Skip to main content

't Skuurke


Commissioned

One of the best things about participating in an art show is receiving commissions. When potential art collectors see your work and ask you to paint something special for them because they like your style and techniques, it's a great feeling.
That is what happened during the last Driedaagse Expo. I've received commissions from three art lovers. They specified the subjects of the paintings, as well as the approximate formats and styles, and left the rest up to me.
It took me a while to choose the right day to capture the light I wanted. Fortunately, the locations were not far, so I could walk there many times taking photographs to choose later the right composition and lighting. I probably took hundreds of photos to choose later a few as a reference. 
After that, I did some small studies to check the colours and the overall picture. Once I was satisfied, I began to put it on canvas. 
Creating art for a commission while keeping in mind that it might not be approved by the commissioner isn't easy. However, I tried not to worry about whether the commissioner would like the final painting or not, as I always openly communicate about that when accepting the job.

Well, lucky I am, they loved the painting, and I am proud it now has a good home.

Oil on canvas 30 x 40 cm, alla prima, limited palette.  

View the finished painting in my gallery.

Commissioned and acquired in April 2024 by private collector J.B. in Hollum/Zwolle

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for your message. I will replay as soon as I can

Popular posts from this blog

Artist's Home

  Ameland Views on the Walls of the Artist's Home  A couple of weeks ago, I received a very special commission from the Eiland van Verhalen . The client requested that I design a background decoration for their stage show - a kind of illustration that would combine the iconic views of all four villages on the island. The final piece needed to be in a certain proportion, as it will be printed on a screen measuring 4 by 2.3 meters. I proposed the idea of creating a "paintings painting", featuring the interior of an island house adorned with paintings on the walls, each one depicting recognisable landmarks from the villages. This idea appealed to me as it presented a nice challenge and an opportunity to create a genuine painting. The client agreed that it was an interesting concept.  I had five weeks to complete the commission. Paul and I went across the island, taking hundreds of photographs for reference. I decided to use the interior of our own home as the compositional t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Master Studies

  Studying  I believe that practice is the best form of learning, and master copying is the most effective to practice while studying. Since we always (aspire to) learn, I find that copying a masterpiece that inspires you is an excellent method to achieve this.  In essence, master copying is not about creating perfect replicas; instead, it's about gaining a deeper understanding of artistic principles and techniques. It's a valuable tool for any artist seeking to improve their skills and expand their knowledge.  From time to time, I will update this post with my new master studies. Here are some: May 2025 After J.C. Leyendecker painting "Couple on Deck Chairs. 1904" I have been fascinated by the works and biography of this great Golden Age artist for a long time. Recently, I finally read a beautiful book titled simply, "J.C. Leyendecker", written by Laurence S. Cutler and Judy Goffman Cutler. His name and influence were most prolific; his private life was kep...
Post a Comment
Read more

Matthew's POV

Challenging a masterpiece Since I've always wanted to learn more about chiaroscuro and tenebrism, I thought it would be useful to try and master-copy a (detail of a) tenebrist masterpiece. And what is my favourite painting by the great Master of Tenebrism? The Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio, of course.  I can stare at this painting (or the photographs and videos of it) for hours, exploring and still discovering numerous aspects and details, often ending with more questions than answers. The one certainty is that the composition, colours and values, poses and gestures, and most of all, the light , that plays the leading role, are the work of mind of a true genius. I spent hours trying to find out about the nature and the position of those light sources (and there were surely more than one!), yet I still don't know exactly how Caravaggio designed that setting. For a long time, I hesitated, but one day I decided to try master-copying a detail of the painting. In any case,...
Post a Comment
Read more