Category: Lifestyle

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!

Yes, I want to receive the Art News!

* indicates required

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!

Want to now more about my art? Tap here.

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…….

Continue reading “Should your art match your furnishings??”

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.

Continue reading “Gallery Time in Marbella”

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!

Continue reading “Great Art Night at FestiArte”

Fascination of Glas Objects

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art Events, ART in General, exhibitions I like, Lifestyle3 Comments on Fascination of Glas Objects

Marbella Galeria Isolina Arbulu presents fascinating glas objects by Gala Fernández

This was a great surprise! I had seen some photos of the glas objects and was a bit reluctant to visit the exhibition – I tent to visit mainly exhibitions with paintings or photos. But as I like the Gallery of Isolina Arbulu and like to know what is happening in the art world of Marbella I made an appointment. How good I did it! I found fascinating glass objects in Marbella! It turned out that these glas objects had the power to fascinate!

Please click onto the images to enlarge and see the whole picture.

Glas Objekts blown into a Metal Cage” from Gala Fernández
3 Glas Objekts blown into Metal Cages” from Gala Fernández
Fascinating glass objects in Marbella green and transparent
Gala Fernández- Galeria Isolina Arbulu

Organic Geometry – a collection of fascinating glass works

The exhibition “Organic Geometry” is part of an experimental project, a series of glass vases blown inside handmade copper wire geometrical structures by the artist and designer Gala Fernández Montero.

Nicely presented in a very puristic surrounding, getting their very special light that creates an interaction between the shadows and the objects, the glas works develop a special magic. The longer we looked at them, the all the more they revealed to us their special character and the more enthusiastic and fascinated we were. A good part of this was due to the sensitive comments of the knowledgeable gallery owner Isolina Arbulu.

  • 3 transparent Glas Objekts blown into a Metal Cage” by Gala Fernández
  • Red vertical Glas Objekts blown into a Metal Cage” by Gala Fernández

The charm of these fascinating glass objects for me is a mixture of vintage atmosphere, workplace atmosphere and the poesy of an art work. I especially liked the transparent objects. They reminded me of places where fisher have their nets and you see these transparent glass balls. Some feeling of the good old times come up.

Award winning artist in Marbella

This exhibition was planned for March and like so many others had to be canceled. The artist had seen the venue but was then stuck due to the Covid 19 crisis and didn’t yet have the chance to see her exhibition. But next week she will fly over to Marbella and visit the gallery.

Continue reading “Fascination of Glas Objects”

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.

Continue reading “A place to go to in Málaga! Juan F. Lacomba at the CAC Málaga”

Perdidos en el tiempo y perdidos en las galerías

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art Events, ART in General, From the artists workshop, Lifestyle, Lifestyle, My exhibitions, Painting on paper, shop, special offer1 Comment on Perdidos en el tiempo y perdidos en las galerías

A veces me siento un poco malhumorado.

Olvido los días, las fechas y la hora, vivo sin reloj. Me siento como flotando en el tiempo, no hay direcciones, no hay “límites duros”, no hay citas, no hay obligaciones. Sólo me despierto y repaso los asuntos diarios que todo pasa en la casa ya que no debemos salir de ella. Comencé una serie llamada “Perdidos en el tiempo”. Son sólo dos pinturas todavía, pero parece que podría ser más.

Estoy en una burbuja de tiempo. Por un lado me siento como alimentado por tanto tiempo en mis manos, por otro lado me siento como en un barco sin timón. Estoy a la deriva, pero hay una corriente que me lleva en alguna dirección. Parte de la corriente es la pintura.

  • Perditos en el tiempo 1 sold
  • Lost in Time 2

En este tiempo especial cambié mis hábitos de pintura. Estoy en una burbuja de tiempo. Por un lado me siento como alimentado por tanto tiempo en mis manos, por otro lado me siento como en un barco sin timón. Estoy a la deriva, pero hay una corriente que me lleva en alguna dirección. Parte de la corriente es la pintura.

  • They are building new houses in my garden 2
  • They are building new houses in my garden 1
  • My tropical garden SOLD

Si quieres ver pinturas no ocultas, las encuentras arriba y más en mi sección de arte Artist Support Pledge.

Las pinturas “perdidas”…….

Continue reading “Perdidos en el tiempo y perdidos en las galerías”

Lost in Time and Lost in Galleries

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art Events, ART in General, From the artists workshop, Lifestyle, Lifestyle, My exhibitions, Painting on paper, shop, special offer1 Comment on Lost in Time and Lost in Galleries

Sometimes I feel a bit moody.

I forget days and dates and time, I live without a watch. I feel like floating in the time, there is no directions, no “hard limits” – no appointments, no musts. Just waking up and going over the daily business that all happens in the house as we are not to leave the house.I started a series called “Lost in time”. Its only two paintings yet, but it feels like it could be more.

I am in a time bubble. On one hand I feel like nourished by so much time at my hands on the other hand I feel like in a boat without rudder. I am drifting, but there is a current that carries me in some direction. Part of the current is painting.

  • Lost in time 1 sold
  • Lost in Time 2

In this special time I changed my painting habbits. I started to paint on paper – only on paper. Canvas, the underground I normally like to use, seems too durable, too long lasting. Paper is light, smaller, drifting, more open, not so serious, qualities that all seem to be more appropriate for this exceptional time. With paper I paint flat on my working table, which faces the window instead of working on an easel that makes me stand for light reasons with the back or the side to the window. So I contemplate for many hours the view, which is beautiful but now it shows a huge building place. They are building new houses in my earlier green zone!

  • They are building new houses in my garden 2
  • They are building new houses in my garden 1
  • My tropical garden SOLD

If you want to look at not hidden paintings you find these above and more in my Artwork section under Artist Support Pledge.

Hidden paintings

The other day I was a bit moody and longing not only for a long walk outside but was missing my paintings. More than 50 percent are locked-in as well, they are in galleries and a showroom! Now they are “Hidden Paintings”! In a little restaurant in Mijas I installed a beautiful wall with some larger paintings. They are hidden since 20th of January!

Paintings in Alboca Gastro, Mijas

Hidden Paintings in Gallery van Gerstel, Marbella

  • „Playtime“
Learn more about the Gallery van Gerstel, Marbella

Hidden Paintings in Gallery Saphira & Ventura in New York

In October 2019 I delivered in person 12 paintings on board in this beautiful gallery in the heart of New York City.

I was so fortunate that some of them were part of a group show in February. Since then they are locked down. Now time goes and all the galleries are closed since long. New York is one of the most hit city by the Corona Pandemie. Who knows, when galleries and museums are opened again?

Want to read more about these exhibitions? Tapp here! About the adventure to take my paintings to New York City? Tap here. See all paintings you can find in NYC here: Click Artsy Website.

Get latest news from my artist journey, life pleasures and challenges! Get new offers first! Join my newsletter he

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with the site owner and Mailchimp to receive marketing, updates, and other emails from the site owner. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.

NOW is the time to buy art!

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Art Events, ART in General, From lthe artists workshop, less than 200 €, Lifestyle, Lifestyle, Painting on paper, Post, shop, Small formats/ kleine Formate, special offerLeave a Comment on NOW is the time to buy art!

Dear Art Lover I am real excited! I bought a beautiful artwork made by my fellow artist Annabel Keatley.  You can see it a bit further  below! I have had the wish and plan to install in our apartment a gallery wall of small paintings by my artist friends for quite a while. But THIS was the final push to act:

The Artist Support Pledge

The Artist Support Pledge is an initiative started by Matthew Burrows, a painter based in London. It gives artists the opportunity to support other artists, and at the same time make some income in a time when we need alternative ways of showing our work. The idea is that the artist offers for sale works under € 200,  by posting them on their social media platforms (Instagram) and tagging them with hashtag #artistsupportpledge. When the artists have made € 1,000 due to sales, she or he pledges to buy another artists work for the total of 200 Euro.

Based on trust, generosity and community spirit this initiative is bringing artists together and is also a great way for art lovers to find new artists and buy affordable art. 

I couldn’t wait for selling enough because this was an opportunity!!!  I have been in love with Annabels paintings for so long. The watercolor captures a view of Cabo de Gata by Annabel Keatley. See more of her work on her website and Instagram account.  
In the following I am presenting my first available works, so as to give you first option before my posts go live. 

Annabel Keatley

I sent out a newsletter two days ago and today I started to post my available works on my social media accounts. Already three are waiting to be shipped to their new home!
You find me on Instagram here:  oppellandhampelart and here on my Facebook account.   If you don’t have one of these accounts you can follow my Post News on my website www.artgoppellandhampel.com by subscribing at the bottom of this page. 

All paintings are offered unframed. Due to the post office being closed here in Spain, I will ship as soon as its possible. Shipping is not included in the price.

If you would like to buy a painting please get in touch and I will mark that painting sold when l put it up on my Social Media feed. 

This is my first choice for the Artist Support Pledge Initiative

I choose works on paper. Most of them have been created during the lockdown.

  • “So much in my head” 170 €
  • “Flowers for Saint Patricks day” 170 €
  • “Keep up your good spirit” 170 €
  • “Where there is darkness there is light” – 170 €

Each of these paintings is ca. 41 x 30 cm , mixed media on paper and sells for 170 Euro. 

  • SOLD “Spring outbursting” 200 €
  • “Red energy” 200 €
  • “Still pink times” 200 €
  • SOLD “From my window at a blue day”

Each  painting is ca. 50×32 cm, acrylic or mixed media on paper and sells for 200  Euro.  If you wish so I  send the painting with a white mat (passpartout) that can fit a standard frame. They will be signed in the front.

Last not least: Two paintings on stretched canvas!

  • SOLD “Lost in time” 200 €
  • “Find your way!” 200 €

More interesting art news here: 

I have been writing in my Blog News about my private initiative to reward with one of my
“Desert Trip Prints” those who donate more than 100 Euro to a welfare organisation in their community! I already had the pleasure to be rewarded with an artwork of my artist friend Anne Bedrick of whom I copied this idea. Read all details about the rules here: 
Do something for your community and be rewarded with art!

Here is something to spend your time joyfully (hopefully not stressed!) with art:
Why you might be failing some paintings ……because they are puzzles! 
This is a link to two digital puzzles ( a simple one and a complicated one) that will reward you in the end with the completion of one of my art works! Have fun!!

You find more puzzles of my art work on this puzzle page if you look for my name. This is my latest puzzle and painting: From my window: Plants are blooming again!

A happy and peaceful Easter and best health for all of you! Take care!

Click onto the painting or caption to reach the puzzle!

From my window: Plants are blooming again

How to feel part of the community while staying at home!

by artgerritoppellandhampelin ART in General, From lthe artists workshop, Lifestyle, Lifestyle, Tips for Artists1 Comment on How to feel part of the community while staying at home!

If you are love the feeling of being part of a community, part of a team, part of a group that shares same values or goals, how do you maintain it in this special times of physical distance? I want to introduce you to newly developed ideas that got me excited and of which I want to be part off.

It is great to see how much creativity is burstig out in face of the complete interruption of our daily routines!

I found in Instagram an idea that I am going to share and will share with you! Its an Artist support Artist Initiative! I don’t remember that I ever have seen this! What’s the idea behind it?

In short: Artist offer artwork for not higher than 200 € in Instagram and Facebook. When they have gained 1000 € they will by an artwork from a fellow artist in this initiative. So this would be a 20% donation. I will post paintings in this or under this range and decided to buy an artwork from a fellow artist, when I have earned 500 €. So keep your fingers crossed that my action will bring success! You can help, of course if you ever have been thinking to become a collector!

  • View from my window at a blue day 200 €
  • Going wild 170 €
Artist Support Pledge

So far this two paintings on paper have been released on Instagram and Facebook

I will be offering more soon. These are my candidates:

  • Keep up your good spirit
  • View from my window
  • Flowers for Saint Patricks day

And here is your job for today!

Be careful, my husband is already hooked on puzzleing!

Click onto the painting! This is not an easy one! My husband got already hooked on it!

2018GL03 Pink house at the fjord

I hope you have had some interesting minutes while reading this – or hours, while doing the puzzles. Let me know! Curious how you think about it!

Why you might be failing at some paintings…

by artgerritoppellandhampelin Lifestyle, Lifestyle, special offer4 Comments on Why you might be failing at some paintings…

…..because they are Puzzles!

I am thinking a lot about the role of art in our world at the moment. Its a great philosophical questions – how does art serve mankind? (And my question: how can I serve you, sitting at home with interested in the beauty or energy of art?) What a great question! My personal view on this in advance: I am deeply convinced that art plays a very important role in the live of many people. In all the centuries of human living on earth men have created artful pieces and partly worshiped them. The longing for beauty is inherent in mankind.

There are a lot of interesting discussions about abstract art. Sorry (or thanks heaven?) I will not go into that now. Yesterday I heard a nice quote about art: “Art should arouse attention, irritate, give pleasure and stimulate thought”.

Lets stop philosophy and see how we can put the pieces together

Far from all deep philosophical thoughts (which I might continue one day or not, who knows) I have two pieces of art that may entertain you, while staying at home and looking for some attractive occupation. In any case they will be thought-provoking (and if you are as impatient as I am) they maybe irritating. But if you give it a lot of attention they may give you some pleasure at the end.

I got this wonderful idea from Anne Bedrick from Palm Springs, California – make an online puzzle from your art work! I am usually not a great fan of puzzles, but with time at my hands, who knows. I tried to solve Anne’s puzzle but very soon changed to the kids play. Twelve pieces and I succeeded !

Two art puzzles – Kids version and grown up version!

Click onto the image and start!!!!

https://www.jigidi.com/created.php?id=QRBE6EA0

You choose! There is one game with about 200 pieces and one with 12! Your choice. Both are (of course) paintings of mine. The kids puzzle is called “Lost in time” – that is a how feel at the moment. The bigger one is called “Wood land”. It provokes a longing in me, as we are in the Lock- down NOT allowed to go out, do sport or just walk in the woods. Hopefully we all will manage to put the puzzle parts together in the end and get back our (new)normal lives! So lets exercise a bit!

Click onto the images and solve the puzzle! Let me know if you succeeded! If you like it, I make more!

Click onto the image to start!

Woodland 150×130 cm Acrylic on Canvas

I have a lot of time now – and as I am curious and like to learn I jumped without much thought into a 30-day-posting challenge. So you might receive a post every day – maybe.

Tell me how you liked it! Leave a comment!

Best regards Gerrit

From my studio to the world

by artgerritoppellandhampelin ART in General, From lthe artists workshop, Lifestyle, Painting on canvas, Painting on paperLeave a Comment on From my studio to the world 
See this email in the browser. Double click on the blue sentence.

How about enhancing your skills while being at home?

Its a while since my last post, so I just wanted to reach out to you and say HELLO! Hopefully I can add some ideas for your stay at home.

We are all in a never expected extreme situation since my last post. Most of you experience the situation of having very or completely restricted access to social contacts and manage life under very different circumstances.

In Spain we are in complete house arrest which was just extended to 12th of April and it is not very unlikely that the lock down may be extended even longer. We can only leave our house for buying food or medicine, going to the doctor or working (when permitted) Even the communal gardens are off limits. It’s the first time I wish I had a dog! Then I could go for a short walk with the dog – though just for the absolutely necessary!

View from my window

May be I can help a bit to make the best of your time?

If you aren’t busy in entertaining children staying at home ( which will keep you very busy) but with grown up family or all alone, wouldn’t it be a chance to have all that time at hand to try something new?

If you are with younger children, maybe this will be fun?

Probably you have by now found a lot of ideas in the internet how to entertain your children during long days at home. What I want to share this with you a real pieces of art, designed by my fellow artist Lieuwke Loth! I will make available kids colourings. During the Art Walk Cómpeta which was organized by Lieuwke Loth, these colourings were given to the school children of the village of Cómpeta. Maybe you would like to colour one too? I tell you, it is meditative! If you are interested, I will make them available through my next newsletter so that you can print them out and maybe the whole family has fun!

Don’t receive my newsletter yet? Join the list at the end of this post!

And for you ? How about learning something new?

From friends I hear they cleared out their wardrobe, painted the apartment, cleaned the kitchen in depth, took perfect care for their garden and more. They are creating a splendid home to stay in.

I choose to focus on the pleasant things of life and boost my immun system.

  • I decided to experiment with painting – do things, I normally don’t do. I work on paper, I try new styles, I copy other artists, I experiment – aim to have great fun and no achievements. 
  • I sleep long
  •  Read and play 
  • try some new recipes
  • and use intensely internet and social media to connect with like minded people
  • I am learning lots of things….

What really excited me in the last years are fantastic internet workshops. I would love to share my experiences with you!

I discovered the huge and fascinating world of knowledge for artists in the internet. Its literary at your finger tips and at home! There are so many inspirational classes – inspiration is key for artists! Of course it needs some effort to find the right ones that are worth your money or time!
I visited art workshops in person and I enjoyed the direct contact with teacher and other students. But as we are travelling a lot, it was always difficult to find the right workshop at the right time. Do you know this problem? The internet offers the solution! So now I am hooked on internet courses.

Maybe I can help you with your choice?

There are offered many workshops for free just now ( and of course a lot you have to pay for). You will find ongoing programs that focus on the art, the art business or on one aspect of the art making. I have participated in real inspiring workshops that lasted three weeks or three months. I am really touched and excited about the community of artist I met in this kind of forum and about the immense support I have received from the teachers and the other students. Its real huge.

In my next newsletter I will tell you more about a series of free art workshops of a very experienced fellow artist of mine who is a painter and a printer. She will teach about oil and cold wax in her next presentation, but there is more to come. Stay tuned!

Take your time to evaluate what to do next with the help of a friend

You will as well find information about an art marketing class which I am attending. I really cherish this course and it has taught me a lot. They are just about to release a new 10 weeks program that will help artists reaching the online market. I will send out the newsletter this coming week – looking forward to meeting you there!

By clicking submit, you agree to share your email address with me and Mailchimp to receive about once a month news from my artist life. Of course you can always use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time.

Processing…
Wellcome, you are on my list!
Lost in Time

If you are interested in one of the art works just email me!

If you want to see some about my daily art, follow me on Facebook and Instagram !



What does an artist do in quarantine??

by artgerritoppellandhampelin ART in General, From lthe artists workshop, Lifestyle, Painting on paper, Tips for Artists4 Comments on What does an artist do in quarantine??

We have the motto “Stay home – flatten the curve”, we have the time of “Social distance” , time of shut down of useful and/or entertaining events in the outside world. I am very happy the Spanish government took a hard decision and I do hope that it was taken in time and will succeed saving many lives!!!

News from an artist in a closed down country

Here in Spain, where my husband and I spend the winter time, its a very severe close down. To leave the house is only allowed for: shopping food and medicine, medical appointments, going to work or other urgent and to be proofed matters. Allowed only one person in the car, only one person going out with the dog. Not allowed to use the fitness room in the urbanisation. We have high fines when not respecting the rules and there is quite some police outside to check. So it is a very serious “Stay at home”. After our first not yet fulfilled two weeks, we got prolonged house arrest; Stay at home till 12th of April.

How is your situation? How do you make the best of your of your time in the house?

If you aren’t busy in entertaining children, that have to stay home ( which will keep you very busy) but with grown up family or all alone, wouldn’t it be a chance to have all that time at hand to try something new?
There is so much new to do in the house!!!!
Internet courses can be something new: The internet is a great resource for so many things. You can learn practically everything when you go to You Tube. You can make photo books, which you always had in mind, you can visit the metropolitan opera (who offers everyday one opera for free to watch in the internet!), you can start reading all the books you didn’t read, join a library online, visit a museum (most of the known museums now offer virtual walks through their exhibition) you can clean out the house or finishing to knit all the pieces you started ( I think I have 4 waiting for me :-). Its also a great time for cooking and baking and much much more. From friends in Italy and here in Spain I hear they cleared out their wardrobe, painted the apartemente, cleaned the kitchen in depth, took perfect care for their garden and more. 

Art could teach you something !!!


I focus more on the pleasant side of this time:

I made a list……what is your list?
Clearing out the wardrobe or doing a daily yoga practice were on my list, but I concentrate on other things in the moment. I want to go for the most attractive things I always wanted to do but didn’t find the time to do.

I am taking this “Time out” as an opportunity to change the speed of living and working, to sleep and play a lot. For me its a great opportunity to “walk slowly”. Can you share your list with us?
My list for the “Stay home and flatten the curve” time is:

  • I decided to experiment with painting – do things, I normally don’t do. I work on paper, I try new styles, I experiment, I copy artists I like and want to learn from – to have great fun and not head for achievements. 
  • I sleep long
  • I booked an online Spanish grammar workshop
  • I take a lot of time for social media without feeling wasting my time
  • I try new recipes – I love to eat but never really take the time to cook with attention
  • and with my fellow artists from Costa del Arte Collective I think about new ways to present our planned exhibition “Sun and Shade / Sol y Sombra” which is planned for April and we are not at all sure that it may happen … 27.03.2020 Now we know: it will not happen in April!!! We postponed it to October. If you want to be informed, let me know!

I am quite happy at the moment, but….

I enjoy to have time, nearly no duties and the opportunity to (re) discover my own rhythm there is an interesting BUT in self discovery: my own little devil. Most enjoyable, I am getting lazier and lazier….I can feel the stress that I was having in the last months slowly falling off. Becoming lazy for me is a good sign – at least I know it is.

Can you stand the feeling of being lazy, not achieving something? Let me tell you, it is a healthy sign. And you see, I am an achievement – addict. That’s why I thought of a method of painting that would give me a different and not achievement oriented go. We are only on day 4, so we will see how it goes….