Through the eyes of

the common thread WITH DANIËLLE VAN HERK

Daniëlle 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

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From left to right: 1 Nature in layers 2 Photo: Daniëlle van Herk 3 Nature in layers serie 4 Photo: Daniëlle 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. "Restyling, 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.

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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,

"With 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

Impressie atelier met op de achtergrond tweeluik Autumn leaves

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.