The end of the year

 

Quickies

Looking back at 2023 from an artistic point of view, it was not a bad year at all for me.

The year started, however, with a huge disappointment. For months I was preparing for participation in a certain annual event, but in the end, I was not even allowed to apply for it. I still have no idea what the real reason was, as the reason given by the event management was pure nonsense, which made me question their professionalism. The refusal did bring me down severely for quite a while. But with the support of my partner, I eventually regained my confidence and continued painting.

Fortunately, things started to look up a few months later. 

In March, I was glad to help as a volunteer to organise a retrospective exhibition (Hidden Treasures) at the local museum. In June, helping with another exhibition (Tames Oud).          

The second edition of our Three-Day Show in June was a success again. I was glad to meet new local emerging artists and give them a podium. I met there lots of nice people who were interested in art and history. I got some nice commissions on which I am working now. And I was visited and invited by a gallery owner for an autumnal show! 

Starting in June, Saatchi Art has been showcasing my paintings in digital exhibitions, which resulted in several works being sold to art collectors in the US. 

In June and July, as a volunteer within a small team, I was proud to work on the setting up and the opening of the 4-month-long Summer Art Show in a new museum and could exhibit 2 of my still lifes there. At the same time, some paintings from my Island Sheep series were on show in the Swartwoude Museum. 

In September, the Nazomeren exhibition started at the Rob Rademaker Gallery in Utrecht. I was very happy with this wonderful opportunity to showcase 15 of my landscapes for two months.

In October I was invited by a local painters club to regularly assist beginners with some art advice. This is a great opportunity to learn further together as I am certainly learning from this, too.    

Then November came with its traditional group art exhibition by the Amelander Kunstenaars. Glad I could participate again and happy to support this unique group of artists with some web design and marketing.    

Also in November, a painting from the Hands' Private Life series was nominated for the Painting of the Year, which brought me a show at the gallery in Roermond and at the ArtEindhoven in January and February 2024. 

Thankfully to all this, I met some nice and interesting artists and art lovers this year. And, throughout the year, I visited dozens of museums and exhibitions to learn more. 

So far, the results of the year.  

    

I recently made these two small quick still lifes, one for the class of the painters club (it was a homework piece we chose), and another as an adapted study after J. Merrow-Smith but also as an appreciation for a friend. Hope she will like that.