Art flows to where the money is

Art flows to where the money is

More than once people asked how a novice portraitist must decide his prices. I remember I once said: If you don’t have any orders you are either  too expensive, or you have too little quality.  If you have too many commissions, it may be that you are too cheap.

Art flows to where the money is. Portrait of Jan Six by Rembrandt
Portrait of Jan Six by Rembrandt

An interesting book that I am currently reading is “The lives of Jan Six”, written by the Dutch historian Geert Mak. I do not know if there is an English translation. Continue reading “Art flows to where the money is”

Weird artists

Weird artists

Hieronymus Bosch and modern weird artists.

For next Monday, I have a ticket for the big Hieronymus Bosch exhibition at the Prado Museum in Madrid. I am very curious to see!  Bosch is the pre-eminent painter of the most wondrous creatures and unusual scenes. Probably contemporaries considered him a weird artist. Museums and cities organize countless events and exhibitions to celebrate the five hundredth year of the Dutch painter’s death. Bosch is named after the city Den Bosch.  Here he was born. He lived almost simultaneously with Leonardo da Vinci. He is buried in the cathedral of his birthplace. Continue reading “Weird artists”

Official-portraits

Official-portraits

‘What subject do you prefer?’  A frequent question.   Actually I don´t know what to answer. Do I prefer official-portraits? Each portrait is fun to do whether it is a small child or an old lady, a professor or a lawyer. It is true that some faces are more attractive than others. A commissioned portrait never leaves me a choice and it is always exciting to see what model will appear. The same goes for official portraits. Continue reading “Official-portraits”

I loved all kinds of drawing

tafelpootWhen I was 11 years old I received my first drawing lessons from Beatus Nijs. I´ve written about him before. To him I owe much of the success of my entire career. He was like a father to me. He encouraged me enormously and made me draw everything that was available. He once  gave me a table leg to study as homework. I found a drawing pad of mine from 1964 with this pencil drawing. I was 13 years old. If you look closely you can see on the right side Beatus´ drawing correction. Continue reading “I loved all kinds of drawing”

Painting hands in oil paint

 

About painting hands in oil paint.

Let me start with a quote of the famous Art teacher Robert Henri form his book The Art Spirit:

“Better paint the gesture of the hand than the hand”.

I love to paint hands and this fantastic phrase animates me once again to show the expression of the hand.

 

painting hands in oil paint

Painting hands in oil paint. Many people think that a painted portrait is just only about the face. Of course it is more than that. Hands can belong just as well to the whole image. Hereto the hands of a commission that I have on my easel now. When the portrait is delivered, and I have the permission of the client, I’ll show you the whole painting. Continue reading “Painting hands in oil paint”

Yesterday in London

Sargent in the Tate

I was in London this week for a portrait commission. There and back in two days. I hope to show you later some of this very interesting assignment. I visited the client in his office in the Millbank Tower.

Of course I did not miss the opportunity to enter the Tate, as it is next door after all. I went directly to the Singer Sargents. I admit it: I’m quite the monomaniac sometimes. I took some pictures and I include them here with some comments. I am safely back home now and return to work with new enthusiasm, kindled by our eternal hero John Singer Sargent.

Mrs. Robert Harrison by Singer Sargent
Poor Mrs. Robert Harrison, dazzlingly beautiful dressed in her red and white gown, hung too high to be admired in detail.
Mrs Carl Meyer. Singer Sargent, Tate Gallery London
Mrs. Carl Meyer, would she have complained about her mustache?
Mrs. Carl Meyer. by John Singer Sargent. Tate Gallery London.
Look closely at the necklace: clarity of expression!!
tate-3
Rule of thumb: lights are cool, shadows are warm, deep shadows are hot.