art studio atelier28

today's creation: the piano lady

2012-02-24T17:56:00.000+01:00

The paint is still wet...but this is what I was working on today. It's oil on canvas (18 x 13 cm)...still inspired by the piano lady...

the piano woman: new painting

2012-02-23T23:47:00.000+01:00

This is today's creation, oil on canvas 18 x 13 cm. I was inspired by a pianist I recently saw performing on the television...I found it mesmerising to watch her let alone listen to her.

Wight light: beach holiday photos from the Isle of Wight

2012-02-22T18:46:00.001+01:00

These are The Needles off the western corner of the Isle of Wight (off the south coast of England) and it's where I get to hang out when I visit my family. How lucky am I?!! As you know, the coast and it's colours and light are a constant inspiration for our art work. I find it amazing how different it is to where we live in the Netherlands, which isn't really that far away.

The sea is obviously more dramatic opening directly out onto the Atlantic. Surfers love this beach. Those are chalk cliffs in the background.

And the beloved beach hut. I could hang out here all year. This is on Steephill Cove, a particularly charming place to spend a holiday with small shops and cafes nestled in the huts looking out directly over the sea.

Just to add to the nostalgia, a couple of photos from a vintage car exhibition that we went to...

The shapes are great!

And a beautiful rainbow to end with... all food for new art!

made in zeeland: new paintings

2012-02-21T21:26:00.000+01:00

These are this weeks creations. It's a theme that I've often returned to the last couple of years. They are girls wearing the traditional clothing of Zeeland, the region of the Netherlands where we live. In the summer months we attend a weekly market in Veere by the coast with our etching press giving demonstrations wearing these clothes. I've grown to love the tradition and the history behind it, so I enjoy making these paintings...and I can't wait for summer! (Both are oil on canvas 20 x 20 cm.)

the dinosaurs are coming! New etching from the art class

2012-02-20T22:24:00.001+01:00

These magnificent looking creatures were made by one of our younger etchers, Tristan (aged 14). He has a passion for dinosaurs and has made a collection of sketches in a thick book. He joined our etching workshop a few months ago and has been producing these fantasically detailed etchings. This one is quite large (18 x 24 cm) and was first made on a copper plate before being printed in various ink colours. I'm very much enjoying seeing him explore the art of etching.

mmmm cake

2012-02-18T17:38:00.000+01:00

A week or so ago I saw a photo posted on facebook of cake made in the shape of Lego. It was a sponge cake covered in brightly colored icing. Well I fancied having a go...but instead made a chocolate cake, and covered part of the cake in white icing. The little cupcakes above were trimmed with a round biscuit cutter and 'glued' onto a square cake with jam. It was pretty tasty!

skating on ice and the studio kitty: new paintings

2012-02-16T22:39:00.000+01:00

The ice has infact melted now...and I'm really glad it has because the studio is warmer and much more conducive for creativity and painting. These are this week's creations. Both are oil on canvas, above 20 x 20 cm and below 18 x 13 cm. The ice skaters are of course inspired by the photos I took at the end of last week, and this is our very dear and cudly Moeki. She's not so keen on the cold, wet weather either, but she does like to hang out with us in the studio, often joining in and walking paint all over the place!

beautiful zeeland: translating light and energy onto canvas

2012-02-13T23:57:00.000+01:00

Even in winter, this is our favourite place to be, along the dune coast of Zeeland. Zeeland is a province in the south west corner of the Netherlands where we live and is made up of a group of islands joined together with dykes, dams, bridges and tunnels, and I love it here. It doesn't matter whether it's the middle of summer and full of tourists or midwinter and quiet, the light is always interesting along with the movement of the sea. The colours are continually changing.

We take our bikes and spend all day cycling the paths up and down through the dunes and woods. On the warmer days I pack my swim suit of course! The sights remain an inspiration for our art work. That you can see as far as the eye and the curvature of the Earth will let you. We enjoy the challenge of translating the colours and light.

andrea cook - coast: oil on canvas 100 x 40cm

And of course the challenge of translating the energy and power of the sea onto canvas.

francesco antonietti: acrylic on canvas 80 x 60cm

andrea cook - waves: oil on canvas 60 x 50cm

There will be more to come, so watch this space!

the sun sets on the ice

2012-02-11T22:05:00.000+01:00

The ice is apparently supposed to melt soon so I took these photos in Tholen just as the day closed and before the skates head back up to the attic.

pizza and ice skating

2012-02-07T16:13:00.000+01:00

It's still icy cold outside (and pretty chilly in our studio too). People have taken advantage of the frozen lakes and turned them into ice rinks, skating in front of Tholen's windmill...photos below...and I decided to make pizza to cheers things up a bit. I bought one of those food processor gadgets last week that kneads dough so I had to test it out. It was very satisfying, and the pizza tasted good too! (topped with various cheeses, spinach and olives)

The icy landscape of Tholen and the newly formed ice rink.

a day in photos...Tholen in the snow

2012-02-04T14:50:00.000+01:00

So many beautiful scenes today with a bright sun despite the freezing chill in the air. I thought I'd just share a few...enjoy...

oh baby it's very cold outside...bbbbrrrr

2012-02-03T15:15:00.002+01:00

It's pretty chilly in Tholen today and an hour or so ago it started to snow. This is the view from our bedroom window overlooking the town. Time for a nice cup of warm chai I think!

atelier28 and the Botermarkt

pick up your paint brushes, the art classes are starting!

2012-02-02T10:38:00.000+01:00

We're all set now to start the art classes and it looks to be a full house for the watercolour, acrylics/oils and etching groups and we're excited to begin. At the end of the course last year Gina from our Friday group made this wonderful portrait using acrylics on canvas (30 x 40cm). The light and contrasting shadow in the composition make this picture, coupled with the simple palet of colours. We look forward to the next months of creativity!

surprise mail

2012-02-01T23:29:00.001+01:00

I had a surprise in the post today, a beautiful card made using a letter press from Emily Riley who's etchings I have fallen in love with and featured here as well as having them on display in our art centre. The beautiful thing about this type of printing is that you can feel the impressions it makes in the paper.What a beautiful way to greet the day!

Taking a break in India

2012-01-25T15:35:00.002+01:00

atelier28 had a little break over Christmas and the New Year and here are some highlights of what I've been up to. A few weeks in India. I arrived in Delhi just after boxing day and after one night's rest, took the not so express Mahabodhi Express train to Gaya arriving, eventually, 13 hours late. The journey itself was pleasant enough with lots of great, cheap, spicy chai tea. However, we were glad to finally arrive at our guest house in Bodhgaya, the place where the Buddha became enlightened.

The guest house had a great little restaurant on the rooftop run by a Tibetan family.

The Dalai Lama was in town, along with Richard Gere too, so there were many visitors from Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, China, and many other tradionally Buddhist and non Buddhist countries. Meeting people from these different cultures was a real highlight for me. I particularly enjoyed seeing their beautiful clothes.

This was opposite our guest house...school on the roof top...

This small town was full to the brim. Here, the monks were in a procession to a teaching with the Dalai Lama. And below are a few impressions of the area...

This was a beautiful spot under the Bodhi Tree marking the place where the Buddha is said to have become enlightened. The sun was dancing through the leaves of the Bodhi Tree...a very special atmosphere.

This was a typical street scene. Note the man up the electricity pylon fixing it!

On my return, whilst waiting at Delhi Airport, there was live music in one of the shops. A Japanese spectator decided to join in with the most amazing dancing. She was a real hit with the musicians and staff!

Origami pixie boots - Sintlaars

2011-12-04T17:49:00.002+01:00

Everyday in the run up to Christmas the Etsy blogs from the Netherlands, France and Germany are sharing creative projects in an advent calender. Today the 4th door was opened and this is a project from atelier28! How to make little booties from a serviette (napkin). They look so cute decorating a Christmas dining table and are really easy to do. Here is how you make them...click on photo to enlarge:

new! mini canvas prints

2011-11-26T18:41:00.003+01:00

I just went to pick up these mini canvas prints from the printer. I'm really pleased with how they've turned out. They are all prints made from our own paintings (oil on canvas). I stretched the canvases myself over tiny wooden frames. They measure 10 x 10cm and 15 x 10cm and look especially cute as a collection. They've now all been assembled, photographed and are on sale in my etsy shop.

windmill on the horizon: commission of a painting on a harpsichord

2011-11-18T13:42:00.000+01:00

Last year I posted a video showing the making of the painting Francesco made in commission on the harpsichord of Jan de Viet and now the whole lid has been completed. The part on the left above the keyboard has just been assembled on the harpsichord and now the scene is really complete. It's a beautiful instrument to see and listen too. Jan de Viet has his studio in the old Townhall here in the centre of Tholen where he gives his lessons.

a vase of snow drops: painting from the art classes

2011-11-18T13:32:00.001+01:00

We finished this seasons art classes this morning and as we approach the festive season and the days get cooler and shorter I thought this painting compliments the time of year well. It was made by Margreet from our Friday morning class. She's been working on it for the last couple of weeks and I love the colours...the warm reddy brown and cool minty green. I think the technique that she used for the background with the layers of colours works well with the precision of the vase and berries. Beautiful...

meditative landscape watercolours

2011-11-17T18:31:00.002+01:00

Dreamy landscapes where land and water are full of the colours of the sky and the two melt into one... This latest selection of watercolours try to capture those fleeting magic moments at the start and end of the day.

laughing-on-sea: new painting of ladies from Zeeland

2011-11-16T22:51:00.000+01:00

A good ole belly laugh while paddling in the sea... This is a recently finished oil painting (20 x 20cm) of two ladies wearing the tradional clothing from Zeeland (Zeeuwse klederdracht) enjoying their time at the seaside!

little folding photo books

2011-11-16T22:42:00.001+01:00

I've just had these pocket photo books made by Albelli of a few of my recent paintings. I'm really pleased with them! They are cute and small to keep in my bag and the quality of the printing is great too. Thick card with a good shiny finish and linen cover. I'm sure I'll be ordering more...

The studio kitty: new paintings

2011-11-05T18:21:00.000+01:00

Meet our studio cat Moeki. It's nearly a year now since we brought her home from the cat shelter in Zierikzee and she is one of the family, hanging out with us in the art centre and getting in all the hidy holes. She has such a sweet little face I couldn't escape making a series of oil paintings. These are all 13 x 18 cm...I'm sure more will follow!

who ate all the pies?

2011-11-05T17:54:00.002+01:00

I was inthe mood for pie baking last night. I thought I'd try a pumpkin pie, for the first time! I found a great recipe in the yoga journal and there was an apple and cranberry pie in there too...so I gave that a whirl. Pretty tasty!

The cafe and the butterflies: new work from the art classes

2011-11-05T09:04:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, we had our Friday morning art class. The class is a mix of people working in watercolour and acrylic and two of the watercolour artists have been working on these pieces the last few weeks. Above is a cafe scene from Coby. It was an experiment to try it in black and white since she had already painted a beautiful serie of similar scenes in colour. You can just get lost in the detail!

And this is a beautiful delicate piece from Jannie. I love the contrast and freshness of the colours and the form of the design. It looks stunning framed in!

"Tholen's bursting with creativity" atelier28 in the news

2011-10-14T13:52:00.001+02:00

We've been in the news a lot round here lately. A couple of people who've attended out art classes have had articles written about them. Liesbeth Romeijn has an exhibition of her work in Sint Maartensdijk. She make mainly portraits in watercolour using a limited palet of colours to emphasise the expressions in the faces. The most challenging were portraits she made of her 3 young children...because they're so honest if they don't like it!

Marianne Asselbergs' had a lovely article written about her work. She paints mainly using acrylic and has a beautiful impressionist style. Nature, and in particlular the sea, are often subjects that she gravitates to. It's great to see her work being featured!

Sjors van der Wulp also had a large feature in the local Eendrachtbode about his photo exhibition in KunstCentrum Tholen. The article explained how Sjors was drawn to Tholen for inspiration which led to his series of black and white photos. I particularly like the main photo of Sjors heading the piece!

new exhibitions: photos and etchings

2011-09-27T22:40:00.002+02:00

We're back in action again after a wee break before the season of art classes begins. This week we're beginning and along with all the courses we have a few treats exhibiting in the KunstCentrum (art centre). Sjors van der Wulp, a local photographer, has a stunning display of back and white photos featuring scenes from around the island of Tholen, where we live. Capturing the atmosphere of unexpected as well as everyday moments was important to Sjors. I particularly like the hen!

Some months ago I came across the work of fellow etcher Emily Riley from Portland, Oregon in the USA. I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them. They are pretty small, about 5cm square, and packed with mesmorizing detail. The expressions on the children's faces radiate a kind of magic.

The art works will be on display in the KunstCentrum for the next couple of months. We're open Tuesday - Friday 14.00 - 17.00 and Saturday 11.00 - 16.00. Sometime's we're in atelier28 a short walk away...just pop in and say you'd like to see the exhibition...we look forward to welcoming you.

art market in Tholen

2011-08-20T19:18:00.001+02:00

Today there was a small art market on the market square in Tholen. I packed up the bike and trailer...handy living so close. We had bright, warm sunshine all day...at last some summer weather!

art market in Middelburg

2011-08-13T21:32:00.001+02:00

We had a great Sunday on the art market in Middelburg, by the Abbey. Here are a few photos of our stalls. We were, of course, demonstrating how etchings are made too...

We're in Veere again on Tuesday...

taking a drive to a country cottage: paintings from the art classes

2011-08-13T21:25:00.000+02:00

We may be in the middle of the summer break but on Saturday's the KunstCentrum is still open for our class participants to continue their work. Above is Marie's latest painting of an Irish cottage. A proper chocolate box cottage!

Below are 2 paintings Steven made a few weeks ago. Made using different techniques (left: with a palet knife, right: using paint brushes). They just make me smile...

more harbour town watercolours

2011-07-24T21:00:00.001+02:00

I've added some new harbour town watercolors to my etsy shop...I just love little towns filled with houses perched on the edge of a harbor or the sea...these new ones have sign posts pointing to 'home' and the 'beach'.

colourful landscapes, Erasmus and an iris: paintings and etchings from the art classes

2011-07-24T20:50:00.000+02:00

A couple of months ago I shared some art work from our art classes and in particular work from Yvonne who's now completed her first 8 week course with us. Above are her latest pieces. Both measure 80 x 100cm and exude colour. She used a natural sponge to add texture, especially in the trees. They are a joy to look at...

These are etchings from the etching class. Above is an etching from Alexander of Erasmus. After the line etching was made, the plate was treated with an aquatint, covered with a spirit varnish and placed in the salt bath for varrying dregrees of time to accentuate the hat and keep the face clear. The great thing about that contrast is that when etching ink is applied, it's also possible to add different coloured inks (as can be seen in the image top left). However, even with one colour the depth is still visible. Below is an etching from Adri that I really enjoy printed with blue etching ink. A little bit like Delft blue...?

etsy in flow magasine

2011-07-24T20:23:00.002+02:00

It was great to see the 'Etsy Courant' in this month's Flow...hopefully we'll see a few more Dutch etsy shops!

more photos from the Historical market in Veere, Zeeland

2011-07-20T20:33:00.000+02:00

Every Tuesday we've been demonstrating how etchings are made on the historical market in Veere, Zeeland (the Netherlands) wearing, of course, the local costume. Here are a few more photos from the last few weeks...

holiday islands and beautiful ladies: paintings from the art classes

2011-07-20T20:17:00.002+02:00

The last 2 weeks we've been working together with local graphic and product designer Steven Bouwens from studio 09. Both of these paintings are works in progress where Steven was experimenting with using various techniques, including palet knife. In both cases the canvases were prepared with a single background colour, a sketch was made with charcoal and then worked out further with a palet knife. It's a good technique if you want to create an impressionistic style.

markets, clogs, etching presses and dressing up: the Historical Market in Veere has now begun.

2011-07-06T13:54:00.002+02:00

The Historical Market in Veere has now begun (every Tuesday 10.00 - 17.00 in July and August). Yesterday was the first one and I've got a new outfit. This is the Middelburgs Ambacht costume traditionally worn by girls and some women on the island of Walcheren in Zeeland, Netherlands. Below is a gentleman wearing the traditional costume for the area.

We took the etching press like last year, and demonstrated how etchings are printed. A process that hasn't really changed since Rembrandt's day.

The next market in on Tuesday 12th July...come and say hello! There's lots to see: basket making, local cheese, local beer, handmade soap, sculpture, painting, homemade jams and chutneys, jewellery, wafel making...and much much more...

rowboats in the water: new oil painting

2011-07-04T20:44:00.001+02:00

Water is still a theme in our studio. In this oil painting I chose to paint these 2 rowboats. The white reflects well in the water in contrast to the blue. It was a joy to work on them. (It measures 20 x 20 cm)

the waves: new paintings

2011-06-30T19:57:00.001+02:00

Francesco is in his sea period. These are his latest paintings (80 x 60cm acrylic on canvas)

The Buddha and the party: paintings from the art classes

2011-06-30T19:51:00.000+02:00

So, this is the last week of art classes until September and I'd like to share these 2 paintings. The painting of Buddha above (80 x 30cm) was made by Ilse using a palet knife. She's just completed her first course with us and I really like the way she's articulated this piece. Below is a painting from Yvette (30 x 40 cm). I smile every time I see this one! Both are acrylic on canvas.

sea and skies: new oil paintings

2011-06-30T14:14:00.002+02:00

My favourite subjects: the sea and skies. I've just finished these two oil paintings (above 40 x 50 cm below 24 x 30 cm). The challenge and beauty of sea paintings is to try and translate the light, movement and fluidity of the water onto the canvas...but I really enjoy working with these colours.

swimming in a swimming pool: new oil paintings

2011-06-27T18:52:00.001+02:00

The summer is here and that means that the swimming season has arrived. I love swimming...in a pool or the sea...and take every opportunity to glide through the water. So my latest challenge was to translate the light and fluidity of water into an oil painting. (50 x 20 cm oil on canvas.)

the secret can now be revealed!

2011-06-18T17:59:00.002+02:00

The last couple of months I've been working on a commission, which up until today was a secret... but I can at last reveal all! A restful painting made in commission of Terschelling (a Dutch Island). It was a present for my client's wife and was intended to encompass and symbolise family holidays spent on the beautiful island. The painting is actually only made up of 2 colours (one if you don't count white as a colour) brown and white. It measures 100 x 40 cm...and most important of all, she liked it!

Matrushka and Quan Yin: 2 new etchings

2011-06-18T17:47:00.000+02:00

This was the week of the Matrushka etchings, an experiment with soft ground etchings. I made another 2 after the first one earlier on in the week. This first one is a nature lover, and the second is more the contemplative. They're are both in my etsy shop already...

beach huts made out of handmade paper

2011-06-17T20:41:00.001+02:00

A few months ago I participated in a paper swap with fellow papermakers on Etsy. I already made some birdies from the recycled handmade paper, and now I've hand stitched these cute little beach huts. I love beach huts...as you've probably noticed!

the turbulent sea: new paintings

2011-06-16T20:25:00.000+02:00

Capturing the movement of the sea is always a challenge in a painting, but it's also the fun part, working with the range of subtle colour differences in the waves. These are Francesco's newest paintings (above 60 x 80cm, below 70 x 90cm) painted with acrylic on canvas.

Quan Yin: an experiment with 'vernis mou' soft ground etchings

2011-06-14T23:06:00.000+02:00

Today, after finishing off the etching of Zierikzee, I had a bit of an experiment with vernis mou, a wax used for soft ground etchings. It's more easy to make an impression on a soft ground so I tried a few different structures out and combined it with the normal way of making an etching, using an etching needle. This is the result: a Matrushka style Quan Yin (the bodhisattva of compassion - a female saint)

Middelburg and Zierikzee: New etchings

2011-06-14T22:32:00.000+02:00

This coming July and August we hope to be standing on the weekly historical market in Veere demonstrating how etchings are made. Last year Francesco made an etching of Veere, and we wanted to make a few more of the surrounding towns and villages, so we started with Middelburg and Zierikzee. All measure 6 x 9 cm and were made on copper plates. The etching of Zierikzee was also treated with an aquatint for the water. I can't wait for the markets to begin!

the lioness: oil painting from the art classes

2011-06-14T10:33:00.000+02:00

This magnificent lioness was painted by Martine over the last few classes with oils on canvas. It measures 60 x 80 cm. I just enjoy looking at it!

row boats, beach chairs and teddy bears: new etchings

2011-06-08T22:36:00.003+02:00

The last few days I've been working on these 3 new etchings. These first 2 have been treated with an aquatint to give the water in both that special quality. I'm particularly pleased with the reflection of the boats in the water.

And 2 teddy bear friends. I wanted them to look fluffy and woolly, so I made sure the contours were built up of small lines and not too hard.

Anne and the tulips in Bruge: new etchings from the etching classes

2011-05-31T21:03:00.001+02:00

It's been a while since I posted some etchings from our classes, so here are few from last weeks workshop. The tulips above are the first dry point print from our newest member, Mieke, after one lesson. I love their simplicity and movement. Below is another dry point, from Tinneke, of Bruge, based on an etching by Roodenburg.

And lastly an etching, made on copper with an aquatint, of Anne Frank by Alexander. These last two are works in progress...I know the artists are still working on the plates and printing processes to improve the result... but looking good!

flowers, cats, a cuddly dog and a pouf: new paintings from the art classes

2011-05-28T18:49:00.000+02:00

This week I've really enjoyed seeing how the watercolour artists on our classes art work has developed. This first piece is from Janny from our Friday morning class. She was inspired by a photo and wanted to try something with a limited palet of colours. The photo itself was very delicate in terms of colour use and this isn't easy to translate into a watercolour, but I like the way she's let the white from the paper frame the scene, and I just love that little dog!

The real art of working with watercolour is knowing when to stop and that was Cees' challenge, the artist of this charming kitty cat.

And now for the flowers. Above is a watercolour from Karin. I think she's managed to balance both the simplicity of the colours used as well as the contrast of deep colours and the white of the paper. Below is an acrylic painting from Yvonne who's only had 3 lessons with us! I really enjoyed watching this one unfold before my eyes today.

Cini the cat: screenprint made on our recycled handmade paper

2011-05-20T21:36:00.000+02:00

I checked my tweets today to discover this joyful artwork! A while ago I made a batch of handmade paper for Pini Piru based in Hoorn, the Netherlands, from recycling offcuts from our etchings and old telephone books. They specialise in screenprinting and have made this beautiful limited edition of "Cini the cat", a design made by Kaylee Wu aged 7. So cute and great to see my paper used like this!

first prize artists' choice on exto 2nd week running

2011-05-15T20:02:00.000+02:00

Francesco's tulip painting won exto's artwork of the week for the second consecutive time! It was chosen from more than 100 paintings and was the first choice of artists on exto.

the week of amateur art in Tholen (week van de amateurkunst)

2011-05-15T18:23:00.002+02:00

Across Zeeland this week is 'de week van de amateurkunst' (week of amateur art) and everyone is welcome to come and visit us and see what we're upto. On Saturday the etchers and painters from the art classes were busy... above are some photos of the process of making an etching, from the engraving on the plate to the inking in and printing of the etching...

...and painters working on their artwork...

...and not forgetting the homemade chocolate cake!

We're open Tuesday to Friday from 14.00-17.00 and next Saturday the class participants will be busy again between 12.00 and 16.00. Come and say 'hello'!

the lady and the rose: new etchings and paintings from the classes

2011-05-13T21:34:00.002+02:00

This beautiful rose was made by Johanna who's been participating in our art classes for several years. Inspired by a post card, it was a challenge for her to see whether she could represent the wood grain with acrylic paint and the intricate pattern of petals in the rose. I enjoyed watching the painting progress.

And here are a couple of etchings from the dedicated etching club. (Above: from Alexander and below: from Maike.) Both have been made by etching on a copper plate and have then been treated with an aquatint.

wall painting of love and colour

2011-05-10T13:37:00.000+02:00

Today I went to see a wall painting made by Karin who has attended our art classes for the last few years. She was asked to make it where she works at Le Sejour here in Tholen to symbolise the welcoming and supportive atmosphere that they wish to create. A bit of love and colour for the world!

new paintings: harbour towns and holidays

2011-05-09T22:28:00.002+02:00

I love little towns filled with houses perched on the edge of a harbour or the sea. Washing or flags suspended between the architecture... and boats bobbing around on the water. I like to look on and imagine the lives of the people living there. These are my newest watercolours which I hope capture the character of these special places.

tulips from Amsterdam II - new paintings (nieuwe schilderijen)

2011-05-09T22:16:00.001+02:00

Several weeks ago we featured 2 new tulip paintings that Francesco had made. Well, the first one won exto's artwork of the week last week! It was the artists' choice from 133 paintings. These are 3 other paintings that he's made recently, all of which are 60 x 60cm.

the art trail in Tholen on Queen's Day (Kunstroute in Tholen)

2011-05-02T21:40:00.000+02:00

This year was our 9th Kunstroute (art trail) in Tholen. A bit of an anniversary really since atelier28 opened her door exactly 8 years ago!! We displayed work from all the art classes (above and below): arcylic, oil, watercolour and etchings.

My newest oil paintings of scenes from Zeeland were exhibited alongside the traditional clothing of Zeeland.

The theme of the trail this year was 'art through the ages' and part of the opening ceremony featured 4 locals (2 men and 2 women) wearing the traditional dress for Tholen. It was a happy coicidence that I had the outfit on display too with the paintings! I'm so glad I've now finally seen the Tholen costume...

I also demonstrated how etchings are made over the course of the 2 days which was warmly received.

I'm glad too that I've finally met Annemiek Hamelink from Two Trees, a fellow etsian with roots here in Zeeland, who had, along with porcelain artwork, a beautiful collection of contemporary jewellery featuring traditional designs from Zeeland.

Happy Easter! Hot cross bun anyone?

2011-04-23T20:45:00.001+02:00

Homemade hot cross buns for Easter, a traditional English fruit bun eaten on Good Friday. I used this recipe, but I glazed them in syrup instead of sugar...and I used Zeeuws flour (from Zeeland) of course, and even a few cranberries! Happy Easter everyone...

Getting ready for the art trail: 'Kunstroute Tholen' 29 + 30 April

2011-04-22T13:25:00.000+02:00

This time next week will be the art trail here in Tholen and I've spent most of the week looking for solutions for displaying the art work...we've got quite a collection now! My newest works are these oil paintings of ladies and girls from Zeeland in their traditional outfits....oh and a few cats...don't forget the cats! The woodern panels were made by a local carpenter, Sjaak Lindhout, and they allow me to hang the paintings in groups without making loads of holes in the wall!

We'll be displaying work from the art classes too...and I'm hoping to demonstrate how etchings are made. Tholen really looks her best on the Queen's birthday (30th April), with bunting in the streets and ateliers in the 17th and 18th century buildings. Throughout the day there will be concerts in the churches and 14th century former Town Hall. Come along and say 'hello'!

new paintings

2011-04-14T22:45:00.000+02:00

These are a couple of small paintings (20 x 20 cm) that Francesco's been working on. The one above he called 'at last' and below 'a beer'... I think the stories speak for themselves!

tulips from Amsterdam - new paintings

2011-04-14T22:33:00.001+02:00

Well, they're not really from Amsterdam - but made in Tholen! These are Francesco's latest paintings: both measure 40 x 40 cm and are acrylic on canvas. Inspired by the season of tulips...

more new paintings from the art classes

2011-04-02T23:46:00.002+02:00

This week the block of art classes finished until May and I thought it would be nice to share a series of pieces from the classes that have been built up over several weeks. It began with the painting below left. Jaap started out with a paint brush but soon worked with a palet knife to create a rich texture on the canvas. The three in this series are 30 x 40cm but his ambition was to work the theme onto a larger canvas (above: 1m x 1.2m). Working with a palet knife allows you to layer the colours on top of and mix them through each other.

new paintings from the art classes

2011-03-26T23:04:00.001+01:00

These are a selection of recent paintings from the art classes. Above is an acrylic painting by Marianne. It was one of those paintings that just seemed to take shape before your eyes. The background is simple but gives good depth and contrast to the hog, likewise the one flower bud in the front completes the effect. Below is a landscape from Gommert. I love the way he painted the grasses at the front and the boat. The depth in this painting is created by the cool colours used on the distant mountains.

This is a wonderfully delicate watercolour from Coby. The stems in the vases full of water make it really magical.

frontpage on etsy

2011-03-26T07:40:00.001+01:00

This week one of my etchings was on the frontpage of etsy! I thought this was a lovely treasury to share because it includes a selection of etchings printed in the traditional black and white:

'A blacker shade of grey' by TabulaArte

Black is the traditional color in printmaking. Like in photography black gives depth which one can't find in colors. There is a very good selection of etchings in Etsy, here are a few.

original etching of... atelier28 $25.00	Black Swan Hand Pul... bridgetfarmerp... $85.00	Phalanx - Original ... chartwellprint $20.00
And I Can See Russi... PhareCamp $50.00	Original Aquatint E... Rudolfkurz $145.00	Raven (black bird, ... larryvienneau $30.00
Original silk aquat... williamholt $75.00	Trout ErikDWhite $20.00	Beard Tie - etching linocutboy $250.00
Aquatint of Kiwi bi... drawingplan $50.00	Summer Time (origin... VIZArt $45.00	Parrot Bird Etching... printman $30.00
Jeff - hand-pulled ... clayholio $10.00	Treasury Item Spiro... Printmistress8... $45.00	The Walk - Second S... badaman $45.00
Bumble Bee Etching ... LynneWindsor $60.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

new paintings and etchings

2011-03-18T21:43:00.002+01:00

So...this is the result of this and last weeks creative efforts! A series of oil paintings all 20 x 20cm...you might recognise this one from last week's photos:

And now for the etchings:

And a series of mini panoramic dreamy, misty watercolour landscapes (19 x 4.5cm)

why I love Zeeland:

2011-03-13T20:27:00.001+01:00

These are a few picture's that I took on the coast of Zeeland (Schouwen-Duiveland and Walcheren), Netherlands, over the last couple of weeks. It remains an inspiration:

a seagull, a fox and a duck - new paintings from the art classes

2011-03-13T20:17:00.002+01:00

You can almost hear this chap squarking for food! Marloes from our art classes has been working on this acrylic painting for the last few weeks. I think the structure that she used on the background with a palet knife works well in contrast with the gull. She spent a lot of time getting the different shades of white on his breast just right.

No ducks were hurt during the making of this painting! This acrylic painting is quite large (80cm x 1m, I think) which gives the subject good space. Marianne paid extra attention to the colour of the fox's coat and eyes. I particularly like the way she made the background by 'dabbing' the brush with different tints bringing light into the painting. The duck gets away unscathed, promise!

new watercolour paintings of cats and dragonflies

2011-03-09T22:50:00.001+01:00

These are 2 of a group of watercolours that I've been working on this week. Don't cats look particularly cuddly when they're sleeping on their heads?!

This rather meditative dragonfly was inspired by a photo that I saw on etsy from Jetty Kolobaric. I've been facinated by dragonflies and butterflies lately. Their delicate structure and beautiful colours. The promise of spring in the air I think!

new watercolour painting made in commission

2011-03-07T22:25:00.000+01:00

Francesco's been working on this watercolour in commission, for the last few weeks, of the church in Sint Philipsland. It's a beautiful 17th century church (that survived the great flood of 1953 when the sea reached the roof tops). It measures 30 x 40 cm.

I thought I saw a puddy tat...I did, I did!!

2011-03-06T19:08:00.000+01:00

Two new paintings of dozy kitty cats...zzzz...

They are both oil paintings on small canvases 20 x 20cm. I plan to make a whole series, so watch this space!

birdies from handmade paper

2011-03-04T22:17:00.000+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I received the papers from a paper swap that I took part in with the Etsy papermakers (which can be seen here). I promised I would be using the papers...well here are the results! Little birdies for spring! The 3 above were made from paper from (left to right) Pulpa, Little Sistah Studio, and blue denim pulp from Elena Siff.

These 3 little guys were from milkweed paper from Evie Powers, recycled magasines from White Dragon Paper and paper with tea and roses from Surf Bunny. I made a few from fabric scraps too while I was at it:

2 new watercolours of a butterfly and dragonfly

2011-03-04T13:58:00.001+01:00

These are two recent watercolours. I fancied making something with the colour orange as I long for spring!

Cookie's cookies

2011-02-26T18:52:00.004+01:00

This week's tea time treat in the KunstCentrum (art centre) was chocolate chip and hazelnut cookies! And here's the recipe:
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp vanilla essence
1 egg
2 cups chopped milk chocolate and hazelnuts

*mix the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside
*mix sugar, egg, melted butter and vanilla essence until light and fluffy
*add dry ingredients
*make balls about 2-3 cm round from the dough and place on a baking tray 5 cm apart
*bake for 15-17 mins at 165C until lightly toasted round the edges, for soft centres

...mmmm... particularly delicious with chai tea!

papermaking workshop with children from the Rehoboth School, Stavenisse (workshop papiermaken met kinderen van Rehoboth Basisschool, Stavenisse)

2011-02-26T18:20:00.001+01:00

On Thursday we had a group of 22, 8 and 9 year olds, from the Rehoboth Basisschool, Stavenisse. The theme that the children are working on in school is China, so Francesco began the morning by discussing Chinese art and the importance of symbolism and leaving 'empty' space in oriental art. The children had learnt at school that the art of papermaking was born in China and I could show the group the kind of bark that is used in eastern papermaking.

The best bit, of course, is the making something part! As a group we decided to make white paper, though I did add some colour so that the different pieces were clear to see in the new sheets. We started tearing up old watercolour and scrap paper.

Then the new sheets were formed. Everyone made a long quene, and one by one made their own paper.

Then we hung them up to dry...

new paintings from the art class (nieuw schilderijen van deelnemers cursussen)

2011-02-25T13:53:00.001+01:00

This week's featured artists are Frank and Martine from the advanced class! The mototcyclists above are from Frank and were painted with acrylic on a canvas measuring 1 x 1.2m. From the beginning the painting conveyed energy and movement. Frank is himself a motorcyclist so he had a good feeling for the subject. It's impressive to see them on a canvas of this size!

Martine made this oil painting of two sheep. She cleverly set it up by painting the whole canvas with red, a kind of deep, pinky red. Then, when she covered this with the dark blue/brown/black background, the warmth of the red still showed through. The striking thing about this painting is of course the contrasts. The horns are well defined against the dark background.

A book of Francesco's etchings

2011-02-22T21:35:00.001+01:00

We've just picked up a photo book that we made of Francesco's etchings . He's made more than 125 etchings from mostly Dutch towns and we thought it was about time that they were well presented together. We also included a few photos of Francesco inking the plates in and printing the etchings.

We're particularly pleased that we choose thicker photo paper for the book pages, because the etchings come across really well.

We also included some information about Francesco and the etchings the that he's made. I particularly like the photo of the Tholen etching plate being inked in ready for printing.

And finally, the back cover. An etching is born!

paper swap with etsy's papermakers

2011-02-20T21:02:00.005+01:00

I recently took part in a paper swap with a team of papermakers on etsy. I sent off about 20 sheets of paper I'd made from recycling etching off cuts, telephone books and tulip petals. What I received yesterday was an envelope of treasure to a papermaker.

The pack included paper from milkweed, moving boxes & autumn leaves, blue jeans, abaca, cotton linters, paper with red clover inclusions, paper with shredded money, and paper with tea & rose petals. This one below from Linda McCausland is abaca with eel grass inclusions and is beautifully transparent...

...and this one below from Judy Funk I can plant! I'm not sure what the bird is though? At the moment I just keep studying them all and enjoying how they feel (this is maybe only something a papermaker can understand!), but I hope to use them. Watch this space...

Thanks to everyone who shared their talent! And a special thanks to Elena Siff for arranging it all!

piece of cake: ginger cake in the Kunstcentrum (art centre)

2011-02-20T09:49:00.000+01:00

On Saturdays we open the art centre in the afternoon so that people who attend our classes during the week can have a bit of extra time to work on their art. It's not really a class, but Francesco and I are around to give tips and advice. Anyway, I like to create a welcoming atmosphere which includes cake! This is one of my favourites: ginger cake, and I found a great recipe for 'easy peasy ginger cake' which is what it says it is, easy peasy. I used golden syrup instead of treacle, because I've got no idea where to get treacle here in the Netherlands, but it's so tasty it never lasts a day!

2 new etchings

2011-02-19T19:06:00.001+01:00

These are literally wet off the press! An etching of 2 crows and an etching and aquatint of a seagull. I love the majesty of these birds...

zen mind, beginners mind: first paintings from the beginners art class

2011-02-18T21:07:00.001+01:00

I chose the title because it's a phrase that points to the open state of mind that you have when you try something for the first time. Before your mind fills up with ideas about how it should be, full of conceptions. That's the best way to start painting. These are a random selection of paintings from the beginners art class. For most, the first time they'd experienced working with acrylic paint on canvas. Everyone was given the same picture as a starting point to get used to the new materials, and this is the result after the first 2 lessons.

new birdy watercolours

2011-02-18T14:15:00.004+01:00

This little guy's all fluffed out with his pretty feathers. He's a Goldfinch and his brightly coloured face make him ideal for a watercolour painting! This one below is a Tufted Titmouse and I like the 'burnt sienna' feathers on his breast:

paintings from the art classes (schilderijen van deelnemers cursussen)

2011-02-16T22:25:00.000+01:00

This painting was made by Gina who has been painting with watercolour with us for the past year or so and decided this course to try her hand at acrylic. For those who are not up to speed with the Dutch Royal family, this is Queen Beatrix, and the likeness is uncanny! Especially those eyes!

Jessica was inspired by a photo in a magasine and wanted to try and capture the colours and atmosphere. I love the effect. It's a painting to loose yourself in!

all you need is love x

2011-02-15T00:01:00.004+01:00

Everyone can do with a hug, Valentine's Day or not. A warm embrace to say you care... I made these etchings for the times when you can't be there in person or to remember a precious occassion. I hope you too have a Happy Valentine's Day!

2 new etchings

2011-02-12T21:46:00.000+01:00

Inspired by the beach and the sea, even though it's winter(!), I've just finished and listed 2 new etchings with aquatint. I really enjoy creating an aquatint. I think it gives etchings a great atmosphere. It is a bit scary though when the plates are in the acid bath, because if it's in there too long the aquatint will be too dark, and if it's too short, the whole process would need to be repeated. But I'm happy with the result!

I've been blogged about!

2011-02-05T23:44:00.002+01:00

I'm feeling very honoured and excited about a blog on Dutch Handmade. It's a story written by the very lovely Nelliana of Studio Snowpuppe about my creative journey and the birth of atelier28. Nelliana is also a non-practicing architect exploring a more creative life as an artist...and she shares a passion for paper and paper folding! I hope we can meet up some time! Obviously kindred spirits!

how an aquatint is made on an etching

2011-02-05T20:50:00.001+01:00

This is an etching that I've already made, and you can see how that was done here. I want to add an aquatint to the plate. This gives the plate a kind of rastered effect which I think will add some depth to the scene. The plate is first thoroughly cleaned with turpentine and methylated spirit.

The plate is then dusted with resin dust from the pine tree. The plate is very delicate now. Any imperfections in this layer will be seen in the etching. This layer is burnt onto the plate with a heat source placed under the plate. It then looks like this:

After it's cooled, a spirit varnish layer can be applied to the plate where the raster is not wanted. In this case I would like the sky to remain clear.

The reverse of the plate is protected in the same way as it was when the etching was made and placed in the acid bath. However this time, the exposure to the acid is much reduced. In this case only 4 minutes. The plate is then washed and the blue layer removed with methylated spirit. This is what the plate now looks like:

The plate is ready to be inked in and pulled through the etching press, again just as it was in the previous section:

This is the result:

I also tried sepia ink, which I think I like more and can be seen already in my etsy shop!

how an etching is made part 2 (hoe een ets gemaakt wordt deel 2)

2011-02-03T19:07:00.008+01:00

In part one I prepared the copper plate with the hard ground. It's now dry and the engraving process can begin. I've made a sketch of roughly what I want to make so I can begin. I often use a magnifying glass. I'm not engraving into the copper, I'm just removing the etching ground where I want the acid to bite into the plate.

The design is completed and the reverse of the plate is covered with a protective layer so that the acid doesn't bite into the back. The plate is carefully placed in the acid bath to prevent air bubbles forming and is propped up on a wooden block so it doesn't just lie flat on the bottom. In this case I left it in the acid for 1 1/2 hours because the bath was quite cold. If it's warmer then the reaction is faster and it can be removed earlier. The plate is thoroughly rinsed under the tap.

Before the etching ground is removed, an etching needle is used to check that the engraving is deep enough in the copper. Then it can be removed with turpentine and this is how it looks:

Now we can print the etching. The whole plate is covered in etching ink, and then the excess is removed leaving the ink in the engraved lines. The plate is 'polished' with newspaper to remove more of the excess ink.

Once this is done the copper is bright and shiny again:

The plate is laid on the etching press on top of a sheet of thin paper to prevent ink soiling the press. Damp etching paper is laid on top with a final sheet of thin paper to absorb excess water so that the felt doesn't damage.

It's 'pulled' through the press in a steady and continuous movement, and voila! An etching! Every etching is re-inked and pulled through the press, one by one.

It can now be pegged up to dry. The paper will dry quickly but the ink will stay wet for a few days. Would you like to learn how to make etchings?

paper made on the papermaking workshop

2011-02-02T21:47:00.001+01:00

These are the papers that were made on Saturday's papermaking workshop. The ones above were made from waste paper: envelopes, old posters, telephone directories, taxman envelopes (!), and a few additives like tea leaves and flower petals.

These papers below are the plant papers. First a layer of abaca (a kind of hemp) was made and the plant pulp sheets were formed on top. The plant pulps were leek, grass, rhubarb, apple and banana skins.

how an etching is made part 1 (hoe een ets gemaakt wordt deel 1)

2011-01-31T21:55:00.004+01:00

These are polished copper plates (measuring 6 x 9 cm and 0.8mm thick) with their protective plastic covering. The first thing that needs to happen is to round the edges off so that the plate doesn't damage the felt on the etching press.

Next the plates are rubbed down with fine wire wool so that the etching ground 'attaches' itself to the plate.

Now the plates need to be thoroughly cleaned, first with turpentine and then with methylated spirit, before the etching ground can be applied.

Once the plates are dry, the etching ground can be applied. The engraving will be made into this layer, not the copper itself. This layer will protect the plate when it's placed in the acid bath, so that the acid only bites into the copper where the line sketch has been made. In this case we are using a hard ground. Now they have to dry (overnight)... next step to follow!

Part 2

new watercolour paintings of a woodland

2011-01-26T22:20:00.000+01:00

Two new watercolour paintings inspired by the January colours... and a few birdies too!

atelier28 supports Tandje28 (atelier 28 ondersteunt Tandje28 en daarmee het KWF)

2011-01-22T14:10:00.008+01:00

atelier28 is supporting Tandje28, and hereby the cancer charity KWF, by donating an original etching with aquatint for an auction.

Alpe d'Huzes is a charity event where cyclists, either solo or in a team, attempt to climb the legendary Alpe d'Huez at least 6 times in one day, a nearly impossible challenge. The money raised by the participants is for the cancer charity KWF. Tandje28 is the male team from NOC*NSF (Dutch Olympic Committee) and is trying their best to raise as much as possible for this good cause!

Do you want to make a bid? click here

Atelier 28 ondersteunt Tandje28 en daarmee het KWF door een originele ets met aquatint te schenken om geveild te worden.

"Bij het evenement Alpe d’Huzes proberen fietsers, solo of in teamverband op één dag minstens zes keer de legendarische Alpe d’Huez te beklimmen, een bijna onmogelijke opgave. Het sponsorgeld dat de renners hiermee ophalen, komt ten goede aan de strijd tegen kanker. Tandje 28, ook wel het mannenteam van NOC*NSF, bundelt op 9 juni de krachten om zoveel mogelijk geld voor KWF Kankerbestrijding op te halen."

Wil je bieden op deze ets? klik hier

a few favourite finds on etsy

2011-01-15T19:43:00.008+01:00

These are a couple of recent treasuries I made on etsy... and one including the 'ducky duck' etching:

featured on etsy's facebook and twitter pages

2011-01-14T14:47:00.002+01:00

I've had a really great week! On Saturday my little 'ducky duck' etching was featured on etsy's facebook and twitter pages. Made my day. I really loved all the name suggestions and stories behind them :D Now there are all little ducks on their way around the globe. I hope they arrive safely!

twee nieuw etsen (2 new etchings)

2011-01-06T11:54:00.000+01:00

Two new etchings. Feathers have been a bit of a theme lately, so the latest is a collection of feathers. This particular etching was printed using sepia ink. The second etching I've called "looking after the little ones". I love the way geese kind of strut around, as bold as brass with comical expressions on their faces...

Both etchings measure 6 x 9 cm and were made on copper plates and submerged in an iron chloride bath.

Kunstwerken van deelnemers gevorderden cursus (Art work from advanced painting classes)

2010-12-05T16:00:00.006+01:00

These are recent paintings from two members of our advanced painting classes, Ton and Lida Karremans. The top 2 are from Ton and the chair is from Lida. This is a painting that they both worked on together:

This year's Christmas cards

2010-11-30T22:03:00.001+01:00

This year's Christmas cards: made with handmade papers and left over fabric. The light handmade paper was made from recycled etching offcuts and a telephone directory!

nieuwe aquarellen van vogeltjes (new watercolours of birds)

2010-11-30T15:58:00.001+01:00

These are the latest additions to my etsy shop. A series of bird watercolours. A Great Tit, a Robin, 2 Sparrows and a Black Bird. All measure 13 x 18 cm.

nieuw ets van een veertje (new etching of a feather)

2010-11-28T14:36:00.001+01:00

The ink is still wet! I printed the first etchings of this feather...a spotted pheasant feather...using a warm sepia ink. I love the warmth that this colour gives to the plate tone. The copper plate measures 6 x 9 cm.