This time a real Hurricane

Last night we had a real hurricane hit the southern part of Sweden. The storm did not enjoy my art…

Hurricane Love live

Last night Hurricane Love played a few songs at Suleika in Helsingborg, a new store for women (clothes and accessories). I had some paintings on display.

Betrayal

Today it feels like I have betrayed an old friend…

The birch enjoyed growing and living for 80 or 90 years and it took less than 2 hours to cut it down. It is going to take longer to clean up, if that is any comfort.

Street Art in Hong Kong / Kowloon

The Hong Kong skyline, photo take from Star Ferry 7.

This morning I placed a Facial at the Star Ferry terminal in Kowloon, with the Hong Kong skyline behind…
When I walked by a little over an hour later, the Facial had been removed already! But it was there and I have photos!

Matthias van Arkel – Please touch the artist

Last summer I took some photos of Matthias in my studio. I used them to make a Pocket Art piece for him.

Now I have used the same photo to paint him in very large format. The challenge was to create a similar feel, with the glossy surface, the colors, and the texture.

I have applied three layers of high gloss varnish on the face. The painting is divided in eight sections, each 53,5 x 57 cm. This is about the same size Matthias works with in his unique silicone paintings, which in some cases are as large as 10 x 10 meters! Check his website: www.matthiasvanarkel.com. The piece I bought last summer can be found on page 11 in his Works presentation, #933 (Dark Quadruplet).

In the spring Matthias had an exhibition at Galleri Andersson/Sandström in Umeå, titled “Please touch the artwork”. Go to www.gsa.se to see pictures.
That is why I came up with the text that I sprayed with chrome spraypaint.

Matthias is rather pleased with the work, but he believes I made him fatter than he thinks he is, ha ha! I have not…
Matthias is not fat and he is a great guy, and a brilliant artist.

Facial in Washington D.C.

My Facial street art project has modestly and mysteriously reached Washington D.C.

Ben’s Chili Bowl is a landmark restaurant in the U.S. capital.

Pontus Ikander, Ung Konst at Dunkers in Helsingborg

Today I saw a nice exhibition at Dunkers in Helsingborg. Pontus Ikander and five other young artists are exhibiting works which have been selected for an exhibition that tours a few cities during the fall. The exhibtion remains in Helsingborg until November 17.

One of Pontus Ikander’s beautiful sculptures.

I have continued the work on my large painting. Today I tested to apply wax on the right part of the painting. Tomorrow I will be able to polish the surface.

I will continue with the face…

I have also completed be miniature painting which I have used for my new business cards. The format of this work is 8,4 x 5,5 cm.

Enjoyable work

As I thought before I started, I am really enjoying to work on this large painting. Last year I made a miniature painting of part of his face and now I can recognize some areas. It still does not really look like Mathias, but I am building up thin layers of paint to get some depth. Later I will explain why I have divided the “canvas” in eight same size parts.

I hope I will have the courage to keep adding thin layers of paint for a while, at least on the bright side of the face. I don’t think I will do anything more to the ear and not too much on the dark side of the face, because I want the wood grain to be clearly visible. I have to work more with and around the eyes.

I have added a layer of caput mortuum mixed with black on the right side and then wiped the entire surface with a cloth. I want to add wax on the surface, hopefully that will create more depth. Unfortunately the photos are not really true to the colors, as I have just used the studio light (fluorescent) when taking the pictures.

New solution tried again…

I like to play with glass and spraypaint.

I have mounted three layers of glass in front of the painting. The first I sprayed with a very thin layer of silver, the next I dripped black spraypaint on, and the third I dripped Punk Pink on.

I have continued on the large painting today.

Light at the end of the tunnel…?

I can see, or sense, some light… some hope… at least I am having more fun.

But there is still more work needed.

I have also been working on a miniature piece, 8,4 x 5,5 cm.

The purpose of this piece is to be used as my business card.

I have had a good day, now I am starting the large painting.