After a few weeks I came to the conclusion the chosen approach was resulting into a boring painting. Time for something completely different. I put on some rough pagan folk music (Omnia, Varrtina, Barbarian Pipe band etc,) Took some big brushes an threw a Bacchus on the canvas. It took me two days to finish it.

2011, Bacchus, 120x120cm, Acrylic on canvas

I promised to paint the wine bottles as well so after a phonecall to check if my friend agreed on getting a bigger painting (he did) I made six small paintings. Three on each side of the Bacchus.

2011, Contador 2003, 20x40cm, Acrylic on canvas

2011, Gaja 2005, 20x40cm, Acrylic on canvas

2011, Masseto 2005, 20x40cm, Acrylic on canvas

2011, Pingus 2004, 20x40cm, Acrylic on canvas

2011, Quintarelli Classico Riserva 1995, 20x40cm, Acrylic on canvas

2012, Vega Sicilia 1995, 20x40cm, Acrylic on canvas

Yesterday we went over to present the finished work. Quite an exiting moment because I kept my friend in the dark about in which direction the painting developed. Luckily he and his wife loved the result. When it’s framed and hanging I will add a picture to this post to show the combination of the seven paintings.

Later on in the 1970s, she wrote a few novels. Her friends were Jan Cocteau and Giorgio de Chirico at that time.

What I’m trying to say is this. She knew the right people, was well known, in the right place at the right time and had her own surrealistic style. Furthermore she delivered high quality art.

Have you ever read anything about her? I have read a lot about the other artists I mentioned. I never came across her name. Is it because she is a woman that she is erased from art history? Sad, but it probably is.. There is a bright side as well. Suppose you like surrealism. Her art is affordable and hopefully the (art)world will change for the best in due time;-)

In the RV-Art collection I have one lithograph she made in the 70s. It’s an E.A.(epreuve d’artiste) print.

Leonor Fini_Orange Sphinx

Rob de Graaf, 2000, Mixed media on paper

Rob de Graaf, 2000, Mixed media on paper

The next piece is an etching he made on Nepalese paper he found and used during a visit to Nepal in 2001.

Rob de Graaf, 2001, Etching printed on nepalese paper, 16x16cm

Last but not least I recently got the next piece as a present by Rob. I think it’s great!

Rob de Graaf, 2008, Household paint on canvas, 20x20cm

As you might know bees suffer from a phenomenon called Colony Collapse Disorder. Worker bees disappear and the colony dies. This causes a large decrease of the amount of honybee colonies worldwide and has a negative effect on the fertilisation of plants. In some countries 50% of the colonies disappear every year. New colonies will be formed during the season. Still this eventually will have an effect on how much food people can harvest.

We spoke about her idea to use this as a theme for a second book. The idea is to raise childrens enthousiasm for bees and awaken their consiousness about (the fun of) beekeeping.

I will make some illustrations for the project and started with a little sketch on canvas.

Besides the hony bee (Apis Mellifera) and a detailed sketch of it’s head there is the head of a solitary bee as well.

The book can be ordered on his website

The RV-Art collection contains 5 pieces of his work. To get an idea check the painting below (click for big).

Rob de Graaf, 2000, Mixed media on canvas, 120x120cm

Rob used household paint, spray paint and hair. His own hair so I got a piece of the artist in more than one way..;-) . The paint used for the red dots was burned and boiled with a paintburner when wet. This creates chaos in the order of the dots itself. I own this painting for about 10 years now and it’s still very attractive, alive and interesting to me. In my perception the interaction between order and chaos keeps on developing.

The work is made in the ancient technique of encaustic painting. Using pigmented hot beeswax is one of the oldest techniques known. The Fayoum mummy portraits were made by using this technique. More than 2000 years after their creation these paintings are still fresh and vibrant.

Rediscovered by artists in the 20st century it resulted in some great modern art like the flags of Jasper Johns. Unfortunately it never became really popular again. But you will never know… Maybe this blog can make a difference…

Sunday afternoon we visited Margot Schlüter and were intrigued by the dreamlike mindscapes she creates. But let her work speak for itself.

2011, Margot Schlüter

2011, Margot Schlüter

If you are interested to see more of her work  or perhaps want to know more about the artist, please contact me on gate__keeper@hotmail.com. I will get back to you as soon as possible.

2011, Anat Zehavi, Chamodi, Oil on canvas, 40x40cm

Anat is really happy with the result. I hope you will enjoy it as well.