I made for this show. I made a painting on canvas with acrylics, which was stitched (Thank you Katja!) to the t-shirt. I painted lines from the canvas on the shirt to connect the art with the t-shirt. The title is "Just Because".

So join me on July 1, 2011 at Sol Gallery at the CANDO Arts Co–op: 309 23rd St. Miami Beach, Fl 33139 (one block west of Collins Ave.)at 7.00 pm.

Life is Art

2011-06-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

Life Is Art is a south-Florida based non-profit corporation founded in January of 2009. Their goal is to help elevate the south Florida arts scene to a level comparable with other international artistic cities, such as New York and Paris. They do this primarily through the production of arts events: Art Shows, Fairs, Parties, Showcases, Networkers, Seminars, Workshops and more targeted at supporting south Florida artists and arts professionals. They provide opportunities for artists to grow and share their work, as well as learn about the business of being an artist and how to better make a living at what they love.

On June 18, 2011 the organization "Life is Art" will hold their fundraising party and it will be a night filled with art, music, fashion, performances and even free drinks. Also there will be a raffle for which I made a small painting (6 x 18 inch).

I made it in Acrylics and gold leaf and I called it "Life is Art".

And I apologize as this is not a great picture of the painting....

So if you are in Miami (or in the neighborhood) on June the 18th and want to support the arts come to the Surfcomber in South Beach, have a great time and don't forget to buy raffle tickets. You might end up with a real Monique Lassooij painting...

For more information go to: http://www.lifeisartfest.org/2011/05/28/the-big-fundraising-party-june-18-2011/

This is so funny....

2011-04-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

This is one of the auditions at "Britain got Talent."

Please turn up the volume a bit... and wait for the silence...

(Ze Hitman and I could not stop laughing)

Spandex bunny says.....

2011-04-22T21:23:00.000-07:00

HAPPY EASTER

from

HOLLAND and THE HITMAN

The Hitman goes medical

2011-03-30T20:38:00.000-07:00

Since March 21 The Hitman is in the hospital. He wasn't feeling so great the week before that and on the 21st he texted my friend Ily "911". She took us both to the ER, where I whispered in his ear:
"If this turns out to be just a panic attack, I will kill you..."
He is still alive, so you can safely assume it was not just a panic attack. He got an emergency operation that same evening. The cardiology surgeon told me that there were blockages in his arteries. If it was only a few they would use a balloon; if it was more they would place stents; if it was even more they would perform an open heart surgery and if it was too many for that, the surgeon would come back to me and discuss other options. And out they run, with Joe on a bed, to the OR while I was still digesting what the surgeon just told me. I had to run after them... oh well, the first operation ended somewhere at 2 in the morning and he was fine with 2 stents near the heart.

This past week had then been a roller coaster ride for the both of us: He has several severe blocked arteries among which are his carotid arteries. He passed two kidney stones and due to that and the fact that his kidney didn't respond so well to Contrast Fluids, they postponed the second operation (more stents) until this afternoon. The Hitman called me and told me that they would operate him at around 1:30 pm. I dropped everything and went to the hospital, just in time to give him a big kiss before he went into the OR.

Again he came out looking fine and all smiling. I don't know what they are giving him for local anesthesia but I want some of that stuff...
Is he out of the woodwork yet? No not yet... Neurology still have to make a decision what they will do about the blocked carotid artery. Yes, it could mean another operation... but right now I am just happy for him that he has tomorrow off from tests and such.

One doctor told us that they are amazed that he was walking and talking with all those blockages, while any other person would have dropped dead . Well, he is the Hitman...and even if you would stab in the back with a large kitchen knife, he would probably wonder what was itching...

The Gorgeous Blogger Award

2011-03-07T22:26:00.000-08:00

It makes perfectly sense that I would receive an award for being gorgeous but to receive one for being a gorgeous blogger... well not so much. I blog barely two years now and not even that often, however I have been gorgeous all my life and I will promise to keep that up for many years to come.

Nevertheless and to my surprise Ricardo unloaded and bestowed upon me the Gorgeous Blogger Award anyway. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As this award requires that I answer a few questions and then pass the award onto others, I will do so without further ado.

1. When did you start blogging?

I started in 2009, after much arm twisting by Ily. She was and - I believe - still is convinced that both my talents and my wacky sense of humor should not be limited to a few, but be shared with many.

2. What's your blog about?

My art, impressions and observations. Nothing specific and everything and all goes, as long as I find it interesting, creative, weird, funny or worth writing about. Rarely about politics but sometimes I cannot help myself. But mostly I try to blog with a healthy dose of humor about the things around me. Occasionally I will showcase a painting that is finished. So what I am trying to say is that I am all over the board with my blog and why not? I am having fun with it and in many ways still test riding it... it is like... uuuhhmm... me in a Ferrari, driving at full speed while trying to figure out the clutch....

3. What makes your blog special?

Well.... (this is almost the same as the typical job interview question: "What makes you special?" I once answered that question with a straight face : "I don't slurp when I eat Spaghetti." and despite that reply I got the job, which was not in a restaurant.

Anyway, what makes my blog special and I have to answer with that I am the one writing it. And the people that return regularly to my blog and leave their comments make it extra special.

4. What got you into blogging?

Ily got me into blogging and I am happy that I followed her advise. Although it took a while before my arm was completely recovered from her persistent twisting it.

5. What would you like to change in your blog?

I would like to blog more often. Not as a journal but more often than once or twice per month. I will aim for 3 blogs per month... starting... oh well... somewhere in 2011.

I present this award to the following bloggers: Riot Kitty, Granny Annie, Valentina Ramos because they are so often an inspiration to me. Of course I would love to pass this award also to Ily, but Ricardo beat me to it (darn you Ricardo, why don't you break a leg.... )

What is on my easel...

2011-03-01T12:04:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I finished this painting and I named it "Secrets of a childhood".Again I painted on an unstretched canvas with acrylics. The painting itself measures 33" x 35". with a band painted in blue of 4" all around it.

The subject relates to me when I was a little girl and I would hide little secrets inside certain dolls. It could be a pebble, a little note, anything that I felt to be my own little treasure and some things I did not want anybody to know about. But even though I was always a little afraid that somebody would find it, I never thought all these little things inside a doll's body would make a noise. I now know my mother would take the arm of the doll to look inside, curious what made that noise when she moved the dolls to clean, but she never said anything to me about what she would find.

Summer is almost here...

2011-02-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

Summer's almost here ...

You should be able to see the deer moving around in your back yard!

While, here in Miami, the temperature is a lovely 81 degrees and two mocking birds are fighting over the nesting rights in our mango tree.

What can I say....

Happy Valentine..

2011-02-14T04:10:00.000-08:00

Where did the Tradition of Card giving on St. Valentine come from? We have to go back to a time before the Christians took over the "civilized world".

It all started as a pagan tradition in the third century. The god Lupercus, was said to watch over the shepherds and their flocks and keep them from the wolves. During this time hordes of hungry wolves roamed outside of Rome where shepherds kept their flocks. So the Romans celebrated a feast called Lupercalia to honor Lupercus so that no harm would come to the shepherds and their flocks.

Additionally, during the Lupercalia, but in honor of the goddess Juno Februata (are you still with me here?) , the names of young women were put into an urn. Later their names were drawn by lot. The boys and girls who were matched would be considered partners for the year (yes, the Romans invented the friends with benefits), which began in March. It will probably surprise nobody that this celebration continued long after the wolves ceased to be a problem to Rome.

After Christianity took over Rome, the Christian Church sought to replace this holiday with something a little more tasteful (read less ... way less sexual). It changed the name-drawing. Now, both men and women could draw names. Surely, the young Romans felt cheated as they found the name of a Christian saint on their cards rather than the wonderful companion they wished for. Instead of getting a companion through the lottery, they got a saint which they were to exemplify for that year.

The Romans were miffed. They missed their friends with benefits every February. Some ingenious Roman lads thought up an idea. Instead of hoping that the woman they admired would be on their card, they went about sending cards with their names on them to these women. This tradition has carried on to this present day.

So if it was not for the Romans (a.i. Italians) we would not have a Valentine Day Card Tradition. Life is so much better with an Italian...(I know... I live with the Hitman!)

Happy Valentines Day

Two expositions in February!!!

2011-02-11T08:10:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there were two "call for artists". I entered my work for both the events... Yes I was feeling gutsy and you never know, right?

And then I was juried into both events...

Tonight is the opening of the first event. It is the Cheesecake Pinup exposition and I have two small male nudes showing there (yes, MALE nudes.... why should all pin ups be female?).

The show is at Galerie Jenner in Fort Lauderdale and will continue until March 31.

The second event I was juried into is the "River of Art"; an annual event organized by Life is Art here in Miami. The event is only one evening and every year 7 or 8 artists are selected to show one painting at the event. And there is my painting on the poster.... the third one from the right bottom row.

Meanwhile I am working on a new painting ...

Life is just wonderful...

What is on my easel?

2011-01-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

Just an hour or so ago, I finished another painting and will be send to The Netherlands next week where it becomes part of a private collection.

It is painted on (non-streched) canvas with acrylics and its size is 33" x 32".

Anybody who knows me a little, knows that my pictures of my work are not the best and yet again I manage to NOT capture the true colors.

The following detail of the painting gives a better idea about the colors.

I named the painting: "OWL"

Seriously Sarah?

2011-01-09T21:19:00.000-08:00

In March 2010 Palin started a “Take Back the 20” website, featuring a U.S. map targeting--with bullseyes--20 Democratic House members, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. In one of her tweets Palin urged her supporters, “Don’t Retreat, Instead – RELOAD!” and she even made the phrase a part of her campaign trail repertoire.

The site was taken down in the wake of Saturday’s attacks. It wasn’t until something like the Arizona tragedy took place before someone in the Palin camp thought it was a good idea to take this stupid and perhaps even dangerous site down from the internet.

I checked Sarah Palin's official website (not the take back website) today, out of curiosity, to see if she left any comment with regard to what happened to the Democatic Senator Gabrielle Giffords. And this is what I read TODAY:

"On The Tragedy in Arizona"

My sincere condolences are offered to the family of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of today's tragic shooting in Arizona.

Seriously... nobody told her that Senator Giffords is still alive. Or is Sarah Palin waiting for somebody who actually is going to reload...

But maybe somebody will tell her - and with her many other politicians on every level - that ranting, throwing mud and opening stupid and even dangerous websites have nothing to do with the freedom of speech. In the least it shows that such politicians are ill mannered and are barely able to foresee the consequences of their doings. Not my kind of politician!

2011 and then some

2011-01-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

Going home last night I sat in the metro. Across from me sits a young woman trying to ignore ... well basically everything, a true poker face, blank eyes and staring into nothing. The next stop two men walk in and one decides to sit next to her - still no chance in her expression - and the other one sits next to me.

The man next to me was carrying several bags and out of one he lifts a bottle in a brown bag and takes a zip.

The man opposite of him - yes next to the poker faced woman - looks at him and then the following conversation starts:

"Is that a single malt?"

"Nope just some pick-me-up"

"Sounds good, sounds good. Are you sharing?"

"Sharing?"

"Yeah sharing, like in the spirit of the holidays"

"Nope I am not spiritual at all."

"Oh good, cause I should not be drinking with my medication and all..."

Still no change in her facial expression and I know she is listening...

"What kind of medication would that be?"

"To stop the voices"

The conversation now hangs in the air.. what can you say after such a reply, right?

But I made a little bet with myself that she will get up within 10 seconds, even though she kept her cool.

"Do you hear the voices often?"

"Yes... even now..."

She only gave me a quick look and gone she was.

I smiled and the little girl inside was doing a little victory dance.. I won... I won...!

The men kept talking with each other and I returned to my book. A good beginning of the 2011.

Have a wonderful 2011 filled with good conversations, little victories, good health and a lot of smiles!

What is on my easel...

2010-11-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

I know I have not been on the blog so much lately... ok, ok, not at all for weeks. But I was a little busy with several paintings and this weekend I finished the below painting in acrylics.

I haven't given the painting a title yet, but on the wall behind her the text of the first article of the Bill of Rights is written. The writing is fading a little and there are pieces missing. The little girl is staring at me... the artist, and at all of us, wondering....

Happy Thanksgiving to y'all!

2010-11-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

My 10 of 10 journal and an extra surprise!

2010-10-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

My journal is back and my curiosity is finally satisfied. Believe me, my curiosity was sometimes killing me...
I want to thank all the participants for their work and time to make my journal so great.

My 10 of 10 Journal started in March of 2010 - after I added the cover and the first page - when I send my journal out to Annie.

Annie send it then on to Valeria.....

And then she send it to Paul.....

Who then send it to Ily....

Then it was Shay's turn to enter her work....

Who then send it to Doreen....

After she added two pages, she send it to Serena....

Who send it to Carmen.

Who send it back to me, after she also entered two beautiful pages, and the journey is completed... So I thought...

But then Annie surprised me with her personal take on a photo of me taken by Ily...

Annie, special thanks for this surprise and you know I love your work and the joy it gives me.

10 of 10 : Tandy for Annie

2010-09-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

Tandy Kid is Annie's baby goat. He was born on July 24 this year and now I made this small portrait of him for Annie's 10 of 10 book.

As usual..... I covered some of the painting so the owner of the book will have to wait to see it all until he / she received it... But for now I will reveal that it is painted in Acrylics...

Sorry Annie, you have to wait a few days more... (wink, wink)

A painting that I send to Holland

2010-07-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

Last week I send a painting to Holland to a wonderful couple who just happen to be good friends of mine. They have this very special character at home and his name is Milan.

and this is his portrait of him.

Because I know they have received Milan's Portrait, I can now share it with you...

A good advice...

2010-07-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

10 of 10 : The art for Shay

2010-07-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Aaah... the challenges in life, such as what to create for a woman that is creative herself. And not only that ... shows in her blogs the many facets of her existence.

Well here it is... and yes, as usual I leave the good stuff out, so the owner of the book will not see the whole picture. But I will reveal that I made it in acrylics and ink on paper... One could take pleasure in mysteries...

And that will be all..... for now...

Dita Von Teese is teasing again

2010-07-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a short commercial with Dita Von Teese.... seriously this is a Commercial for Perrier...

Watch it here.

Another reason why Dita is in my top 3 list of women.

She is already in my top 3 because I love her "burlesque" eroticism and she is a beauty.

Oh, you want to know who are the other women in my top 3?

Well.... Marlene Dietrich: untill her very last day she remained a very classy lady who took no bulls@%t from anyone.

And the most sexy woman of the 1920's and probably of all times as she is a contemporary / timeless beauty : Louise Brooks

I was a little girl (6 or 7) when I saw a picture of her face the first time and her face is in embedded in my artistic mind and spontaneously pops up in some of my works.

Who is in your top 3 women of all time?

A silly Day

2010-07-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

I went to South Beach to meet up with my friend Ily. I left home at half time in the soccer match between Germany and Spain. It was still 0-0. The team that wins this match will play in the finals against Holland (no not me ...lol). Secretly I am rooting for Spain, because then we have two teams that never won a world champion cup in the finals, and I was not alone: Paul the octopus also rooted for Spain.

So far the two year old Octopus predicted all the German matches correctly in this world cup and he choose Spain as the winner.

The moment I arrived in South Beach I asked a woman in a German shirt who won and she looked at me as if I was from another planet, then noticed my orange toe nails and the orange scarf around my head and grumpily spitted out the words I almost expected (due to Paul the octopus' prediction): "Spain did...1-0, the Germans did not play." I had to swallow my cry of joy and thanked her for telling me. When she walked away I did a little victory dance as if I made that goal.

I met with Ily at the Mediterranean restaurant on Lincoln Road and we sat down for some food, wine and conversation... and we ended up discussing what we would do if we would wake up as a man (for 1 weekend). Well I know for sure that Ily would wake up as Johnny Depp. No doubt about that.

But more interesting is the question if we would be a heterosexual or homosexual man for that weekend... What would you choose if you woke up in the body of the opposite sex?

Also Ily gave me a beautiful CD with Brazilian music (to be played whenever she has dinner at my place prepared by the hitman). I asked her if she was serious about giving Brazilian music to a Dutch woman and she thought I was not happy... I was very happy with it as I do like Brazilian music and even more so now as the Dutch team won from the Brazilian team... Yeeeaaaaahhhh!!! (sorry, I just can't help myself)

And here I am showing how difficult it is to fit multiple objects (a shared dessert, espresso and myself) in a small screen of a digital camera... but somehow we manage...

After dinner we went for a walk over Lincoln Road where Ily took this really great shot of me...

I don't know but I think it shows how happy I am with the Dutch team... (hmmm why do I keep coming back to soccer these days...)

Have a great week and cheer for Holland this Sunday!

What a day!

2010-07-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an important day for me. I took two paintings to the gallery for a new show called "Word and Symbols". I really liked the subject and I know that it will be a good show because every artist will interprete it in a different way.

One painting called "Change your words and you will change your world" where the text starts on the side of the paiting and finishes on the front.

The other is "Listen to the colorful words of my silence".

The second painting (and I apologize for the poor quality of the photo's... but hey I am not a photographer) is inspired by a converstation I had with a close friend of mine about lack of communication... which I translated into silence.

Now the real challenge for me is how to take two paintings of 24" x 24" to the gallery with the bus-bus-metro-bus in the rain. I looked around the house if we had any plastic bags big enough which we did not have of course. But I found those plastic coverings from the dry cleaners and guess what... it works to protect the paintings and at the same time if could carry it like it was plastic bags.

On my way to Coconut Grove, I met a man carrying a sign saying "Be a role model" around his neck. After working so intensly on my paintings referring to words, it made complete sense to me. I asked him why he had this sign around his neck and he replied: "Each morning I make a new sign to carry around, because each day I learn something new and I want to share this with other people." That is a very positive idea and I really like it. Does it mean I will do the same? I don't know... It takes guts to do this and a very great smile to pull it off.

Of course I was excited about the upcoming soccer match between Holland and Brazil. My toe nails are orange (yes, I root for Holland, suprise!!! lol) because "We kick ass!". In the bus, when he noticed my orange toe nails, a Brazilian fan told me that his team would beat the Dutch team with 2-1. I replied with a bg smile: "Bite me and good luck!". Everywhere the yellow/green from Brazil was dominating here in Miami. When I finally got to work - where they showed the match on tv - it was 0-1 for Brazil. My heart dropped onto my orange toes, but at the same time I knew the match was not lost yet. I saw the Dutch team hunting for the ball.

And boy did they hunt... Holland won... 2-1 from BRAZIL!

I wonder if the Brazillian fan will remember what he said to me...

10 of 10 and a painting I am working on

2010-06-22T22:47:00.000-07:00

Here is my little artwork for the book of Doreen. No the colors are actually different in the book but you know that I distort my pics so there will be an element of surprise when the owner of the book can see it him/her self.

Tomorrow I will dash off to the post office again but this time I will add something to the package. A wonderful initiative by Carmen. She has send me a book... to be honest she has send me a second book as well... I have read both of them but I will keep the first one... I just love the book and cannot part with it.
The second is a wonderful book as well. Now the deal is simple: read it and send it on... or don't read it and send it on... or (and here is a new "rule") read it and keep it... but find a nice book to pass on. That last part, I will submit myself to it and hopefully with the next shipment of the 10 of 10, I will pass on another book.

I love to read and I think it is a wonderful idea (thank you Carmen!!!)

During the last two weeks I was crazy busy and not always in the best way. But I did find time to keep painting and below is a painting I am currently working on... some of you saw the sketch on canvas in Ily's blog and here is the result so far.... it is not yet finished so it gives you another opportunity to guess what he is looking at...

Spanking with a Feather

2010-06-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

Last night I was in South Beach with my good friend Ily. Whenever we are there, we like to have some dinner together, a little wine and - how could one not like it - just talk about all and nothing. It is a great way to just break away from the day-to-day ups and downs.

So we sat down and shared a bottle of Pinot G. and then the strangest thing happened: Ily saw Johnny Depp!

"Where??" I asked her

"There..." pointing at some shrubs across the street. I saw a Latino looking man...

"That's not Johnny Depp... That is Juanito Depp."

"That is Johnny Depp... I tell you"

"He doesn't even look like him"

"No, no... that is Johnny Depp... trying to disguise that he is Johnny Depp... "

(Wait, wait... there is a logic to it)

"If you were Johnny Depp wouldn't you want to be able to walk around without everybody (read: the screaming herds) following you?" She continued: "So with glasses, a wig and a different walk, nobody would recognize him."

(I told you there is a logic to it)

I could not stop laughing. That man was very, VERY good at not looking like Johnny Depp.

After we left the restaurant.. we sat down with coffee and my cigarette (get over it... I am European...lol) A few feet away a man sat down as well to smoke a cigarette... I looked at him and turned to Ily and said:

"Look Ily... There is Mickey Rourke trying not to look like Mickey Rourke..."

And now to the title of this post... "Aaah Finally..." I hear you say. I found that a lot of times people try to out scream each other to have things done. You know the boss that is screaming and bitching, the impatient "Come on" if somebody writes a check at the supermarket, the yelling at the staff if something is not in stock...

You probably all know the expression "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". But who want to have flies in their honey? So I changed the expression a little bit and turned it into "Spanking with a feather" and it is all about being persuasive in a sweet gentle flirty way. And it sounds so much better than the flies in the honey thing

Why is it in the title... oh well... it sounds great and for sure it got your attention...

10 of 10: The Continuing Story

2010-05-30T08:17:00.000-07:00

This time I had the book of Coby (sounds almost biblical if you say it like this and please imagine the MGM-like voice over saying ... "And Holland was working on the Book of Coby, and she knew it was good...")

Yes it was good... I was on a roll and actually filled 1 page on both sides. Sorry folks, I am not showing the whole picture here... have to leave some for your imagination.

I having fun with this project, going outside my box... although I have to admit... the abstract part is much like I used to paint back in The Netherlands, and it was great to do that again... It was actually so much fun, that I will do it on a large canvas.

Until next time...

(MGM-like voice over: "She closed the book and put it in the envelope, which was already labeled with the proper addresses... Now she had to wait until the post office was open.... -dramatic music-)

And now something completely different...

2010-05-24T21:19:00.000-07:00

Today my partner, The Hitman, send me this message....

and still I hear the song and see those guys with bad perms and wearing spandex in my head.... What did I do to deserve such thoughts?

Blue Velvet

2010-05-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, in a far away country called The Netherlands, I was on a romantic date with a handsome man. We went to the fair downtown The Hague and he kissed me - the first kiss - in one of the rides. We both felt very romantic and even in love... you know those early butterflies in the stomach but it can still go either way... love or lust.

After the fair, the night was still young, we walked around and passed by an artsy cinema. One of the few that only shows underground movies or productions that are not "middle of the road".

We went in, looked at the posters and decided to go for "Blue Velvet" because it looked romantic. I hear you laugh especially the ones who know David Lynch and/or this movie, but we both did not know David Lynch, the director, and obviously unaware of his movies.

We sat down, he put his arm around my shoulders and we were all set for yet another romantic pass time. The movie started, soft music with people smiling. A firetruck passed by with a fireman waving at the audience and the camera moved on the the field behind him... into the grass... and a close-up of a cut off ear.

I whispered in his ear: "I guess this is not going to be a very romantic movie..."

"Hmmm..." he replied in agreement.

And then the movie turned into one of the best I ever saw. It was a roller coaster and I was so into it that I completely forgot my date... Dennis Hopper scared me bloodless and Isabella Rossellini was just freaking beautiful.

My date didn't like the movie at all.. He wanted a romantic chick flick to get me into a certain mood... and I came out of the cinema all hyped, energized and not in a romantic mood... I was still in the thrill.

That evening I did fall in love... with Blue Velvet.

What is your favorite movie?

10 of 10 another one

2010-05-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

Again I only show a part of the little painting. But it was an unlucky 10 of 10 book for me.

I run out of clue so I was unable to glue the artwork into the book. Therefor I could not send it to Oklahoma on Monday.

On Tuesday I had everything prepared... I had to go to Target to get the glue and then next to Target is the post office. What could go wrong, would one say.

Let me tell you what could go wrong: I forget to bring the address labels with me!

So I went today... with address labels, money and the book. And it did go to Oklahoma today.

Today I also received a new sketch book: Coby's.

GRRRR, WOOF WOOF!!

2010-05-05T22:35:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I was sitting on a bench waiting for the bus to come. Just minding my own business trying to solve a Sudoku. An old lady sits down next to me and says: "Hello!" with a cheerful voice and tries to hand a flyer to me.

"No, thank you. I am not interested."

"Do you have the Holy Bible?" (same cheerful voice)

"No, I don't."

"Let me read you from the Holy Bible."

"Please don't, Mam. I am not interested."

"But I have to read to you. To save you."

"Do not read to me, Mam, and please do not save me."

Of Course she takes her bible out of her handbag and flips it open at the chapters of Revelation and starts reading out loud from it.

I, on the other hand, return to my sudoku and decide that nice looking "reli-grannies" are at the same level as mice: they look nice - some even cute - but in reality they are a pest.

To make a long story short, after her reading to me we ended up in a little argument and the conclusion that we will both end up in Hell: she for not respecting her fellow human beings and I because I am not saved.

A few days later I am waiting (whole different location) for the bus to arrive. I see three reli-grannies coming towards the bus stop. One walks to me with her arm stretched to hand me a leaflet. I turned towards her and start to growl. Softly first, then curl my upper lip, growl louder and finish it with a nice aggressive bark.

The woman jumps back, puts the leaflet in her handbag and returns to the other reli-grannies.

IT WORKS! Hallelujah!

From now on, whenever one of the reli-grannies comes to near me, I will bark at them. No more discussions, no more patiently telling them that I do not wish to be saved. From now on it will be:

"GRRRRR, WOOF WOOF!"

MOCA Audience's Choice Recipient

2010-04-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

Remember the presentation I did at the MOCA in Miami for the program "5 minutes of fame"?

My 5 minutes are being extended because I was chosen by the audience as the "Audience's Choice Recipient. And that results in one of my paintings being published on MOCA's website.

I am so freaking thrilled with that! Thank you everybody who voted for me in April and who supported me.

Fake new moralists

2010-04-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

In the capital of Belgium, Brussels, is the Academy of Arts. As it happens in the same building as the Academy is an elementary School. The two schools each have their own entrance and students don't mix at all.

In April 2010 a Public Worker of the city of Brussels entered the Academy and "castrated" all the male nude statues there. These gypsum statues were used as models for the art students. The reason why he did this - according to "De Telegraaf" a Dutch newspaper - was that he didn't feel it was right that the children of the elementary school could be exposed to male nudes.

(Note: the two schools had two separate entrances... exposure how?)

When I read this, I was furious. Here is an example of the fake moralists who think it is OK to destroy other's people property because it doesn't suit their "new" morale. What's next? We have to cover all the nudes in the Sistine Chapel? Maybe wrap a cloth around the David of Michelangelo?

Why do they feel it is their right to impose their fake new moral upon us?

10 of 10 - second artwork

2010-04-19T05:03:00.000-07:00

Here is my artwork for the 10 of 10 book of Carmen. I cut out some pieces so Carmen will still have some surprise left when she gets her journal back in October. For now she will have to fill in the blanks.

Looking at her beautiful work in this journal I wanted to add in a certain way and I went for an Art Deco theme. I live in Miami and I see the Art Deco Architecture practically every day. How can one not be inspired?

Talking about inspiration, maybe I will surprise one of the 8 journals / bloggers with an artwork about Holland... you know windmills, cows, tulips...the works..lol

From freaking out to cloud 7

2010-04-15T16:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, I was nervous. I could not deny it... and nervous was maybe an understatement. At the same time I was really excited about the opportunity to present my work at the MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) in North Miami.

And all my dear friends who came to support me told me that I had nothing to worry about... Excuse me? Who are you talking to? Sure, but I am the one who is standing there later this evening....

Anyway, I was the first one to present my work. I took a deep breath... the lights were off, the beamer on, the microphone was working and I... went on a roll. I talked about Holland -born and raised- and my first nudes that I painted here

I moved on to the "Fresh from the Fridge" series and then I actually heard a whisper from the audience "look how beautiful"... I was so relieved and realized that people were actually enjoying my work and my presentation.

Then I continued with the last 3 paintings in which I tell the story of my transition from Holland to Miami.

I was glowing and so happy, especially when I received compliments for my paintings and my presentation. I was completely on cloud 7.

Click here if you want to view my latest work "Transitions".

5 MINUTES OF FAME

2010-04-06T09:48:00.001-07:00

5 MINUTES OF FAME, a series that is part of MOCA by Moonlight programming, allows local artists to explain how and why they create their art.

Guess what? I am presenting my work on April 14, 2001.

I feel I have still a millions things to do and my stage fright is creeping up with each day passing. I get nervous just thinking I will do a presentation (yes actual talking) about my work in front of a group of people.

Yes, This painting by Edvard Munch really captures my mood : WHOAAAA!

HAPPY EASTER !

2010-04-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Outside the sun is shining.

I am hear the Hitman is cooking in the kitchen and it smells really good.

I hope your Easter is just as wonderful as mine!

HAPPY EASTER!

10 of 10

2010-03-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend I worked on a little project initiated by Ily called "10 of 10".

10 bloggers send a journal to the next blogger in line and each blogger will add their art to the journal and sends it on untill each blogger receives their own journal filled with the art work of the other 9 bloggers.

Here is the front of my journal (and beware... I do not take great pictures).

I painted with acrylics on card board and glued that to the cover of the sketchbook. Not only do I have an original cover, but the cardboard makes the journal a little big stronger. I had fun with it and it was a good way for me to get into the project.

I am looking forward to all the other 9 journals I will receive, each with their own original art. And I would lie if I told you that I was not curious about my own journal...

Am I a "Yes" or a "No"?

2010-03-11T04:05:00.000-08:00

I remember the first time I was at the Academy of Art. It was 3 weeks before classes would start. I and more than 80 other people had to display our work in a large room. Everybody was told up front that only 22 people would be accepted that year.

I was early and got myself a good spot with good light.
While I was setting up the table, three teachers passed by the tables and I heard one say ”No… no… no… yes… no…no…”
My Stomach turned; I didn’t dare to look at them to see if I was a “yes” or a “no”. I wanted so badly to be accepted into the Academy. I swallowed my tears - yes I was that nervous - and pretended not to notice them.

Once the teachers had left the room, I turned around and I looked at the panic stricken faces of 5 other candidates. One asked “Does anybody know who is the yes, because I was too scared to turn around to see if I am a no…”
At that point I realized I was not the only scared one, we all were and we all wanted to be accepted. I think that realization hit everybody at that point because we all started to laugh (nervously of course) as neither one of us knew who was the yes.

To make a long story short: we finished our tables, we went out for a drink (we had still two hours to kill before the Academy members would go in to make their decisions) and all six of us waited for each other to see who was a yes. We all were nervous when one of us entered the room to hear the decision. We all cheered when one would come out with the acceptance paper and at the end of the evening all six of us were a Yes.

A Night at the Art Center, South Beach, FL

2010-03-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 27th, was the opening night for a new exposition at the Gallery of the Art Center in South Beach called "Rituals and Process".

And here is my friend Ily right in front of the "Writing on the Wall"

It was a collection of conceptual art and described the the artists visions about the today's society has changed their rituals from Religion to a more romanticized consumer blah blah blah. Ok, the last three words are from me and I am sure I did not catch the words of the curator properly. I wish there was more words of the artists themselves, instead of the curator.

Nevertheless, some work I saw there I found it interesting and some even quite good. But what I liked best was that my friend Ily showed me around the studio's in the Art Center. There you meet the artists and talk with them about their work. It is direct, open and you get the answers to your questions from the artists and from their point of view.

And we were not the only one to go around the studio's...

I had a great evening, met some great people and I even had my picture taken...

But that one is still in Ily's camera... ;-)

The Kreativ Blogger award

2010-02-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

Ily presented me with this beautiful award, and only she knows why as I am such an irregular blogger but I really appreciate it.

But, like so many things in live, there are strings attached by accepting the award:
I have to list seven interesting things about myself and then pass on the trophy...
So here are 7 interesting things about me

1. Being born and raised in The Netherlands, I - contrary to popular believes - never wore wooden shoes,never lived in a windmill nor did I ever put my finger in a dike to save the country.

2. I don't like it when people put a label on me as it is about their expectations of me and not about who I really am.

3. I have a pretty sarcastic sense of humor.

4. I am a good girl.

5. I was asked to leave the academy of art after k.o-ed a teacher (long story and worth another blog). Still point 4 applies.

6. You can wake me up for a LARGE plate of mussels prepared in either the Dutch way or the Italian way. Really just hold it under my nose....

7. Once I was in a museum in Dublin, Ireland looking for a painting by Vermeer when I saw my first Caravaggio (the taking of Christ) and I totally fell in love with it. Almost forgot about the little painting by Vermeer, almost... but found it later on. One of my best visits ever to a museum.

Now I will pass on the award to Rosie.

She is creative, very active in the arts and only started blogging a few months ago.

Circus is fun!

2010-02-07T13:53:00.000-08:00

Circus is an inspiring theme to paint and I had a lot of fun working on my painting.

Last night the opening of the "Circus Circus" group show at the Windisch-Hunt was also fun.
A large number of people came to the show which was filled with creations of more than 20 artists, each with their own interpretation of the theme.

And the evening was fun because...

There were acrobats...

And Acrobats...

And more Acrobats...

And good friends to see your latest work!

CIRCUS CIRCUS

2010-02-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

The Gallery Windisch-Hunt Fine Arts in Coconut Grove had another great idea for a show: "Circus Circus".

And this is my entry for this show: "Hoops".

The show will start on February 6, 2010 at 7 pm and will continue throughout the month of February.

Come down to the Gallery to see my painting and many more Circus related work at the
Windisch-Hunt
2911 Grand Avenue
Coconut Grove, FL 33133

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

May 2010 be a very creative year for all of us...
May my friends in Holland send me loads of "Zoete Droppoeder" (that is sweet Liquorish powder)...
May we all enjoy a great year filled with wonderful little surprises...

Happy New Year to you all.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T05:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2009:

Last night, Christmas Eve, my partner Joe made us a wonderful dinner with Mussels and Duck. It was finger licking delicious. Normally I would prepare a nice hot chocolate after dinner, but we were so full and the evening was warm. Yes another warm Christmas in Miami. Unlike most of the United States and Europe there is no snow here nor blizzards. And even though it was too warm for hot chocolate, I feel blessed that I do not have to go out and endure freezing temperatures.

But for all you who are surrounded by snow or who just love a great hot chocolate, here is a recepy for a very rich hot chocolate:

Serves eight to 10.
550g dark bitter chocolate, chopped into small pieces
500 whipping cream
1 litre whole milk
60ml dark rum
Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
In a saucepan, boil the cream and milk, pour over the chocolate and stir to melt. Mix in the rum and serve.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ART BAZAAR DECEMBER 5, 2009

2009-12-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

And a few more paintings that will be for sale at the Art Bazaar, including a Brown Pelican as I will support the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station with every sale I make.

Hope to see you there!

"Fresh from the Fridge" goes to The Mutiny Hotel

2009-11-15T21:40:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the paintings that will be for sale at the Holiday Art Bazaar on December 5, 2009.

Besides the above paintings from the series "Fresh from the Fridge", I will put several nudes for sale.

10% of my sales I will donate to the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station. This is a wonderful organisation dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife in and around Miami's Biscayne Bay.
I have visited their facility several times and I have seen the great work they do.
(http://www.pelicanharbor.bizland.com/)

So if you are in the neighbourhood and feel like doing a bit of artistic Holiday shopping and at the same support a great cause, please come to see and buy my work at the

Holiday Art Bazaar
Exclusive, One Night Only, Meet the Artists, Buy Art!
Type: Music/Arts - Exhibit
Network: Global
Date: Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: The Mutiny Hotel, 2951 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133

Can Pigs Fly....

2009-11-08T06:15:00.000-08:00

The Swine Flu is the topic in the News as well as on the minds of many parents. It is a killer flu, as the news makes us believe, killing children and elderly people. Capable of wiping out whole villages.

Remember the Bird Flu a few years back... another killer flu. The only thing that really spread around the world was fear, not the Bird Flu. But the fear was justified as we were told that this was a killer flu.

Isn't that the case of every Flue? A "regular" flu kills about 400.000 people per year. So far the Swine flu killed about 8,000 worldwide.
To create the vaccine for this killer flu, the actual cost is about the same as the creation for a "regular" vaccine, but people are asked to pay almost twice as much.

I will not deny the possibility that this Flu can spread around the world in the next few weeks/months and kill many more. But that is what happening every year during Flu season. I am not an advocate of denial but some skepticism is always healthy.

Let's be honest, the best way to prevent any flu is to take good care of yourself and your family with healthy well balanced food, washing hands and other sane measurements that you can apply without a 40 dollar vaccine.

But don't take my word for it. Do your own research, find the facts and make up your own mind. Use a little skepticism until the Pigs really can fly.

One of the reasons....

2009-10-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

I go downtown to the Government Center Metro rail Station at least twice a week. There is a square in front of the building that I have to cross from the Bus stop to get into the Station.

Like many squares it is always filled with all sorts of people. You can see the homeless gathering there on the outside of the square. The religious ones, who try to convert you to whatever they believe in, stay close to the stairs and escalators to catch as many souls as they can.

You also see the occasional security guard in their "golf" carts being present, the cleaning people cleaning all around and people running towards the metro they have to catch.

And then there are the vendors, little tables with fruits and vegetables, home-made jewelry from China, and water bottles.

Monday morning I was crossing the square on my way to the entrance when a vendor on my right sneezed really loud. So loud that it made me look at him. And there he was, trying to hold his saggy pants up that obviously dropped because of the sneeze.

He squatted a little to stop his pants from totally falling down, kept the front up with the tips of his fingers and I realized that he had sneezed into his hands and he was holding his pants up with snotty hands while trying to keep them dry.

I know it is not nice but I was laughing my head off.

Yesterday I passed him again and I noticed that he was wearing the same pants but this time with a belt.

The man on the bus.

2009-08-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

I started my first painting of a new series. No more fruits and vegetables but back to the nudes. Don't get me wrong, I had a lot of fun while painting the series "Fresh from the Fridge" but now I started "Balance".

My idea's for paintings come at unexpected times and places; never when I am in the shower.
A few weeks ago I went with the bus to downtown Miami when an older man entered the bus. He could not walk well but he was a true acrobat getting thru the bus to the back using the poles en those leather loops (that you can hang on to while standing). I was looking at him and how smoothly he went across the bus and then this painting popped up in my head, and then another and another. I opened my little notebook and started sketching.

I don't know how I get from an older man on the bus to nudes in a painting, it is just how my imagination works.

And sometimes...

2009-07-19T05:08:00.000-07:00

In a previous blog I mentioned the fact that I was going to have a exposition in a restaurant in Coconut Grove in Florida. That was suppose to be in June. Luckily, and I mean that, I was given some more time to be able to create work that is up to par to what I want to show.

I am not the kind of artist that produces a painting per day like your average Plein-Air painter who is forced to paint this fast because of the limited time Mother Nature gives him/her to work on a painting.

Normally I set up a painting quite quickly and with set-up I mean the initial sketch on canvas and the underpainting in two or three colours. I use underpainting because in this way I can block the larger schapes on the canvas without "losing" myself into details at this stage. Also because the colours in the underpainting will deepen the final colours. Nothing is definite in this stage, as I start to observe it. Is the composition the way I want it to be, do I need to change or add anything to make it "work"? In this phase of my work it is very easy to change anything if I want to.

My next step is to work on the background and a little bit on the subject itself. Again I will not go into the fine details but I work on the colours and shapes. I work on the balance between the background and the subject . The background is very important to me because I want the background to enhance the subject - no matter if it is a nude or a pair of apples - not to overpower the subject neither to just let it be a colourfull filler of canvas. This is the part where I look at my painting for hours at a time without actual painting.
This frustrates my partner a lot as to him I am doing nothing and often he remarks: "I thought you were going to paint today..." "I am." is my reply and I see him thinking "Whatever, next time I will stare at the dishes and tell you that I am cleaning them."

In the third stage I am working on the little details and finalizing the painting.

So what are we talking about time wise? I normally work about 2 to 3 weeks on a painting (which includes drying time as I work with oils). Because I know that it takes me time, I usually work at two paintings at the time - not more because of limited space.

And sometimes ... I paint one in a day, from start to finish, like I did yesterday. In less then 8 hours from start to finish I painted Pullo, my red cat, out on the porch.

Just to contradict everything I said before. Oh well, that is life!

Summer Salon 2009

2009-06-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Last night was the festive opening of the Summer Salon Exhibition at the Windisch-Hunt Gallery in Coconut Grove, Florida. It was a very special evening full of different forms of art... not just paintings but also poetry from Jerry Wade and Jonathan Rose, life music by Zip Robertson and a fashion show with Handbags from Debra Cortese and Ceramic Jewelry by Jennifer Trujillo.

A portion of ALL sales from this show will be donated to NEAT STUFF (http://www.neatstuffhelpskids.org/). This is a non-profit organization that provides free brand new clothing, shoes, accessories and gifts to meet some of the basic needs of abused, neglected and other children in distress, allowing them to dress with pride and dignity, inspiring their self worth.

It is a wonderful show and more so because the body of work within the Summer Salon is so diverse and covers a wide range of styles and subjects. Yet our curator, Cucui Beguiristain, managed together with Annamaria Windisch-Hunt to make it all coherent.

The Summer Salon is showing untill the end of June and worth a visit.

I submitted three paintings for this show :

"After Ten", Oils and Acrylics on canvas, 10" x 14"

Some people were wondering who my model was for this painting....

"Getting Ready", Oils on Canvas, 12" x 12"

"A Last Look", Oils on Canvas, 10" x 14"

But now a more personal note...

I always get nervous before an opening and this evening was no exception. I guess this is my version of stage fright, not that I am afraid to forget which painting is mine - like actors are afraid to forget their lines, but the knot in my stomach feels just as real.

But I had wonderful support from my partner (he is truly the wind beneath my wings), my friends and everybody else. And with such support the knot shrinks quickly enough for me to enjoy every bit of the evening.

And for this: Thank You.

Fresh from the Fridge

2009-05-22T20:43:00.000-07:00

When I knew I would have a solo at the Focaccia Rustica in Coconut Grove, I also realised that this would not be the place to hang nudes. It is after all a family restaurant. And this implied that I had to come up with a new body of work. To be honest, I went blank at first. For days I stared at two empty canvases and all that came to mind were nudes.

One afternoon my partner asked me why I didn't start painting and I replied: " Paint what? I have no other subject on my mind than nudes."

He suggested to go out and look around the house, to see if anything would inspire me. But I am not a plein air artist - ok, I never tried it and the large amount of hungry, bloodsucking mosquitoes outside doesn't make it very inviting for me to try a landscape out there.

Then he said to me: "Why don't you look in the kitchen, maybe there is something in there that will give you ideas."

And so I did, not that I am normally so obedient, but I was blank and he tried to help me. I opened the fridge... nothing yet, no celestial flash of inspiration. Then I opened the vegetable drawer in the fridge and I saw a variety of fruits and vegetables, each with their own colours and shapes... and there it was... my source of inspiration: Fresh from the Fridge.

I know it will be a great show, ....if I can save my models from being eaten.

A new painting: Summer

2009-05-01T21:40:00.000-07:00

Last week I finished this oil painting. Actually the female nude is done in oils and the background is mostly done in acrylics.

It is not a massive painting, not by the subject and certainly not by size (10" x 10" - 25 cm x 25 cm).

Alas this photo does not show how beautifully the golden background and all the other colours highlight the female nude.

So here it is... a confession! I am not good at taking great shots of my own paintings and it frustrates me. Ok, my little digital camera - which is older than 5 years - might be partly to blame, but I know somebody who takes wonderful shots no matter what camera is in his hands.

I am able to take some wonderful shots of other subjects, just not of my paintings.

And that is one of the reasons why I keep my "focus" on painting!

No thief nor handbag...

2009-04-06T16:17:00.000-07:00

As I said in my previous blog, I would make two new envelopes to replace the one that was stolen from the display at the gallery.

And so I did...

The one on the left I did in soft pastels and I was inspired by a work from Degas... but his work was a naked woman and because I wanted to send it by snail mail (with a post stamp by USPS) I changed the figure into a ballerina (and I love ballet).

Now I will keep my fingers crossed to see if it will arrive at the gallery and in what shape....

The one on the right, I made on Saturday. I was going to the gallery anyway, so I thought I could take it with me. It is finished, it is dry.. (acrylics dry fast).

I put it in my handbag close the zipper in one swift movement and I see a piece of the envelope sticking out between the teeth (do you call it teeth?) of the zipper...

They say that Dutch people are known to be calm under stressfull circumstances... well, there was nothing Dutch about me when that happened.

Picture this.. Me jumping around him while my partner is trying - very patiently - to release the envelope from the zipper without too much damage and he did. And of course this all happened minutes before we had to leave had go to the gallery.

I decided not to take it with me as it was somewhat wrinkled, but two days of rest did the envelope good and I am pleased to let you know that I will release it from my care this week.

So to make a long story short.... No thief nor handbag can stop me!

A thief with taste...

2009-04-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

About a month ago an Art Gallery in Coconut Grove, FL made a call to artists to send in their Mail art. Mail art, for those who do not exactly know what this is, is art created on an envelope or a handmade postcard. It can be anything, drawing, painting, mixed techniques, stamps, prints... you name it.. all is possible. But it have to be send in by mail with a post stamp

I participated and send in this little jewel.

Today I went to the same gallery to hand in a painting for a new exposition that will start with a nice opening on Saturday April 4th. While I was there the owner came up to me and told me that my envelope was stolen from the display.

I went over to the display... checked every envelope - believe me there are a lot - and while I was searching the whole display I could not believe it....

Mail art may not look like much to some people, but an artist put time and effort into it and it is work on display! Somebody walked in and grabbed it... yeah, it is gone.

I will make a new one.... darn, I will make even two new ones! And although I am upset with the person who stole my mail art, I have to admit...

It is a thief with taste...

Trade or Sell?

2009-03-29T13:37:00.002-07:00

I make ATC's, which stands for "Artist Trading Cards".

They are miniature works of art created on 2 ½ x 3 ½ inch card stock. They are originals, small editions and, most importantly, self-produced. The concept of ATC is the person-to-person trade, as well as trading by mail.
The basic idea is the card-for-card trade between artists and not to sell the card to another artist.

On the other hand are the ACEO's, which stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". These are for sale.
The reason for this is, of course, that ATC's are made to be traded!

But while artists were happily trading cards, the general public was left out in the cold, having no Art Cards to trade. A group of artists realized this, and quickly made their cards available for sale at remarkably low prices so that everyone could join in the fun! They became highly appreciated collectables.

So every time I create an ATC, I ask my self the question: do I want to trade or sell...? The latter turns an ATC into an ACEO... Don't forget the concept of the one is the opposite of the concept of the other...

This could turn into a dilemma!

But you know what... I have so much fun in creating the ATC's.... I think that is more important and not what label I or anybody else want to stick to it....