Gineke Zikken

New York II- 21 st Century Contemporary City Painting

2017

In February 2017 we met Rutger Hiemstra. I visited him in his studio in Paterswolde. Beautifully situated on the edge of a nature reserve, Rutger Hiemstra's studio is located in the ...

Introduction to Eric Schutte A publication in the art magazine 'Atelier', made us aware of his work. Very special we found his paintings, square-air paintings where the influences of the weather, the light to a special touch and a very colorful whole. Versatile What we do, when we see an artist's work that appeals to us, is to search for other work. This also applies to Eric. His website taught us that he is very versatile. In addition to paintings, Eric has found a special way of design. With waste plastic, iron and other material he makes the most special installations, commissioned, but also free work. An appointment was made quickly! Eric Schutte lives and works in Ommen, his studio is next to a beautiful mill. At the time of visit it is cold, there is some frozen snow and it is almost dark when I arrive. In the studio it is immediately clear that Eric is busy with everything. Mountains with tubes of oil paint, different donkeys with semi-manufactured paintings, a particularly large pile of waste plastic. Eric is an enthusiastic narrator, besides being an artist, he is a drawing teacher for a few days a week. I can imagine how he knows how to enthuse his students! Eric talks about special assignments that constantly lead to new ideas and new 'free works'. (The free work Eric likes to call 'research'.) For example, a cow, at De Brink in Ommen, produced Eric on behalf of the municipality. He made the cow out of iron. Old iron from all farmers in the immediate vicinity of Ommen. With this old iron he constructed a cow, the iron is particularly visible, but also the cow. Very clever! Environments Eric takes me enthusiastically to his work. The paintings, classical in origin, made with elegant imagination, and the images, beautiful and simple at the same time, and therefore also stimulating to look better. With these paintings Eric is always looking for the edge, during the opening exhibition we have a special work from him. Is it a 6-part, or are it 6 separate paintings of a railway crossing where a train is passing by? Anyway, you keep looking at it. Eric tells about this when I pick up the work: "I see something then, and then I want something with it, and this is it. Yes, otherwise I can not explain it ". Another and special piece during the opening exhibition is also by Eric Schutte. A calf made from almost 2000 yellow ear tags of slaughtered calves and iron. Particularly plastic and very lifelike. Eric Schutte is an artist who makes both conceptual and classical work. Eric himself about this: "The conceptual work consists of a figurative design in which the non-obvious use of materials is part of the imagination. The concept also plays a major role in classical work, but the material (use) is more traditional. I consider making images as a continuous game and research in which the idea and the design are equal and influence each other ". The opening exhibition and the work of Eric that we have kept in stock has been sold for a large part. Particularly enthusiastic and enthusiastic are people who see his work. During the exhibition 'Naar buiten!' We show new work by this special artist. Acrylic paintings made in the snow, outside in the cold. Also a number of works of waste plastic. The artist tells about his painting of a forest made from waste plastic: We make a waste mountain from nature, I make nature from waste again. The work is called biotope, our living environment. Nature, but at the same time, our environment is plastic. If later excavations are made to this time, the main thing that is found will be plastic. We live in the plastic age.

José Salvaggio, pedal artist from France, at Galerie Bonnard! The French artist José Salvaggio finds his subject in the French world around him. You do...

In his studio, with large skylights, Rutger Hiemstra works on various subjects: still-lifes, portraits and, for example, large cloudy skies. In addition, he can also be found outside regularly, to make small 'plein-air' paintings. A few hours of sitting outside and painting a beautiful painting about it, that 'can not be better', according to Hiemstra. Rutger worked in Denmark, Switzerland, France and England, he also likes working in his own environment and is easily inspired by simple and daily 'things'. His self-tanned garden fence is also a wonderful subject. Inspiration enough, but time too short to draw and paint all the subjects that pass by. During our introduction to these artist, at the begin of 2017, it became clear how driven Rutger is. His own compiled book of artists that inspires him and of which he carefully studies the work is always within reach in his studio. When leaving, Rutger shows how he builds up his still lifes. A self-molded table top with potatoes 'scattered' on it. This is a while, downstairs in the living room, and here and there things change. Finally, if the composition really suits him, he will paint it. In his paintings, Rutger shows us how surprising his still-lifes, small, intimate or colorful and of great size can be. The material expression and atmosphere in the work of this artist is particularly well-suited in all formats. In January 2018 we had a big exhibition with his works, Dutch newspaper 'NRC' wrote an article about his works with the title: Anti-Depressive medication in paint by Rutger Hiemstra, we totally agree. The works of Rutger make you smile! The article in het NRC: Hiemstra's still life are antidepressants in paint Gallery Bonnard, Nuenen Rutger Hiemstra paints easter eggs, tompoucen or fresh mint in such a way that you think: but of course deserve a painting! For a child, Easter eggs are sensational. To begin with, they are bigger, if you are smaller. They have a nice shape: just not round. They shine and come in festive colors. And if you wipe off the wrapper there is no real egg, but chocolate. Later you are grown up and you know those things by now. Every year around Easter they are for sale with containers. They lie in front of the house and office. Easter egg? Yes Nice. But nothing special. Until you see them painted by Rutger Hiemstra (1975). He looks childishly at all those colorful glittering unround marbles - and he knows how to share his elation with it in a still life. Hiemstra makes Easter eggs unusual again, just as he also shows tompoucing, a glass of white wine or fresh mint, a pink cake...

"Two Sisters" by Richard Britell 86 x 45 inches vertical, monochromatic blue contemporary landscape oil painting on canvas This large vertical blue monochromatic...

What Lies Beneath (2021), oil on linen, landscape, skyscape, nightscape, night sky, moon, flowers, garden, florals Painting is 20" high by 16" wide (frame not included). Oil paintin...

Flora Carnivora (2021), oil on linen, landscape, skyscape, nightscape, night sky, moon, flowers, garden, florals Painting is 20" high by 16" wide (float frame...

Winter landscape painting by Cobi Moules - Oil on canvas Exhibition History: "New England Now: People," Shelburne Museum, Vermont (June 26 - October 17, 2021) Driven by the desire for adventure and discovery, Cobi Moules embraces the beauty of nature all the while shifting its weight through the exaltation of his own existence within, and as part, of it. This is best exemplified by the way he incorporates multiple self-portraits throughout his compositions. The multiplicity of self takes both precedence over, as well as integration into, the landscape creating a world with a sense of excitement, self-worth and play. The locations of Moules’ compositions are equally important. All of the locations were previously depicted in paintings by the Hudson River School. Through the exploration of the grand American landscape and the reflection on mid-19th century American landscape painting, Moules navigates the parallels between the Hudson River School and the religious ideology that was an integral part of his formative years. Shared throughout both is the elevation of purity, virginity and the honor of sacrificing one’s selfhood for the glory of God. As the Hudson River School artists’ work embodies the overpowering force of God made manifest through nature, so do the religious voices of Moules’ past against the validation of his existence. Moules states, “As a queer and trans person, I seek to renegotiate my relationship with this upbringing and the act of being told I am ‘unnatural’ through such a Christian lens. I utilize traditional representation as a way of seeking inclusion while disrupting the original narrative. Creating a space for personal significance and a queer and trans presence, the importance becomes the experience of my multiple and overall presence. It is a community of me playing, exploring my selves, exploring nature and being part of it.” Landscape, nature, figurative painting, self portrait, portrait, seascape, coastline, seashore, Hudson River School, contemporary art, Ship Harbor...