New Press - GLAMOUR

Editor Janice Deul was so sweet to write about my upcoming exhibition The Art of The Mix, starting this Saturday in the gorgeous setting of interior design store Eveline Interieur in Bloemendaal (Netherlands).
Thank you Janice!

Showcasing - Singapore 2005 - Early days

 In this picture: gallery owner Ros Lovell, Dutch ambassador Chris Sanders & the artist

The opening 

It all started in Singapore around the year 2000. On my business card it said "Regional Director Legal & Compliance Corporate Finance". Living in a colonial mansion, travelling, working round the clock. Every time I came back from a trip my head was spinning. So I took up a hobby to relax and empty my head: painting.
I never had any formal art education. I just started, followed my instinct, translating the many impulses my brain received on canvas. Hong Kong, Tokyo, Jakarta, Mumbai... I strongly believe that I would have gone mad without the escape to my brushes. Friends were supportive and genuinely enthousiastic, started to buy my work and one thing led to the another. In 2005 (still in banking) I had my first solo exhibition in Singapore at Galerie Cho-Lon (which unfortunately closed last year). At that time we had moved back to Amsterdam (via Stockholm). In 2006 I finally dared to jump and quit my corporate job to become a full time artist and designer, blazing my own trail in a world that I am starting discover slowly but steadily.

Blue Vibes

SOLAR in "Safron & Navy"  (pictures: Cadrys)

Thanks to a comment on my Red Vibes post from Mark yesterday I have more vibes to share. Mark was so kind to point me to the stunning Florence Broadhurst rugs collection. My absolute favourite is the SOLAR in "Safron & Navy". The collection is made by handwoven rug specialist Cadrys.

Red vibes

The World of Interiors -Rug by Odegard

 Portrait of Guus Preitinger (the artist's wife) by Kees van Dongen dated 1911

Wallpaper "Japanese Floral" by Florence Broadhurst

I was digging through my "archives" yesterday as I am trying to decide on the colour scheme for my booth at the Dutch "Maison et Objet" in September.  I love strong colours but I can not say that I have one particular favourite. Red is vibrant and warm, but it can be very dominant. However if applied in the right manner it can add the right punch whether it is in interior design, art or fashion.

Women with Passion - Emilie Charmy

Yesterday I spend the day at TEFAF Maastricht, the world's leading art and antique fair and I fell in love... I fell madly in love with French artist Emilie Charmy (1878-1974). It was my first encounter with her work and her story. In Emilie's days many women were shunned from the art world but she pursued her passion despite the fact that at the time women were not allowed to study at the art academy.
She worked amongst others with my big hero Matisse. While painting she would follow her instinct, using bold colours and developed her own distinctive style. Standing in front of her work you can just feel the passion, the love that she had for her art.
In this picture I am standing with Mr Zimmerman of Kunsthaus Buehler in front of one of Emilie's striking self portaits.

A painting on the front cover of Women Artists and the Parisian Avant Garde by Gill Perry (unfortunately out of print)

Self portrait

Emilie Charmy in her Studio

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

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Artist Studio - Amsterdam

Pictures by Henny van Belkom for Joie de Vivre magazine

Here are some pictures that I would love to share.  Taken in the studio that I had just before I decided to become a full time artist and designer. The pictures look like the ultimate artist's dream. Yes it was a wonderful studio with high ceilings, ornaments and lots of light but the girl holding the brush was at that time still a corporate girl only "playing artist" in her free time!

Reflecting on Imperfection

pictures: brochure Hermitage museum, Red Room by Matisse, Interior Paintings by Mariska Meijers

This weekend I was struggling with my painting. There are days that I see every imperfection in my work. The hairs of my paintbrush that have settled neatly in the dried oils, crooked lines, uneven colouring...On those days I just have to take a step back from my work. It has never been my intention to strive for accuracy in my paintings but on those days I feel that nothing that I do is good enough.
Best remedy in such case is some fresh air and a museum visit. So I hopped on my bike yesterday to visit The Hermitage Amsterdam. Yes! In case you didn't know St Petersburg's Hermitage has a Dutch baby sister. The current exhibition is "From Matisse to Malevich" (until September 2010). Matisse is my absolut hero.  Standing in front of his Red Room with all its  "imperfections" made me smile again.

Cluster Wall

I have always been fond of this picture.  Taken in September 2005 by photographer Margré Mijer. At that stage I was still working for a bank and dreaming of a full time artistic carreer. I needed pictures to market my first solo exhibition in Singapore. I look so happy and proud in front of my first cluster wall. Now 5 years later I am well on my way as an artist and designer. Doesn't time just fly when you are having fun!

The Art of the Mix

Today some new work was photographed for my upcoming exhibition "The Art of The Mix" at interior design store Eveline Interieur (Bloemendaal, The Netherlands). I just love doing eclectic interiors. Playing with colour and patterns, juxtaposing objects. Painting interior portraits is like therapy. Otherwise I would be reinventing my house every other week!
This painting is done in oils and measures 80x100cm.

Artist Studio - Amsterdam

Pictures - Rogier Veldman for Staalmagazine

An artist needs space so they say. I have had 3 different studio's in Amsterdam but somehow I have never been able to settle in to these spaces. My house is where my soul is, it is my oversized inspiration board. Surrounded by all the things I love I accomplish my best work. Here are 2 photo's of one of my previous studio's. It was the typical romantic run down place but I kept missing my "stuff" around me.

In love with the Fenton Sisters

Pictures: source Vogue Living Australia

Yesterday's treat was the February issue of Vogue Living Australia (unfortunately it always arrives late in Amsterdam). I became hooked on this magazine when I was living in Singapore. I love the modern-colourful-eclectic style which I believe to be so representative for Australian interior design. Reading Vogue is like taking an imaginary inspirational trip back. This time I fell in love with the wonderful Fenton&Fenton stores of Lucy and Emma Fenton in Melbourne. Makes me want to hop on a plane right now to visit!

A Peak at New Work

Creating some new designs for silk pillows with a more graphic look. All my designs are created by hand. I am hopeless when it comes to all these fashionable computer programs like Illustrator. So everything I create is painted or drawn first. This little bird is part of my new pillow range. I will receive the first proofprints of the fabrics in two weeks time. So excited, can't wait to look and feel!

The Cluttered Mind

There are days that my head, and my house and studio for that matter, feel so cluttered that I have to start editing. Focus is an amazing quality, so is the ability to have a clean desk or a house that looks like a showroom.
On those 'cluttered' days I just wonder how other people do it. This photo shows you a corner of the living room of my previous house. The photo is by Henny van Belkom for Dutch magazine Joie de Vivre. The painting in the background was the first one I ever bought. They say that an interior tells a lot about a person....

Loot of the Day

Books can be such a source of inspiration. I love to spend time in bookshops browsing and of course I usually end up buying. Today's loot consists of out of some wonderful out of print books. One of the books is the second edition of "Pattern Design" by Lewis F. Day dated 1933. On the inside of the dust jacket it says: "It is a book invaluable to students, describing as it does, the anatomy, planning and evolution of repeated ornament, and showing how designs should be prepared for the manufacturer". Day was a leading pattern designer in his time and I will be proud to be his student!

Give me a head scarve baby!

The publisher's den

 

Today I was invited to the office of one of Holland's leading magazine publishers Sanoma Uitgevers. Every year Sanoma organizes the Woonbeurs (the Dutch "Maison et Objet"). I am excited as I will be presenting my new textile designs at this 10 day event from September 25  to October 3  (location: RAI convention centre  - Amsterdam). The Woonbeurs attracts around 80.000 visitors which is a fantastic  turnout considering Holland is only a small market. Although I have exhibited my products in previous editions of the Woonbeurs, this time I have my own branded booth as a mini playground.
In this picture I am showing a corner of the Sanoma office space just to show that the publisher does not rule from an ivory tower or over-styled office. Stacks of files, papers, snacks and...people that work hard to make their magazine a success. Thank you Sanoma for the warm welcome today!

Back to Business

Bye bye Austria, hello Amsterdam! The ski holiday was great. I feel completely regenerated. This month my exhibition at Eveline Interior will open on Saturday 27th of March. I did this little water colour impression of one of the current displays in Eveline's shop.

Artistic Dreams

I am still enjoying my ski holiday with the family. Spending the entire day outside, sliding down the slopes, enjoying Austrian food and wine makes it all  a great recipie for a good night sleep. Last night I dreamt about work and the challenges ahead of me. It made me wake up hungry this morning. Hungry to create, so on top of my to do list when I am back in Amsterdam will be a visit to my favourite art supply store Van Beek Art Supplies near the Rijksmuseum. The store has this great old fashioned atmosphere with its large wooden counter and shelving and high ceilings. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Just can't wait!

Spaced out by winter

No this is not a movie still from an SF film, it is simply art on a mountain in Austria. I am currently enjoying yet a bit more winter in "Zillertal". Going down the slopes empties my mind making room for new ideas.
I will soon let you know what kind of ideas were born on these snowy mountains.