Number 13 Art by Nature Magazine

Page 1

artbynaturemag.com


PRESENTING

CHEZVOUSCHEZMOI

chezvouschezmoi.wordpress.com


Hello Art by Nature readers! Like everyone I’m in the middle of 'dealing with' the Corona situation. I have been working from home for the past six weeks and it hasn’t been easy. But I am able to see this as a blessing in disguise as I was able to see my son do his first steps and have also been able to talk to some of my friends and contacts on a much deeper level. The rose which I have placed on the cover of this Edition, floats in our galaxy and is meant as a sign of support for all the artists who are striving in these troubling times. To them I say: stay strong, stay safe, and keep up the good work. In this edition, Anita Wong will show you her amazing work. I have followed her for some time, and I love the way she has matured as an artist. I was honored to receive the image of the ink drawing, 'Kitten', on page 8 of this edition and I assure you that it’s even more impressive in real life!

Many thanks again to Stephen King, a lecturer in media at Middlesex University Dubai and his students for continuing to help me edit the articles for Art by Nature magazine.

I am also happy to introduce Jacolien de Jong, who featured in last edition, as our newest member of our 'Art by Nature' -family with her new column 'Nature's Vision'. She joins our 'oldest' columnist who always enlightens, Merel Slootheer, who in these times shares her personal perspective on 'hope'. And there are many more fantastic artists who talk about their inspiration and share a look into their creative processes.

And share with others.

Finally, I am pleased to announce a great new collaboration is in progress. I was in contact with Constantijn Hoffscholte, the adjunct-directeur of the Flower Art Museum Aalsmeer through Instagram account. We had a great talk, as Constantijn is also a journalist with lots of contacts in the art industry. I am hoping for something amazing and for Art by Nature to reach even more artists and share their great creations.

Please do continue to follow the magazine

Thank you and enjoy edition 13! Tessa Valk Founder, Editor-in-chief & Designer

by SK


INITIATIVE OF Tessa Valk COVER COLLAGE tessaontwerpt.nl background photo 3staraligned

what's inside

Colophon

CONTACT tessa@artbynaturemag. com

ADVERTISE To advertise in upcoming issues click here LIKE THE MAGAZINE?

Support the magazine artbynaturemag.com SPECIAL THANKS TO Jacolien de Jong • Merel Slootheer • Katia Plewnia Labour of Art • Anita Wong • Constantijn Hoffscholte of Flower Art Museum • Corry Zwart • Mauricio Paz Viola • Daniëlle van Herk • Suus Suiker No content may be used without permission of Art by Nature magazine. Photos of artists’ work(s) are owned by the artist (all rights reserved). All images are credited where it has been possible to identify the owner. If you find an image that is yours and you aren't credited, please let me know.


ine light in

or l d Column 12 Nature's vision Jacolien de Jong

Museum 22 Flower Art Museum Constantijn Hoffscholte

on zales bi rd

s

af

TF

a

G nk

of

r

e a th e r

18 CR AF

w ay

Craft 32 Mind your own beeswax Suus Suiker

e’s

Through the eyes of 24 The common thread Daniëlle van Herk

ur

38 COL UM

to

rN at

N

l Sloothee

ew

Nature through the eyes of 6 Kitten for your thoughts Anita Wong

re Me

ag

4 2 ART B Y

N

E Cora Verh

Sh

UR T A

en

Art by nature 17 From one thing springs another Corry Zwart 30 New York: a hell of a town Mauricio Paz Viola

th


kitten for your thoughts WITH ANITA WONG

6

ART BY NATURE | NATURE THROUGH THE EYES OF


I talked for the first time about Anita’s work in Edition 6. I love the brushstrokes and the very personal touch in her artwork. I have followed her and her work since then and I love the way she has matured as an artist. When I saw her new series, which shows her love for cats, I thought it was time to contact her and talk about this new (jet old friend) series. T

7


" I started incorporated domesticated felinesinto my art when I met the neighborhood cat 'Tux'."

8


Cats I feel that cats bring energy into my projects, movement into my brush works and calmness into my life. I have always included big cats in my work but I started incorporating domesticated felines into my art in 2018 when I met the neighborhood cat 'Tux'. He appeared one day during my walk and started taking a walk with me every day. I continue to be inspired by Tux every time I see him – his cool black shiny coat, and his moves inspired my ink painting series – 'Jumping Kittens' and it later evolved into my current ink painting series– 'Ink Kittens'. I use only black sum-e ink and two calligraphy brushes to paint my black furry friend – Tux. Inspiration I have always been inspired by paintings of Asian tigers especially the more abstract 'Mogu' (boneless style) Chinese tiger paintings. To me, these cat paintings are depict anti-realism in their own unique style. They have not only captured the cat as an animal but also, integrated the human imagination and our interpretations of cats in the past. I first encountered these ancient tiger paintings within art books and Asian art museums. I admired the works of many ancient Mogu style artists especially that many have not encountered photographs of cats but painted cats with even more life than a real tiger! I am also inspired by Takeuchi Seihouhanbyou and Shunso Hishida for their paintings of domestic cats.I was also once captivated by the work of Lingnan flower and bird master, Chao Shao-An, for his expressive use of brush. I think it is important for artists to draw inspiration from more than one artist to avoid falling into a particular style.

Ink kitten, sumi-e ink on rice paper, 2020 From top to bottom: Tux by Artist Easel, 2018, Artist Desk (sumi-e ink, mineral colors and Calligraphy brush)

NATURE THROUGH THE EYES OF | ART BY NATURE

9


" I can only begin a project when I feel completely inspired by the subject."

Process I can only begin a project when I feel completely inspired by the subject. I often begin my cat painting with research – snapping photos of cats I’ve encountered, browsing online and offline materials, and visiting local adoption events during the weekend. My creative process is very fast. I don’t outline nor sketch. It takes somewhere between 15 minutes to half an hour per painting. The process of painting is similar to writing calligraphy for me. I take a break when I don't see the results. I can’t force myself to paint. It's very important to have feelings for the subject and picture the result in my mind before I start to paint. From top to bottom: Above – "Black cat", 1910 by Hishida Shunso, Below – Madaraneko, 1924 by Takeuchi Seiho

10

ART BY NATURE | NATURE THROUGH THE EYES OF


Style I enjoy the unexpected elements in the painting process– the happy little accidents and the imperfections that creates perfection in nature. You can find these qualities in my paintings, when you look closely at the subject. plashed ink drips, different shades of ink and how they blend on my paintings. It’s true that artists seek perfection but I believe true perfection in art is a balance between being in control and letting go. Ultimate dream I am amazed by the beauty in both Eastern and Western arts, but find it challenging to combine them. My ultimate dream as an artist is to develop the new ''Lingnan'' style which combines the traditional and modern identity into a contemporary traditional art that speaks to both Eastern and Western connoisseurs. I want to create something that I'm happy with, a painting style that identify who I am and satisfies my soul as an artist. I don't want to force myself to adopt, or rush into a style because of some trend. I love what I do and I love living because of being an artist. v

anitayanwong.com Happy little accidents (random splash ink) on one of Wong's kitten painting

by SK

11


nature's vision: I walk, so I move. I create, so I exist. WITH JACOLIEN DE JONG The natural innocence with which the willow spreads its blossom. Vulnerable cuddly catkins. The earth is littered with them. I pick them all up, take them with me and spread them out in my studio.

When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is look out the window and see what the weather is like. At sunrise I take my daily walk, a regular tour along the water, across the meadow, and through the forest. I live just on the outside of the city, on its doorstep, where urbanity touches nature. I know the area very well, but to my surprise, for me there is always something new to discover each and every day. Nature always fascinates and is constantly on the move. This stimulates my brain and sets thoughts and ideas in motion. No two days are the same for those who have an eye for the detailed nuances that nature provides. Acting with all senses, I detect subtle changes in sounds, smells and colors. So many shades of green, so many types of grass. I walk. I watch. I photograph, and collect material. I see for the first time what has always been there and give the material a meaningful role in my work. by SK

12

ART BY NATURE | COLUMN


Jacolien is an artist, she lives and works in Utrecht. In her drawings she uses organic material to emphasize her visual language. Here's my column! jacoliendejong.kunstinzicht.nl

13


your work in Art by Nature magazine?

Spreading the news through social media feeds and newsletter subscribers (total 10.000) 14

ART BY NATURE | NATURE THROUGH THE EYES OF


"LET ME TELL YOUR STORY AS AN ARTIST THE RIGHT WAY."

Interested? Feel free to contact Art director Tessa Valk for the possibilities.

artbynaturemag.com

NATURE THROUGH THE EYES OF | ART BY NATURE

15



from one thing springs another WITH CORRY ZWART My interest in art started in high school. When I was 16 I started taking courses in model drawing and at 18 I was admitted to the Rietveld Academy. After the Academy I took all manner of courses such as colour science and art history. After becoming a mother, art took a backseat for a while. Now I’m more into social media. Where in the past the exhibitions and galleries was the only way to show your work, now the whole world is at your feet, but I do miss the direct contact with the spectator. Growing up I do not come from an artistic family. My mother was great at sewing and made me whatever I designed. My father was a handyman and I helped him. I love making things personally. As a child I made my own doll clothes and I loved to draw. Inspiration As a teenager I loved Mathilde Willink, I found her so unique and different. I initially wanted to do something with fashion, but that felt too superficial. As I became more involved with art, doors opened. I gained new insights from the artists I admired. I am so happy with books like 'The Hidden Life of Trees' by Peter Wohlleben, the very cheerful 'The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing' by Shinrin Yoku, and have been fascinated by 'Homo Deus' by Yuval Noah Harari.

Creating I'm a multi-disciplined artist, so my work can be a process in itself. The photos in this article are a result of the jewelry I made from flowers and plants, and are a result of sustainability works such as the dress of brand labels and the statue of plastic dolls. I don't have a set routine taking my photos. I am always looking for beautiful details. Mainly I take my pictures in my garden, where light and wind are my friend and foe. To create more awareness of the natural beauty that is around us, I do not use photoshop. The pictures I make are what everyone can see when you stand still and look closely.v

corryzwart.nl

by SK

From top to bottom: 'Blue beauty' photo of violets, stringing flower bells, necklace of Delphinium ART BY NATURE | ART BY NATURE

17


birds of a feather WITH FRANK GONZALES

18


For Frank, it's essential to get out and interact with nature. He’s fortunate to live in a property with a lot of growing plants, even indoors there are a lot of plants and he also tends a carnivorous plant terrarium. He finds it difficult to understand how people can see nature and themselves as separate from one-another. T

BEHIND THE SCENES | ART BY NATURE

19


Blown away I enjoyed making art as a kid, but didn't decide to pursue it seriously until my senior year in high school. It was then that my art teacher told me that there were people who actually made a living making art and I was blown away. Something clicked, I quit sports in my senior year and never looked back! I went to community college and attended every art class I could take. I was fortunate to have instructors that focused on building a super strong foundation teaching classical drawing and painting techniques. I attended the Laguna College of Art and Design and graduated with a BA in Painting and Drawing in 2003. In the ‘80s I was influenced early on by skateboard culture, gang writing and hip hop.

Creating Live Art in Phoenix

20

ART BY NATURE | BEHIND THE SCENES

Respected creativity I was an only child and have always been an observer. I’m very comfortable by myself. I was fortunate to have parents that were supportive of my endeavors. They didn’t always approve, but they respected my creativity and let me express myself. This was most notable in my bedroom where I covered the walls with graffiti, drawings, colors, etc. Little did I know until much much later in life that I was creating my own temple of creativity. I’m forever grateful for that. I also used to create abstract marker drawings with a good friend of mine. We would sit and create drawings for hours and taped them all over his door and walls. We were making our own little gallery of art. These were good times!

Studio shot with Specimen II 60x72 inch Acrylic on Canvas


" I find an anchor and then other natural elements fall into place." Multifaceted Inspiration is so multifaceted. It comes in so many forms from music, graphic design, decrepit buildings, plants, travel, movies, books, and life in general. I think it's a matter of being open to what’s around you. It's all right there in front of us. I enjoy a good botanical garden. I try to visit the local gardens whenever I travel. I love visiting the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens and the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. I'm a big fan of music as well. I can get down with most genres from metal to electronica to jazz. I was fortunate to attend Art Miami this past December. Wow! it was art overload but super inspiring! Anchor I usually start with an image or colour as a starting point. I don’t really create any sketches beforehand. I let the imagery unfold as I go along. I sometimes start with preparing the structure with colors and shapes to get things going. From there a complimentary coloured botanical or image I’ve been obsessed with at the moment will be an anchor and then other natural elements fall into place. I draw straight on the panel/canvas and make adjustments as I go along.

frankgonzales.net

by SK

Frank in front of Melodrama. 72" Diameter Acrylic on Canvas

21


flower art museum WITH CONSTANTIJN HOFFSCHOLTE

Snapshot of exhibition with Sogetsu Ikebana art. Photo Eelco Roos.

22

ART BY NATURE | NATURE THROUGH THE EYES OF


Flowers and nature have inspired artists throughout the centuries and still inspire many artists today. This simple fact is the driving force behind the Flower Art Museum in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The museum opened its doors in the summer of 2018 and since then has made a name for itself as a place where visitors enjoy and discuss the strong connection between art and nature. Based in the flower capital, Aalsmeer, home to the world’s largest flower auction, the museum presents new exhibitions every three months. It also hosts workshops, concerts and a range of other events, such as the yearly Flower Festival. At the moment, the museum is temporarily closed because of the coronavirus. Once it opens again, visitors will be able to enjoy the exhibition Focus on Trees and an exhibition showing remarkable mosaic art. While being closed down, work is progressing on setting up a sculpture roof garden. The museum itself is located in a former water cellar of 1.000 square meters below water level, the garden offers a view on the adjacent lake and water tower.

In the first year and a half, there have been cooperations with a wide range of artists. One of the eyecatchers was an exhibition of Sogetsu Ikebana art, an artistic interpretation of the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Other exhibitions involved botanical art, insect art and a large exhibition with German photographer and “flower ambassador” Richard Fischer. The presented art disciplines vary every time, while the theme of flowers and nature remains. The museum also cooperates on a more permanent basis with the Tropism Art & Science Foundation. This Amsterdam based art collective is inspired by nature with a distinct interest in science and making use of technology. Find out more: flowerartmuseum.nl

by SK

T I had a wonderful talk with Contantijn Hoffscholte of Flower Art Museum Aalsmeer. If all goes well, we are going to do a collaboration. So every edition there is going to be something like an article, column, agenda, nothing is definite yet, all options are open. A great opportunity in these crazy times.

From left to right: Visitors taking in the art works of Bert van Santen, Timo Knoppers and Jacqueline van Kester. Photos Joyce Goverde.

MUSEUM | ART BY NATURE

23


the common thread WITH DANIĂ‹LLE VAN HERK DaniĂŤlle works and lives in the south of the Netherlands where she likes being outside and taking daily walks with her dog. She is highly observant and is quick to spot the smallest details in nature, which she photographs. These studies have a direct influence on her paintings. Colours of nature

24

ART BY NATURE | THROUGH THE EYES OF


25


2

1

From left to right:

1

Nature in layers

2

Photo: DaniĂŤlle van Herk

Common thread I studied textile methods, drawing and graphic design and later in life interior design architecture. In recent years I’ve been active as an interior designer through my company, Stijl Compagnie. Creativity has always been the common thread in my life and I feed that by following all kinds of creative workshops, such as silk painting, goldsmithing, felting, stained glassmaking, and photography.

26

3

Nature in layers serie

4

Photo: DaniĂŤlle van Herk

" R estyling, shaping and design is second nature to me." Restyling, shaping and design are second natures to me. I like to move house regularly and then create a new home for me and my family in line with the needs of that moment. But I always prefer to create everything in my studio.


3

4

Art by nature I grew up with animals at home. I was a real outdoorsy child and loved building huts. I could draw and craft for hours and did a lot of daydreaming at school. There was a lot of nature and creativity at my parents’ house. My mother works in the garden, is an IVN teacher (nature education and experience), milks goats, processes herbs, and cooks organic. She also spins yarn, knits, and does

crochet. My father is a beekeeper and loves to work in his garden and the forest. Layers A day of painting usually starts with a nice walk in nature with my dog. Back in the studio the music is switched on and the work is done purely intuitively, creating a creative flow. Layer after layer, more or less structure and texture are applied,

BEHIND THE SCENES | ART BY NATURE

27



Impressie atelier met op de achtergrond tweeluik Autumn leaves

" W ith this I want to invite the viewer to discover the atmosphere and layers in my work..." sometimes fairly smoothly and power­fully, sometimes very subtly and transparently. I find a challenge in researching colours and applying the paint opaque or transparent, pasty or highly diluted. I use palette knives, rulers, sponges, fingers and cloth to apply the paint. It works on both large canvases and small panels. I stimulate further development

Cosmic

and growth in my work with experimental techniques. My earlier work is more saturated in colour, while my recent work is more transparent and rhythmic. But it is always dynamic and powerful. I like to work in an abstract and figurative way and try to find the boundary between them. With this I want to invite the viewer to discover the atmosphere and layers in my work and thereby give space to their own feeling and fantasy. The biggest compliment for me is when the viewer discovers new elements and is sucked into the painting. v

daniellevanherk.nl BEHIND THE SCENES | ART BY NATURE

29


new york: a hell of a town WITH MAURICIO PAZ VIOLA Mauricio first talked about his work in Edition 5, where it was clear he has his own look on life and how he gets inspired. Even in this work I see the inspiration of extraterrestrial life, UFOs, parallel worlds, stars, and different dimensions T

In my opinion, there are three concurrent trends in New York that stand out from the rest - pop art, abstract art and street art. Based on this observation I decided that I would follow one of these to get into the flow of the ‘City’. M

In fact, I incorporated all three in one piece of artwork. In this series called ‘Identity’ , inspired by the people and the diversity of New York, I wanted to capture this diversity, the statics, the glamour, the fashion, the ethnicities, the culture and the splendour of this magnificent city. I wanted to narrate New York's racial diversity, interpret the silhouettes and the contours of different people

30

ART BY NATURE | ART BY NATURE

that I photographed with my phone as they caught my eyes in the streets. My idea, however, was not to paint their faces, their features nor to capture their race, skin colour or social status. What I wanted was the complete opposite, to give them an artistic characteristic of beauty and equality, and to represent a sort of abstrac­ tion and enlightenment, if you will. Elements or symbols abound in this piece: the white and repetitive lines represent thoughts, the points, ideas, and the dainty fabric, tenuous yet real connections.

mauriciopazviola.com


"Modestia" work in progresse

31


mind your own beeswax WITH SUUS SUIKER T

I first experienced

Suus’ art at the First Art Fair in Amsterdam. The artwork that was at stand of Galerie Sille reminded me Monet’s water lilies, but with the twist of Suus’ amazing take on nature, and her use of natural materials like beeswax, natural pigments, and cotton paper.

The beginning I have been drawing since my early childhood, I drew before I could talk and made my first painting in oil when I was just 8-years old. At school I was often in my own world, daydreaming while making drawings. I liked subjects such as drawing, music and theater, rather than maths and history. As a child I always wanted to visit museums and I was a big fan of painters like Waterhouse, Klimt and Dali. Later I became more familiar with the works of artists like Monet, Richter, Pollock, and Van Gogh. I studied Art at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. At first I worked for a design agency as an illustrator. But soon after, I started to work as an independent artist. Now my work is represented by a few high-end galleries, and shown at exhibitions and art fairs.

Suus in her studio and materials she uses.

32

Inspiration Everyday I walk through our nature reserve and get inspired by the changing of the seasons. During my holidays I like to walk through nature and find inspiration in the


CRAFT | ART BY NATURE

33


34

ART BY NATURE | CRAFT


foreign landscape. I visited the gardens of Monet in Giverny, which were fabulous! Music is also an important source of inspiration. I always listen to music while I paint.

" It’s important to me to follow my own path and tell my own story."

I regularly visit museums, but try not to be overly influenced by it. It’s inevitable that the work of some artists touched and inspired me. However, it’s important to follow my own path and tell my own story. I admire artists like Monet, Richter and Kiefer. I love their work and admire their passion. Beautiful shine During my walks I take lots of photos for inspiration. In my studio I sketch and paint parts of the landscapes or nature which I had photographed, in ink, watercolor on paper, or I make digital underpaintings and sketches (sometimes combined with photographic elements) on my tablet, built up in many digital layers. The processed paper is stuck on an aluminum plate. Then I process the paper with several layers of transparent beeswax (mixed with damar) and layers of pigmented and oil-colored beeswax. In between, each layer is fused with a blowtorch. When all layers have been satisfactorily applied and fused, the artwork is polished with a cotton cloth to create a beautiful shine.

suussuiker.nl

by SK

Left: Symbiose 120-04 From top to bottom: Working gear, Magnolia in studio garden, Waterlillies in Giverny

35



archy by morecircular.com


I’m a dreamer, maker, designer, goldsmith, collector, biophile, citydweller living in Haarlem, The Netherlands. I approach the creative process as I would extensive research and trans­late my findings into all sorts of creations. With my work I try to make sense of things I don’t understand and question what might be considered obvious. Here's my column!

merelslootheer.com


COLUMN | ART BY NATURE

39


nature’s way: hope WITH MEREL SLOOTHEER A couple of years ago my parents were surprised by an unexpected visitor in their city garden. A bold and seemingly fearless toad decided to set up camp. They were honoured and decided unanimously that they would cater to its needs by digging a tiny pond. It soon became apparent that this pioneer was not a hermit (the toad), the pond now houses seven toads and a salamander according to the latest headcount.

I would love to adopt a little bit of the mindset from all characters from this happy garden history as a part of my natural life philosophy. First of all: be gutsy and optimistic. I want to be able to just take a leap of faith. Jump into the unknown and not expect anything, just like that courageous toad. Secondly: be welcoming of the unexpected, but set healthy boundaries. My parents never even once considered digging a pond before the arrival of their amphibian guests, but happily embraced their new role as hosts. The living arrangement only applies to the garden though, no bouncers are allowed in the house.

Finally: be opportunistic, but always share. All toads, salamanders, and all the yet to be discovered other species, all live contentedly together. Being able to accept that life is in a constant state of flux and anticipate this feels like an essential super power. Especially now in a time where life as we know it keeps transforming. I try to deal with all of this by addressing only one new topic at a time. It helps me with balancing out the negative and positive, and avoids ’toxic info syndrome’. But there is no readymade manual to handle a crisis. To me ’hope’ always seemed like an elusive principle, but lately my perception of it has been changing. I keep finding optimism in urban wildlife and nature. Fearless toads, moss growing on concrete surfaces, plants sprouting from cracks in the pavement, trees blooming abundantly, baby ducks being ridiculously cute, and birds singing, very loudly. Hope has shapeshifted, from ephemeral to solid. Yes, hope springs eternal. But it sprouts too, it bounces, sings, blossoms and grows, it’s enduring, optimistic and fearless. And above all it keeps me going. v by SK

40

ART BY NATURE | COLUMN


" To me ’hope’ always seemed like an elusive principle, but lately my perception of it has been changing."

41


P

e aD

rksen

shine light in to the world

Ph

ot

o

e

n tri

WITH CORA VERHAGEN As Cora grows older, she is becoming more aware of the changing of the seasons and tries to live her life in the same way. In winter Cora reflects and rests and when spring arrives it’s time for more energetic movements. T

Personal journey Since as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be an artist. I discovered at a very young age, that by making art you can create your own world. In my spare time I was always drawing, painting and watching Bob Ross. I love making something out of nothing. I studied graphic design at the Graphic Lyceum in Rotterdam, and advertising at the Willem de Kooning Art Academy. After graduation, I didn’t want to enter the harsh environment of advertising. So I got a job to create a graphic studio for people with mental disorders and worked at this foundation for 9 years. When my first son was born, I had the urge to do more with my own creativity. I started working freelance as a graphic designer and personal brand consultant for small business owners.Two years ago I started to feel something was missing. I went on a personal journey and discovered I longed to do more 42

ART BY NATURE | ART BY NATURE

Lasercut artwork: Layered


43


" My major goal in all this, is to bring people soft and friendly energy." with fine art and work more independently, which led to my inspiration to make organic illustrations. Help others to thrive When I was 19, I discovered the work of Niki de Saint Phalle. She inspired me to help other people thrive. I’m a big admirer of Art Nouveau. I love it’s organic shapes and dynamic compositions. In my spare time I like to thrift shop, especially to scout objects with special typography or illustrations, like old tins, books or porcelain. They are a big inspiration for my work and life in general. You can learn a lot by looking at the past.

44

To get inspired for my work I take walks. I have a very handy lens for my smartphone to make macro photos. You’ll be amazed what kind of shapes you find, just wandering through your backyard. Let my flow lead the way When it comes down to making art, I work very intuitively. I never make sketches. My favourite tools are black markers and fineliners. I’ll put them on paper and let my flow lead the way. If a drawing has a certain element of ‘magic’ in it I will digitize it to make art prints, animations or surface designs for


interior products, such as pillows, wall and floorcoverings. I use Adobe Illustrator for that. Recently I started making intuĂŻtieve murals. I would love to do that more often in the future. Sometimes the illustration itself is framed, but most of the time I look for a way to use my illustration as a print for products such as carpets, wall decorations, or services like animations to help people relax. My major goal in all this, is to bring people soft and friendly energy. I feel that the way you see art, reflects how you see yourself and the world around you.

coraverhagen.nl

by SK

From top to bottom: Outdoor pillow cover, Macro photo taken in France, Books of inspiration Left to right: Drawing at my livingroom table, Lasercut artwork: Reflections, Still from stress reducing animation on Vimeo

ART BY NATURE | ART BY NATURE

45


W O R K S H O P C YA N O TY P E

MEMORIES IN BLUE

46

ART BY NATURE | NATURE THROUGH THE EYES OF


Advertorial

LO O K I N G F O R A W AY T O S PA R K YO U R C R E AT I V I TY? Cyanotype printing or blueprinting is a photocopy technique developed by Anna Atkins (1799-1871), the first female photographer. Her botanical images of seaweeds and algae became world famous. Making blueprints in ONE day You can learn how to use this amazing technique in a one- day- workshop. With special liquid, solid paper is made photosensitive to UV light. When the light shines on the treated paper, the characteristic cyan-blue colour is created. At the places where you place plants, flowers or other silhouettes, the paper remains white.

Your memories in BLUE In the workshop you can make your own botanical images with different organic material. Dried plants do very well. It is also possible to use negatives. Your personal photographs in blueprint gain an extra nostalgic touch with the cyanotype technique. In the workshop you make several blueprints on paper and on fabric. By experimenting you will find out about the do's and don'ts. After the workshop you will be able to make your own blueprints at home. Feeling blue, special offer The workshop Cyanotype in One day takes place in the studio of Jacolien de Jong. It's nice to experience this magical technique together with family and friends. Special offer for the readers of Art by Nature magazine: Use AbyN couponcode Feeling Blue and receive a 10 % discount on the workshop price. You pay â‚Ź 67,50 instead of â‚Ź 75 (until september 1 2020)

hetschildersbedrijf.nl/ cyanotype-workshops

NATURE THROUGH THE EYES OF | ART BY NATURE

47


preciousmatters.com


Next time Craft

DIY

Nature's Wannahaves

Behind the scenes

Through the eyes of

Photo Doc

Gallery Special

Nature's Column



Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.