Black on Grey on White

All started with an idea, followed by structured inspiration, focused hard work, meticulous co-ordination and then a real live press conference. My one man show "Black on Grey on White" opened Friday the 9th of April in the Warendorf National Stud with a vernissage which welcomed over a 120 guests. It was a magical evening. Meeting friends, acquaintances and collectors. Sharing my art, my world with an enthusiastic and receptive audience. Launching my book "My Colours of Graphite". Saying thank- you speechlessly. Seeing red dots appear and left behind (5 so far). Collecting bookings to keep busy well into the new year. So proud, so overwhelmed and still at a loss for words. Images of the events will help explain, I'm sure, just why my emotions are still getting the better of me... Press Conference April 1st 2010. Georg Frerich, Hurricane, Susanne Schmidt-Rimkus, me, Nicole Uphoff-Selke and Herr Klaus Oortmann 10 minutes before the reporters arrived (trying to l...

A big part of the "all go" theme at this end over the last few months has been writting and editing of my first book: My Colours of Graphite. It's published and ready to meet the world. It's been worth it all. The launch was on Friday evening during the vernissage of Black on Grey on White (my solo show in Germany) and was met with great enthusiasm by all. Needless to say I am over the moon and very proud to present over 80 drawings old and new, explaining them with a few words, throughout a 120 pages. The book zooms in on my intense relationship with my graphite friends and our journey over the last 15 years... A book for all with a soft spot for art, horses, dogs and life. My Colours of Graphite can be ordered through Blurb by following this link http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/762329/5bdc2ea19f5017d6b8f18929ef7d16f8

As my solo show approaches at great speed, I've been running left and right, phoning, listing, planning, scheduling, correcting, stressing, tweaking, thinking and writing ( most probably all in that order!) The writing has been the new challenging fun part. After months of work, my book "My Colours of Graphite. Black on Grey on White", finally boasts dotted "i''s" and crossed "t's" and looking (nearly) ready to greet the big wide world. Once a date for the exhibition was set, it seemed like a nice idea to bring out a small book- a retrospective covering the last 15 years of my life. A very special and sincere way to pay tribute to all the people who have believed in me and supported me along the way. It's looking great, over 80 of my drawings have come together to show the world just how powerful a single pencil can be. As you can well imagine my scribble friends are on a pedestal as we retrace the 15 years we have spent together. ...

This weeks circles are beautifully shaped but still displaying a wild side (which interferes relentlessly with any attempt at time management....) I have just realised it's the end of January and I have still not got round to sharing two new books that have "hit" my bookshelf. The first is: " That's 14 in Dog Years " by Kimberly Santini . Described by the artist as and I quote: " That's 14 in Dog Years" is a beautiful summary of the over 360 paintings that were created in 2008. Including almost 120 pages packed with full color reproductions and text highlighting the year’s accomplishments, this is a book artists and animal lovers alike will treasure." It's a wee bit more, I like to think of it as a "treasure trove book" filled with delicious, bright and vibrant dog portraits. Able to capture in simple accurate brush strokes so much energy, affection and precision, the artist's work come alive on the page. I first post...

Secret Knowledge (New and Expanded Edition): Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters by David Hockney Start of a new month, time for another wee book review. In the spotlight today is David Hockney's "Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters". Great book. I love controversy especially when it targets the art world, when it stirs up the way we perceive and look at great masterful works of art; when it throws a whole new massive spanner into the works. Optics or eyeballed? That is the question. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I savoured it because of the artwork and the new light shining on them. (I still find myself today picking it up to satisfy a looming question, checking out uncertainties.) The author has written a good book without long and technically soporific dissertations but with, beautifully illustrated examples and to the point explanations. I found it thrilling in its controversy and inspiring through the art portayed. Inter...

Mastering Composition: Techniques and Principles to Dramatically Improve Your Painting by Ian Roberts Starting this week off  with a twist,  a short (yet serious enough) book review. This book has brought me so much sharing is a must.  This is quite simply The BOOK that changed my approach to composition. The book that brought me up a whole new level as an artist able to understand composition. A definite reference and "forever book" for any artist looking to acquire more knowledge and take the right steps in getting there. The one element I particularly enjoy is the layout: carefully thought through and user-friendly. This adds heaps to the enjoyment of learning something that can be down right boring. Roberts keeps all the elements he wants us to discover flowing smoothly and effortlessly on well written, illustrated and printed pages. This edition also comes with a cd. A great wee bonus to help highlight and clarify the content of the manuscript by visually illustrating...

"Elephant" . Albertina, Vienna. Black Chalk, 230x340 mm by Rembrandt in 1637. "A woman Sleeping". Brush and Wash in Bistre, 245x203 mm by Rembrandt in about 1655. Have you ever wondered who this lady actually is and (now) what the link could be with the elephant? Both are rendered by Rembrandt back in the 17th century, and through pure coincidence, I discovered who Rembrandt sketched sleeping back in 1655. This beautiful figure is very likely Hendrickje Stoffels, Rembrandt's second wife and mother to his daughter Cornelia (born in 1654). The original can be seen in the British Museum in London. Last week, a nasty virus (our youngest was its victim) kept me away from crossing my studio's threshold but luckily not from catching up on some long overdue reading. One of the books I picked up and couldn't put down was: "Rembrandt Drawings - 116 Masterpieces in Original Color" . 2007, Dover Publications, Inc. Mineola, New York. I loved it. This hardc...

I am busy putting pile of summer literature together.  My objective for these holidays is to take some hand-picked "work" books away with me.  To work without working! The drawing board will be staying in my studio but my sketch pad, books and camera will be all be packed with loads of TLC. Another cool new feature I've added to the right hand margin is on my bookshelf .  All the books I have featured on this bookshelf are actually physically present on my real wooden (crowed) bookshelves, some I have read. The ones I haven't are being packed. The other part of my cunning plan is to share them with you over the coming months. Many of you may have remembered I started with Rien Poortvliet back in May. (Great news: The Gnomes is most definately still available despite rumours of the contrary... Tried and tested: I ordered an extra copy just to be on the safe side...and it arrived safely.)   So, when I've finished the first books I will most definately post my revi...