Sterren op het Doek,: Stars On Canvas…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

There is a Dutch television programme called:  ‘Sterren op het Doek’, (Stars on Canvas) where three artists paint a portrait of a famous Dutch person whilst that person is being interviewed by the presenter of the show.

The artists make sketches / paint basis from the live subject sitting, then complete the portrait in their own studios within a designated time limit.

A few weeks later they reassemble in one of the famous galleries of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where they again meet the famous person for the big reveal.

The initial reveal is done without the artists present so the famous person has no idea who has painted which portrait. The person then choose one of the portraits to take home with them, the other two are auctioned off and the proceeds donated to charity.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The artists who take part are hobbyists or those who manage to make a living from their artwork, and their styles are always very different which makes for compelling viewing, the audience kept guessing which of the portraits will be the one chosen. 

On this occasion the artist (Bert) is one of the artists who has been chosen to paint a portrait, but as per the theme of the programme, none of the artists will know who the famous person they will be painting is, until they walk in for the interview.

The spot where the interview takes place may however give a clue as to the identity of the famous person.

The famous person in this instance is Lee Towers, a Dutch singer famous from the 1970’s to the present day who gives Las Vegas style performances.  

Bert is the painter that I have been visiting during one of the 2019 ‘Parels’ (Pearls) days, but I didn’t know that when I visited.

Bert also wouldn’t let visitors know the outcome of the show, which had been filmed but hadn’t been aired yet. He didn’t even vaguely hint that he had won, so the outcome of the show when I saw it on TV it was a complete surprise!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(Below) TV Presenter Özcan Akyol, Singer Lee Towers and Lee’s wife

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(below) Bert and his winning portrait…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

A Bookshelf Of Inspiration…

Seeing these books in this artists studio, I asked for advice about where a semi-beginner artist might start trying out oil painting for the first time. My own artistic skills are in graphic art and many types in printing techniques, but not at all in watercolour or oils. Two books in particular were recommended, mostly because I mentioned was interested in figure drawing and anatomical studies, I’ve photographed their covers here. The interesting thing is that these are Dutch translations of book that were originally in English,

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(Below) The Classical School of Painting Techniques // The Classical School of Drawing Techniques, both by Juliette Aristides. (Do Note that the books in English may have different cover illustrations).

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

A peek inside…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

A Well Lit Studio…

Following yesterday’s post, this is the studio of the artist who’s paintings I have been featuring in recent posts. His style is detailed and realistic, something that ticks every box for me! He tells me that this used to be a family bedroom but now that his children are grown and more of less out of the house, this room has been converted into his artist studio. The skylight gives natural daylight in abundance, perfect for painting. In Dutch houses where space is often at a premium, this kind of art space will be looked at with many an envious eye (mine included!)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Tools Of The Trade…

Oops, A New Year and I’m out of synch again: as a creature of habit the new date always throws me on the first days of January.  Apologies for that. As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, I love having an inside peek into artists workplaces, not only can their work spaces be interesting but their tools of the trade can be very photogenic too. Ok of course Rembrandt mixed his paint colours from ground powders, but the tubes of today are also beautiful in their own way…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

 

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Still Life To Amaze…

More amazing still life oil paintings from one of 2019’s ‘Parels’ (Pearls) artists. I think you will agree that these are stunning, Enjoy!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Muted Tones Of Wonderful…

Following on from yesterday’s post, I’m visiting a Parels day painter who has a realistic style full of detail. Right up my alley! I adore this set of paintings, everything from the shadows to the subject matter, for me these oil paintings represent muted tones of wonderful!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Different Style And Detail…

This artists paintings are of flowers studies and detail…I LOVE the Hague’s ‘Parels’ (Pearls) weekends, they throw up so many different styles and unlimited talent, and all this in the neighbourhoods all around us!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Using Your Painted Image In Unusual Ways…

The new artist that I am looking at as I visit one of the Hague’s neighbourhoods ‘Parels’ (Pearls) weekends, gives me a completely new take on painting: she has her images reproduced on fabric and makes them onto bags and cushions. I didn’t even know that this would be possible. The technology and how we use it grows and flows, Who knew?

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

New Artist, New Style…

My arty series of photographs continues as I visit some of the local artists who have opened their homes for their neighbourhoods ‘Parels’ (Pearls) weekend. This new artist has a completely different style to the others I have seen so far. Let’s take a look…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(Below) The sketch…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(Below) The beginning stages of the painting, using the sketch as reference…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Small Space, Prolific Work…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Whenever I see a painting or art form, my mind often wonders about the space in which it was made.

I imagine large studios, some clean and tidy, others chaotic with things strewn around the “work in progress”.

I know that Dutch houses don’t have a lot of space to spare and so then I wonder how they manage to work in their small spaces. I was offered a tour of the paintings various rooms in Natalia’s home, and that included a look into her little studio.

Once upon a time I painted in acrylic paint too, loving the fact that it is a quick drying medium, and that I could build up the images using layers.

I was delighted to see that acrylic is Natalia’s chosen medium too, because it’s a paint often classed as a poor relation to it’s more famous cousins: oil and water colours.

In fact this is far from the case, used well, acrylic is often the favourite of many artists who paint in a super realist style, and love the near photographic results that can be achieved using acrylic paint.

For instance, check out Jason de Graff if you want to see exactly what I mean.

Natalia Stefanova’s work space is a tiny room, well organised, paints on a rack to one side of her workspace.

The width of the room is pretty much what you see in the second photograph, it’s not too much deeper either. Painting some of her bigger works must have been a tight fit.

An article written by Ine van den Boer for “ArtiBrak” was in Dutch, so Himself helped me out by providing an English translation:

“Natalia Stefanova – phantasy rooted in Russian tradition”, “Magic realism – Natalia uses acrylic paint on paper or canvas. She has chosen acrylic for a reason.

“With acrylic paint you can realise the effects of all techniques and materials, such as oil paint or water colours, depending on the substances you add. “she explains.

Often she applies a base of textured paint or gesso which gives her art a weathered wall look. At first she painted figurative still lives but slowly her work developed towards a sort of magic realism. Figures from tarot cards are a source of inspiration, and alchemy and mysticism too, about which she has many books.”

This studio space may be small, but it has a window for natural light and enough space to work…. and work it certainly does because Natalia is a prolific artist, with many beautiful paintings.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(Below) Latest work in progress…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)