New works in the Artist Support Pledge!

Good news! Three – inbetween four (!) – paintings will go to a new home – as soon as the post offices open up again! It’s not a week yet that I sent out my newsletter about my participation in this wonderful initiative! (Want to know more about Artist Support Pledge? Click here!)

My Costa del Arte Collective colleague Annabel Keatley and I, who participate in the initiative of the Artist Support Pledge have event got the attention of the local press! The article is announced for next Friday! Its wonderful that we got so much attention through the internet! Especially as all art shows in Spain are canceled. We had planned and prepared for an exposition in Fuengirola “Sun and Shade” which should have started 20th of April. Of course is not going to happen. Hopefully we can open it in autumn.

We are still in a very strickt lockdown which was just prolonged till 10th of May. I sincerely had hoped for the permission to do some sport for an hour or so outside. But that seems not to be in the new decisions. My rescuer will be the trampoline – finally the new elastic bands arrived! Its a urgent contrast to standing and sitting work at the computer or the easel. So the trampoline is the only possibility to simulate running at the moment!

With the extended confinement I will have more of this special time to contemplate the view from my window – which I often do as it is beautiful – but I never used is as a source of inspiration for my paintings. The stand-still inspired me to do two exercises: a literal-stand still in my place and concentrating on what is in front of me AND to do the opposite of a stand still for my mind: move to do new things. This very special time gives a lot of chances to think about life.

Here they are, the paintings of the series “From my window”. The middle one is one of my rather realistic paintings and features the view. I love the bold colours in the flowers and in the “Building houses”. I am aiming to capture more the spirit of a situation than the real view of it. The flowers are out bursting in the planter of the balcony with the most incredible red and greens. The tropical garden holds a bit of a dreamy landscape (and is sold already to one of my newsletter subscribers). Enjoy!

New paintings

Still available

With a little tear in my eye but with a happy heart I will say “Good by” to these three as they have found very nice new homes:

They were the favourite obviously – they would have found other houses as well. This is the wonderful and the sad thing about most art works: they are unique. So if you buy an original painting your are sure to have an unique piece of art in your home or office.

If you like art + puzzles…..here you have a great choice!

More than 8 puzzles easy, medium and rather difficult ones are waiting for you! Each of it an art work from me! You don’t need a huge table, just your computer!

Click onto the painting or the caption to get there!

2018GL03 Pink house at the fjord

Have a good week! Take care and stay safe!

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!

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

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

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…

…..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