Where the Shadows Play

Right in the middle of it! Energetic one day, absolutely exhausted the next. Trying not to think about the amount of work I still need to do and keeping my confidence that it will work out. I love this stage but I feel i am living in a cocoon, just focussed on this upcoming show and not allowing a lot of other things happening. Feel guilty about not spending the enough time with the family/kids but are happy in a way, just doing what I love to do, although getting a bit sick sometimes of my own company. It all sounds a bit two headed but that's usually the case leading up to a show. Looking back it's a recurring pattern that's hard to change I feel. But perhaps it is needed, the intensity and focus, to create work I am happy with.

The first image is of canvas I am working on at the moment.

Titled "Where the Shadows Play".Acrylic on Canvas.

Trespassers Delight

"Trespassers Delight" , 50 x 70cm. Acrylic on Canvas

Road trips are my main source of ideas for my paintings, and they often come with some excitement and danger. I do not follow maps but have a rough idea which area I would like to discover. A left or right turn-off is taken on impulse and can lead into some interesting situations.

Some absolutely beautiful and surprising, others the opposite. Or in one case both, when I was enjoying this off road section listening to the sounds of the country, when suddenly this dog nearly jumped through the car window and made me sit on the passenger seat. Came from nowhere and scared the hell out of me.

Numerous times after jumping a fence to find the best location for a shot, I had to run back to the car with some dog on my heels. Avoiding snakes in high grass is important and electric fences are still not my favourite. Back in Holland as a child we used to have dares in who could keep hold of the wire the longest, which I remember wasn't very long, and for the brave ones urinate on it, which you really only do once!

Some times it pay's off though to take a risk and it is usually the people you meet, that will make the difference. I drove past this farm one day which actually looked like a museum, with vintage car's,truck's and other equipment. After driving past twice I decided to enter the property and instead barking dogs I met the owner who I explained to that I was an artist, looking for inspiration. He came down the roof and shook my hand. He showed me around the property and chatted about him self and the way he lived and how the land had changed over the years. Ended up with some great images.

Over the weekend I found this remote sandy road that was lined with bare trees. They all were filled with crows. Very Hitchcock and an eery feeling I got, driving trough. Also during road trips I have seen way to many "Keep Out" signs with bullet holes trough it. This one had a particularly big hole in it!

I used to hitch hike a fair bit, in Europe and all around New Zealand. The feeling of the unknown, not knowing where you will sleep that night and who you will meet, gives me a great sense of freedom. I have learned to following my instinct and looking back I am just amazed where it has taken me.

I left my home country in 1993 with the idea of travelling for three months. Nearly twenty years later I live in Melbourne, but it could have been Canada, South Africa or another country, who knows.

Forgotten Places

There is something about abandoned places that that is very intriguing. A place that was once a centerpiece in a few people's lives, is now all but forgotten.

Those places are left in silence, surrounded by a sense of stillness that makes us reflect on our selves. Depicting moments in time, present and past, taking us on a journey of silhouettes and horizons of the Australian landscape. The absence of Human presence intensifies the stillness and abandonment.

My paintings of abstracted landscapes are the results of many road trips, scanning the fields searching for Forgotten Places. Capturing the essential elements of a visual and spiritual experience, eliminating unnecessary details.

Man Made Man Kind

"Untitled Yet", 50 x 100cm, acrylic on Canvas

Titles

My last show was named "Natural Order". Natural Order was a title that I found suitable for a show that was about Nature taking over. Man made objects that where doomed for slow but inevitable expiration.

Some critics though took it differently and with Global warming on the agenda I got some interesting and mixed responses. I am not sure if there is a perfect title for a painting or exhibition, but I am certainly more conscious about choosing one.

I used to give my sculptures numbers as I found titles were distracting/confusing the viewer. Titles came secondary and still do.

Should I be as clear as possible with choosing a title or decide on one that could create interesting discussions on subjects. Or should a title just be a name so we know what we are talking about?

Can a title give an extra dimension to a work, or should it speak for it's self?

I have just finished the painting you can see above and I could call it "Paddock" or "Field", but perhaps "Afternoon Delight" is more appropriate. I quite like the last one, but isn't that a chocolate brand as well?

Lost Ground

Lost Ground is a large canvas I have been working on for quite some time. It is nearing it's finishing stage and can be viewed at Anita Traverso Gallery in May 2010. Size: 197x100cm. Acrylic on Canvas.

The smaller watercolour is a study.

Size: 30x15cm, watercolour on paper.

Naked Canvas

Instead of not showing my “face” for a while because I am so flat out with working on my up coming show, I will try to keep you up to date on some works in progress and some other in-sides.

I love the, “The Naked Canvas”, as I call it. It the start of often spending a lot time in the studio. Boiling hot in Summer, like today and cold in Winter.

Before starting a lot of preparation needs to be done, starting with my road trips and recording ideas. Scanning the landscape. I noticed I am in favor of wide open landscapes with often discarded objects. I am not sure if this stems from being Dutch, having spend half my life over there. Forests are no good, unless I can see trough or over.

Stillness and space is what I am after.

I believe they are accentuated by discarded man made objects. They also need to have the right contrast in terms of Light and dark.. I will take photographs or use water colours to take back to the studio. Watercolour is great as it is fast and I feel very comfortable using this media.

To give the canvas that same Stillness, I feel the need to simplify and abstract the painting. Focus on form, contrast and colour. Not being distracted by detail and receive a direct emotional response.

February 2010 Update

For those that don't know me that well I have added a link to a video taken of my last solo show at ATG.

In the future I will add some more information regarding my Felt Sculptures and other work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-5ZZA4GELo

At The moment I am working on my next show at Anita Traverso Gallery in Richmond. May 2010. This show will be of paintings,

acrylic on canvas and watercolour.

I have completed a couple of road trips which have been my main source of inspiration. Recently I have travelled to the High Country of which I

have added some pictures of scenes that I love.