One left the studio and a new one is finished.

The Girl with the Big Pearl Ear Ring (detail)

With mixed feelings I saw "The Girl with the Big Pearl Ear Ring" leave the studio to go to her new home. Mixed feelings because - even though I know she is at a very good place now - I will miss her on the wall in my studio.

And life goes on... and I finished my rendition of Leonardo da Vinci's "Lady with the Ermine" which I named "The Girl with the Robot Dog". 
And I started a new rendition but this time one of Goya's masterpieces, but all that lace... so beautiful... and also so much work...
 

The Girl with the Robot Dog (2014)
30" x 40"
Acrylics on Canvas

At the same time I am working on multiple collaborations with several different artists, including a street artist, a I-photographer (yes, with the I-phone), a fine artist, and a poet. These collaborations places my work outside my usual scope and it is refreshing to see how each one of us is able to make a magic combination. I m loving this!
I cannot show you anything yet, as we keep our pieces hidden until it is shown. 

Little M 24
(aka "Uhm... it is not working...")
6" x 8"
Acrylics on Birch Wood

I also made another Little M. A little Rambo this time and this one is in show at the Trespass Gallery in Clarksville, Tennessee. I also started sketching a new Little M and that is a commission for a little girl.

So, all and all, there is no such thing as a quiet summer at my studio... because the summer is to get ready for the Miami Downtown Art Days in September and Art Basel in December.

Working on the LoF Mural

I am working at a mural in the stairway at the LoF Center.

The Life of Freedom (LoF) Center offers support and restorative programs for female survivors of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Tonight is the "Ribbon Cutting" opening of the Center and I finished the first wall 4' x 8' (and the center of the whole mural once completed) in 2 days last weekend.

Saturday June 23 - after priming the wall - I started at noon by sketching the face and started to paint...

...and just kept going... no stencils, no projector nor tape... hand painting the whole face.

Until I was finished at the end of Sunday June 24....

Ready for tonights' opening reception...

 

... and then to continue with the rest of the mural.......

Life in Green

Life in Green

Acrylics & Silver Leaf

6" x 18"

Life is Art

"Life is Art"

6 x 18 inches

Acrylics and Gold Leaf

2011

UPDATE: Now in Private Collection

Transitions

At first - when I started working on these paintings - I wanted to create a series about people trying to find their balance in life. I got the idea when watching an old man, who could barely walk, literally swinging from one pole in the bus to the next until he reached the door. He was more in balance than the rest of us.

Nowadays a lot of people struggle with their balance in life and I am no stranger to that at times. But while working on the paintings, it seemed that they became more personal. I wasn't sure how or why but every time I looked at my work, it was as if I was telling myself something.

After a while it hit me: it was about me. I was the portrait of my transition from Holland to the US. Don't get me wrong, I have not regretted my move what so ever, but it did have an impact on me. I left my family, friends and my life as I knew it behind to start all over again.

The paintings are not sad - with their vivid bright colors - and it shows me finding a new balance here. Each one of them is a step towards the future. If you click here you can see the Transition paintings.

Click here if you want to know more about the presentation at the MOCA in North Miami.