Fresh from the Fridge

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

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...

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...

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?

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....