Category: Art

Its all about art on my website

A very special and unique museum in Málaga

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, ART in General, exhibitions I like, Lifestyle1 Comment on A very special and unique museum in Málaga

The planned visit gave us a bit of a logistic headache as we are late people and the museum would be closed between 14:00 and 16:00 hours. I didn’t trust unknown parking spaces so we decided to park in the wonderful garage of Calle Alemania, and headed along the river to a very special and unique museum , the Museum Jorge Rando. (Find the link at the end of this article )

We originally planned to visit the exhibition of a Chinese artist, but we were two days late. Not a disappointment though, as we had the chance to get a rather complex view on the life‘s work of Jorge Rando, the neo-expressive painter of Málaga, who has gained such a fame that he was awarded with his own museum by the city of Málaga.

Jorge Rando: A very special and unique museum in Málaga

I love this museum. It‘s in itself a beautiful place and a centre of cultural life. It surrounds you with this wonderful stillness that you find in churches and museums – when you are lucky. At our arrival a chorus was just practicing in the beautiful yard. What an inspiring add on while we were exploring an impressive new extension of the museum building.

Mariposas everywhere…..

The main exhibition was around the butterflies. “Mariposas” are a theme that Rando tackled over many years again and again. The whole basement was dedicated to them.

A stair upwards: The human life

Jorge Rando (Spain – 1941) is one of the greatest international exponents of Neo-expressionism.

„For more than fifty years, his works have been exploring dignity as a testimony of being; the necessary construction of individual identity; the denouncement of injustice and the call to individual action and responsibility as the only path to hope; the exploration of the essence of human condition through feelings such as love and suffering; the defence and visibility of the role of women as protagonists in
the fate of humanity or the call to restore a harmonious relationship between humanity and animals and nature.“ (Quote Jorge Rando Museum)

Motherhood, Africa, Spirituality and more…

The themes that Rando covered and are exhibited here are centre exactly around his love of the human being, like Motherhood, Spirituality, Human life and more. As an abstract expressionist painter myself, I am always especially attracted by his abstracts. (Click onto the paintings to enlarge.)

Nature
Nature
Nature
Motherhood
Butterflies
Nature
Africa
Nature

In another part of the museum I got some goose bumps. There is a gallery of faces, some from people living in the street, some from soldiers. With the Ukrainian drama in the back of the head, I was not comfortable being faced with the theme of soldiers. I have seen these exponents already before, but never it worried me so much.

Not only the entrance is free for you, also the pleasure of art books

An incredible great and rich room is the library. The entrance to the museum and the use of the library are free. You find a collection of art books that you can only dream of. Sit down and have a look. Come earlier than we did. Reserve an hour of leisure to sit down and enjoy. And then…..maybe a lunch at Plaza de la Mercedes ? Its only 10 walking minutes away.

Jorge Rando

If you like what you see here

like to learn more about art places I visit ( many in the area Marbella/Málaga )and the art I make and show, follow my excursions via my Art News! Get your regular dose of art and feel inspired!

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Museo Jorge Rando

Here you also find the audio guide to the museum!

Another visit to Jorge Rando Museum

Running exhibition in Marbella Gallery – part of it is still up!

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Should your art match your furnishings??

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, ART in General, Lifestyle, Painting in a room, Paintings in homes
The painting giving character to the hotel lounge – this painting was bought first, second the sofas!

Should your art match your furnishings??

Should art match your furnishings? This interesting question was brought up in a circle of fellow artists I am a member of. It is a question I am confronted with, when talking about art with people interested in buying one of my works. They have questions like : “will the work fit into the assigned room? Will it go with the colours of the room? Will it be the right size for our small apartment?” and more of this kind.

Concerning these questions I have some brief answers. For example, I am convinced large paintings make a small room larger because they create a sense of space while smaller paintings tend to narrow it even more – this is my answer to: we only have a small room, apartment etc. My answer to “ will it fit into the room?” is: if it is feasible, I will bring the painting to the home of the possible buyer. If further away I give a generous possibility to return the artwork, if the new owners are not happy with it.

Can we have too much art?

My answer to “We already have too many artworks” : as an artist I am convinced you cannot have too much art. There are great ways to design a gallery wall as an assembly of different artworks. For sure there are a lot of solutions to integrate art into your home. Find links about gallery walls at the bottom of this article.

But of course this is a personal question of how much room you want to assign to art in your life. In one of my next posts I will hopefully be able to prove this with showing you the home of one of my collectors. To finish my thoughts with the quote of a gallery owner : “If you buy a great art work you have to make room for it in your home!”

A commission work by Kasia Clarke for a client

Should your art match your furnishings? Yes or no or?

My answers above don’t solve the question: Should art match your furnishings, asked in the title of this post. I would love to share the post written by my fellow artist Kasia Clarke, who has given this question some interesting thoughts underpinned by great visual examples .

Kasia Clark in her studio

Kasia Clarke is a British artist living and working near Reigate, Surrey. Recently she has been working on an exciting theme: translating Chopin’s preludes into visual art – a fascinating project!

Should your art match your furnishings??

Feb 6 2022

Written By Kasia Clarke

The issue of matching…

The question of whether an artwork will “go” in a room is often one of the first things that an art buyer will think of when considering a painting. This is understandable – a painting is often colourful and we are conditioned to expect that things need to coordinate for an interior to be successful. Read on…….

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The 100 day project is coming to an end!

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, From lthe artists workshop, From the artists workshop, Tips for Artists

These days the 100 day project is coming to an end. The 31st ofJanuary was the starting day of the 100 day project – an international digital and free project inviting people around the world to take part in 100 days of creativity. The aim was to choose a personal creative project and dedicate each day a little span of time – something between 10 and 30 minutes – to this project. It was recommended to share the results with the internet community.

At the time when I learned about the project in January I was feeling very low and very uninspired. Probably I was exhausted from a very demanding year with all it’s threats and uncertainties caused by the pandemic and by quite some exhibitions I was taking part in or did organize myself. So my studio was deserted and nothing would motivate me to go in. I was hesitating to take part in this project – would I stand a project that took 100 days? Thats a very long time, more than three months! I decided to go for it, to be generous with myself and be content with what ever would come out of it. What did I have to loose?

The 100 day project starting logo

“Can you think of a better time for a reset, a better time to turn our collective attention away from doom scrolling and to something inherently positive, life and soul affirming?”

This was the  sentence that convinced me in the end! Nevertheless: very unexpectedly the project was a huge win for me! I am back in my studio with new ideas, plans and motivation! What more could I wish for?

As I said, I was generous with myself. I chose a project that was simple, feasible and I was sure, would give me pleasure. Color is my passion. The hashtag I chose for my project is  #100daysofcolourcardsandmore. 
( Meanwhile I learned that they are called color swatches :-))  Under this hashtag you find a lot of my results. 

Opening up for new experience and learning was so rewarding.

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A key to break a stressful time

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, ART in General, blue, Color/ Farbe, From the artists workshop, green, red, Tips for Artists, Yellow1 Comment on A key to break a stressful time

The 100 day project after 70 days

What I can say from the very beginning, after 50 days and now again after 70 days: Engaging in the 100 day project was my key to break a stressful time. I was exhausted from an intensive year and had lost all my motivation after having presented in exhibitions and after nearly a year in the pandemic. You will know what I am talking about.

Against my personal prediction I stayed in the 100 day project and it became key for not only breaking the mental stress but bringing new initiative and inspiration. The framework of my chosen project #100daysofcolourcardsandmore created a focus. Suddenly there was a thin but strong red threat to follow. It turned out to become a very enlightening and restful time in my studio.

5 Rows of colour swatches
Color swatches of the Zorn palette.

There could have been no better way to stay tuned and get some mental holiday in these demanding times. It turned out to be a kind of self-care time, slowing down, exploring in depth, not hurried by the next event to work for and not under self expectation to create the next fantastic work. I did so many other things and had (and still have) such an entertaining time!

To do simple, but pleasurable work, slow down, break routines, being open for new things was a key to break the stress and get inspired again.

I started the color swatches with a limited palette, the Zorn palette. It is incredible, how many colors you get from only two colors and black and white. In the end I made an inventory of all the colors I found in tubes and pigments in my studio! An incredible mass!
I read books – enjoyed very much the book from Brian Ruthenberg “Clear seeing place” and his videos which I highly can recommend. I did sketching in the nature, I learned how to make tiny artist booklets from one sheet of paper and I learned such a lot about color! And as I was in the learning mode, I even learned how to make home made rolls 🙂

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“Lost souls make strong spirits”

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, ART in General, exhibitions I like2 Comments on “Lost souls make strong spirits”
Impressing exhibition of Nanon Morsink’s textil art sculptures and paintings at Galería Isolina Arbulu, Marbella

The first time I saw works by Nanon Morsink was when I was visiting the Art Walk Cómpeta some years ago. Seeing the work the first time I knew at once that I had met a very special talented artist. The happier I am now for the chance to visit the impressing exhibition of Nanon Morsink’s textil art sculptures and paintings at Galería Isolina Arbulu. Great pleasure to connect again with Nanon who’s way I have been following since.

Connected: El toque naranja y verde
broken connection
Two knitted figures that demonstrate connection and seperation
Foto Galería Isolina Arbulu
It’s all about connecting

Two figures symbolize several ways to connect with each other. Their arms are extra long to be able to get in touch with each other. They are in touch, but how? How easy this way of connecting can be changed and create another situation we all experience now in Corona times. Nanon Morsink, the creator of this couple and this exquisite exhibition demonstrates how easy connecting can be turned into separation. Still facing each other the long arms are used for embracing themselves. They become kind of a safety shield around each figure – Nanon demonstrates with this perfect symbolic arrangement what we experience just happening in our times.

Lost souls make strong spirits is the title of this exhibition in the beautiful GALERIA ISOLINA ARBULU who presents a most impressive choice of works by Dutch artist NANON MORSINK.

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How to start an abstract painting

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, ART in General, From lthe artists workshop, From the artists workshop, large formats/ große Formate, Tips for Artists2 Comments on How to start an abstract painting

I recently saw, that the question “How to start an abstract painting” got new interest. So I decided to add to this post a video about the process of starting a new large painting. Just watch how the first layers grow. If you want to see the finished painting, you will find it on Instagram here.


An artist friend asked me the other day: How do you start an abstract painting? I didn’t give her an answer yet. Now here is a series of photos that may tell a part of the story. But it is the story of these particular works. It may be quite different with other paintings I do or how others artists design their process. There are so many ways to start a new painting. Not all ways are invented by now.

How do I start an abstract painting?

When I was starting my painters journey about 20 years ago – after some very few lessons in working figurative – I was so lucky to visit a painting workshop by an Austrian artist. Her name was Fria Elften-Frenken. She lived in a beautiful kind of farmhouse on the Neusiedler Lake. She had studied in the academy of fine arts, Vienna and was well known. One of her remembered sentences was: “It took years to forget about what I learned and to start doing my own art.” Consequently she would provide us with materials but not with lessons and ideas. She was always ready to consult when we were stuck. But we had to find our own way.

Some insights into the development of “Thinking of Saint Tropez”

Trust into yourself -its all about you!

I am lucky that I had this kind of start. That was what I was looking for in art. It is this kind of freedom. It allows you to do what you want. In a way, there is no right and wrong. If it is appreciated by others is a second questions. Art is a lot about expressing yourself. Of course there are many of things to be learned. About ways you can take, materials you can use and thousand other things. But what you do, how you get there and what result comes out of it, that is your own art.

How to cope with the „angst of the white canvas“

At the beginning another sentence was in my head about something artists experience: “the angst of the white canvas”. I don’t know where I had heard it and why it stuck in my head. But influenced the steps I took.

Read on how I handled that „Angst“ and watch the beginning of a large painting

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Moving works and a moving title

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, exhibitions I like1 Comment on Moving works and a moving title

The running exhibition in the the Gallery Isolina Arbulu in Marbella

I saw the introduction picture and the title of the exhibition some weeks ago when I was not yet in Marbella. But the painting and the title captured my attention at once and stick in my head. I was very happy that I got the chance to visit the exhibition which will run till 10th of November.

“Entre el dolor y la nada” by Pablo Mercado

Exhibition by Pablo Mercado im Galeria Isolina Arbulu in Marbella

I have visited several exhibitions in the private gallery of Isolina Arbulu. The gallery has it’s home in an impressive house that you find at the end of some up winding streets. Each time I visited an exhibition I was very pleased and surprised by her choice of interesting artists as well of Isolina’s ability to introduce the artist and the intention behind the art.

The title of this exhibition, which impressed me at once, refers to the writer William Faulkner and his book “The wild palms”.
“Given the choice between the experience of pain and nothing, I would choose pain.”

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Sol y Sombra – Sun and Shade – a new exhibition of the Costa del Arte Collective

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, exhibitions I like, My exhibitionsLeave a Comment on Sol y Sombra – Sun and Shade – a new exhibition of the Costa del Arte Collective

We are pleased to announce the opening of our exhibition “Sol y Sombra” on the 29th of October 17h – 20h in the Gallery Art Club in Fuengirola, Málaga. The show will be open from the 30th of October to the 17th of November. We are very happy to welcome you! That’s what we normally […]
Read more by tapping the line below…

Sol y Sombra – Sun and Shade – a new exhibition of the Costa del Arte Collective — Costa del Arte Collective

Gallery time in Marbella 2

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, exhibitions I like, My exhibitions2 Comments on Gallery time in Marbella 2

The perfect Illusion in Gallery Yusto y Giner and a Festival full of Art

A very simple little sign shows the interested visitor the way to the very impressively designed gallery Yusto/Giner, which is located in a POLÍGONO INDUSTRIAL in Marbella. Young people elegant dressed flock in droves to the opening of the new exhibition. Right at the end of the small street you see a huge gate that opens upwards like a garage door and can get a a glimpse of the spacious interior of the gallery.

  • Shows a view into the Gallery Yusto y Giner
  • Visitors in a spacious room of Yusto y Giner

The premises of this gallery are fantastic, high and spacious. They support the dramatic set up of the current exhibition “Before 1881” , the first solo show by the young artist Julio Anaya Cabanding from Málaga. “He reinterprets the works of the great classical painters in two ways. He works on discarded and deteriorated mediums, collected from abandoned places and rehabilitated in his studio, in order to give the a new identity in a different context.”(Text Yosto/Giner)

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Gallery Time in Marbella

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, ART in General, exhibitions I like, Lifestyle, My exhibitions1 Comment on Gallery Time in Marbella

A comment on our time in EsArte Gallery
and an exhibition in the artists home.

Life comes back to the art scene in Marbella. Many things are happening only in a weeks time!! Galleries invite for inaugurations, the FestiArte will show 150 artists and the author of this article invites you to see an exhibition in her home – in the “new normal”. Follow her tour through the exhibition at home on her videos.

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Great Art Night at FestiArte

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, ART in General, Lifestyle, My exhibitions1 Comment on Great Art Night at FestiArte

Great art nights at FestiArte!
Marbella 30.07.-02.08.2020

This is the first great exhibition which is planned for Marbella:
The FestiArte will take place in one of the prominent spots of the town. More than 100 artists in 60 tents are waiting to show their art and chat with the visitors! You are invited to have an exiting art night in a wonderful atmosphere!

I am real exited to participate in this event. It’s my first exhibition this year in which I can participate in person. I am so much looking forward to this event, to meeting the visitors, to a lot of chats with friends, the other artists and my collectors!

Charming photo of the FestiArte exhibition in the night
Great Art Night at FestiArte

Magic atmosphere strolling between artists and their art

I participated last year in this event and I loved it. Such a great atmosphere! A bit like a huge family on a campground. The atmosphere is fantastic and it’s great to stop by here and there and chat with the artists about their art! Like last year I will have a tent side by side with my fellow artist from Costa del Arte Collective, the symbolic painter Anouk Slegers. Come and visit us! We cherish rather similar color palettes, but our art couldn’t be more different!

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How to start a new painting

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, ART in General, From lthe artists workshop, From the artists workshop, Painting on canvas, Painting on paper, Tips for ArtistsLeave a Comment on How to start a new painting

How to start a new painting?

The other day a friend visited me to have a talk and some demonstrations for painting. My friend loves art and wants to give it a try for herself. She has seen a lot and has a taste for art. But she has nearly no experience with using a brush. One of her questions was: How do you start a new panting?
Actually a good question and a difficult answer.

How to jump on a white canvas?

Starting a new painting is always somehow exiting – at least for me. I never know where this journey will lead me to – and seldom I make plans which I then will not follow. In the end my start is always fed by the impulse of the moment. The most I have in mind is a color direction. Maybe there is even a theme deep back in my more unconscious brain.

Beginnings

There are many ways to start. I paint

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A place to go to in Málaga! Juan F. Lacomba at the CAC Málaga

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, ART in General, exhibitions I like, Lifestyle3 Comments on A place to go to in Málaga! Juan F. Lacomba at the CAC Málaga

A place to go to in Málaga!
Juan Lacomba at the CAC Málaga

This was my very first visit to a museum since February this year, when I went to see the exhibition in the Museum Jorge Rondo, a secret tip for Málaga and definitely another place to go to in Málaga!

The CAC MÁLAGA is a temple for contemporary art. It has its home in a spacious and “clean” white building. Mostly three exhibitions are running at the same time. We visited the incredible show “Lacomba. Aqui a lo lejos”.

Having all the art for us alone!

Paintings of Lacomba in the CAC Málaga

For me stepping into a museum is like entering another realm. For me its a place of contemplation and joy. After a short fever measuring and putting our masks we were allowed to visit this great “free of charge” museum. Setting my feet into this temple of culture after long months of cultural starving was an incredible feeling. Seeing the paintings of Lacomba so wonderful set in this great environment was sheer joy. The more as it was a very specific Corona experience: we were the only visitors to have all this art for us – well watched by the personell of the museum. From this experience I can say: a museum is definitely a place to go in Málaga or elsewhere in these times. Maybe better to avoid the weekend.

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If you happen to be in Marbella or Málaga, don’t miss these exhibitions

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art, Art Events, ART in General, exhibitions I like, large formats/ große FormateLeave a Comment on If you happen to be in Marbella or Málaga, don’t miss these exhibitions

If you happen to be in Marbella or Málaga, don’t miss…

Dieter Nuhr in Reiners Contemporary Art Marbella

If you happen to be in Marbella or Málaga, don’t miss these exhibitions. In Marbella there are two gallery shows I am interested in and I would like to recommend. Both galleries – run by knowledgeable, charming gallerists –  present new shows in June/July. I visited the presentation of Dieter Nuhr’s large-format painterly photographs – in the “new normal” style- masks obligatory – at Gallery Reiners Contemporary Art.  The gallerist Flor Reiners offers visits by appointment ( phone 628374676) , Email: flor@reinerscontemporaryart.com
Thanks to Gabriela Berner, journalist of the German SUR I can show you here her article on the opening of the show of Dieter Nuhr!

Here is a little sneak prewiew into some photos to be seen. Due to the “New normal” and the fact that this was the first time after months to put a feet into a temple of art and on top to get to know a new gallery, I forgot t take photos. Two of the paintings you can see in the exposition in Marbella and more of these great works. I added two paintings from other exhibitions to demonstrate the size of this wonderful painterly photos that tell stories of Dieter Nuhrs travels worldwide. They guide our view on walls that show many layers and have seen many events and many years pass by. The work of time.

The exhibition will be open till 6th of July. It is open by appointment for 6 persons with masks. (Flor Reiners; 62803740674) or flor@reinerscontemporaryart.com

  • See it at Reiners
  • This is from another exhibition
  • This is from another exhibition
  • See this at Reiners

Read here (in German) the article about the exhibition of Dieter Nuhr in Reiners Cotemporary Art Gallery. Many thanks to Gabriela Berner, a journalist of the German SUR, for letting us read her article on this page and providing me with two images!

If you happen to be in Marbella and are interested in art and art exhibitions, you might be interested in joining my newsletter. Next time I will write about an exhibition, which I haven`t visited yet but hopefully will see next week. The exhibition promises to be interesting. The gallery Isolina Arbulu, Marbella, presents Gala Fernandez Montero – Organic Geometry. It will open tomorrow , 12th of June, by private invitation.

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