January 11, 2023 The other day, my eye rested on a much loved toy that I have had for quite some time. They say: paint or sketch what you are passionate about. Well, I have always been passionate about my plush animals! And this is one of them. Meet Piep! A real (by now: vintage) Steiff plush toy!… Read More »
December 27, 2022 This is how it all began with my art: sketching. Since my childhood it runs like a river through my artistic activities. Researching a new subject always involves sketching. Sometimes of a single feature, sometimes to try out several points of view. It always gives me joy to bring out the charcoal pencils. When I… Read More »
December 21, 2022 Once upon a time, there was a cute little snowman. He was a handsome fellow, with a black hat, an orange nose, stones for eyes and tree branches for arms. And because the weather was so frigid, he had also been adorned with a warm, orange scarf. The little kids who had built him right… Read More »
December 20, 2022 We are ALMOST at the time of the year when the days (finally) start getting longer again. I know it is going to be a long 5-month wait before we get back to warm weather, but I have to say: I cannot wait! While I am soldiering through the frigid gloominess of the monochrome Canadian… Read More »
December 13, 2022 I find myself less and less interested in painting everything that is present in a reference picture faithfully and completely. Especially when I am playing around with something that is not a dedicated portrait. It is a neat development to go through for me – trying to create something with just minimal sketch lines to… Read More »
December 12, 2022 Today I watched a documentary about ‘the making of’ the new animated motion picture about Pinochio. Oh how I wish I was 40 years younger and on the verge of choosing a career! I am absolutely positive I would have landed in the wonderful world of movie animation. There is one character in this new… Read More »
December 3, 2022 You may remember that I recently had my ‘Barn cat’ painting framed in a former window of an old barn from Tiny Township, Ontario? Well, I bought a second memento of the same estate sale. I just could not control myself… And now I have all sorts of ideas rolling around my brain about a… Read More »
November 18, 2022 Well, I have found an appropriate finish for the fox hunt painting, so the headless hunter is no more… It is currently standing on one of my easels to dry and cure. As with many paintings, I am not sure yet that it is finished, yet, but it is in a stable state and I… Read More »
November 9, 2022 Today I went to see the show at Joshua Creek in Oakville and met up with owner Sybil Rampen, who asked me if I liked where she put my ‘Barn Cat’ painting. How could I react in any other way than with a big smile? I love that it made the big Gallery Room! It… Read More »
November 9, 2022 I regularly get questions about my chosen medium, acrylics. And how to make sure that the leftovers and soiled rinse water do not get into the environment. There is actually a fairly simple and quick way to do this. Acrylics dissolve in water, but that does not mean that the paints are ‘clean’. The undiluted… Read More »