Frans Smit

Can you describe your work?

My work is generally geometrical abstract.

What are you working on?

At the moment I'm working on a series of paintings on paper and canvas with each time the same starting-point, a frame.
I found out that it is not necessary to start with a total new image each time to work out my ideas.

What inspires you?

I'm Very much inspired by Mondrian, Vasarely and René Daniëls.
The main subject is color ("when you love color, the color loves you" (fs).

What you hope to evoke from your viewers?

I want my viewers to experience happiness, beauty and spirituality.
"Art has to be forgotten, beauty must be realised" Mondrian,
"A thing of beauty is a joy forever" Keats.

How your work has grown and changed?

I've changed in this way that it's not about diversity in subjects anymore but the diversity is now taking place in small changes within the frame I'm using.
This might seem boring but is on the contrary very challenging for me.
Steven Aalders was just ahead of me with this concept, but his work inspired me very much.
So by making this change I experience growth.

Do you experiment with different materials a lot or do you prefer to work within certain parameters?

I'm not experimenting with a lot of materials righ now.
I use oil-, acryl- and gouache-paint on canvas, board and thick paper.
Still trying to figure out how to use the paint for the best results (should it be thick or transperent).

Can you tell me something about your residence in Rijsakademie?

The period on the Rijksakademy was very challenging for me.
I met and spoke with a lot of artists over there, such as: Han Schuil, Narcisse Todoir, Jaap Hillenius, Armando, Marlene Dumas, Peter Schuijff and many others.

Though I worked there for 2 years the expectations (and therefore the pressure for achievement) where very high.

I regret the fact that I didn't use more of the possibilities this institute was offering. 

It's a shame that our government is going to cut down expences on subsidy for the Rijksakademie.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I want you to know that my latest achievement was participating in "Anoniem Gekozen, Zomerexpo2011", Gemeente Museum Dan Haag.
They selected two of my (small) paintings for the exhibition.
Maybe you can still find them on the Internet in the on-line gallery of the museum.  

www.frans-smit.kunstinzicht.nl

Wouter van Riessen

Can you describe your work?

All my work has to do with the self-portrait.
What would you portray when you want to portray yourself?
A simple picture of a face won't suffice.
In my work I search for ways to catch self-images, find out what they are.
Another theme in my work is the notion of bringing life to an image, of conjuring up the imagination.

What are you working on?

I make digital collages based on images that speak to me.
I start off very intuitively, then I think about the images I have made and modify them.
These collages are at the basis of my paintings.

What inspires you?

I love Medieval sculpture, this is also an important source for me.
Furthermore, I am inspired by what I read in books about things like consciousness, free will, the body/mind problem ect.
I am in particular inspired by writings of Antonio Damasio.
Then there is of course Pinocchio, in some ways my alter ego.

What you hope to evoke from your viewers?

A sense of awe for the way life presents itself. And I want to show that an image can bear a sense of inner glow, without being religious or mystique.

How your work has grown and changed?

Over the years my definition of self-portraiture has become more abstract and philosophical.
I now have more of symbolic approach.

Do you experiment with different materials a lot or do you prefer to work within certain parameters?

I do a lot of things: painting, drawing, collage, mask making, photography, songwriting.
This way I can move from medium to medium and inspiere myself.

Can you tell me something about your residence in Rijsakademie?

I felt very lonely up there. I learned I lot, but just could not bring it into practice.
All the teachers made me feel nervous.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Good luck with your blog!

www.woutervanriessen.nl

Joris Wille

Can you describe your work?

Drawings, watercolours in combination with site-specific installations.

 

What are you working on?

Drawings.

What inspires you?

Transfiguration, nature, the human condition.

 

 

 

What you hope to evoke from your viewers?

Compassion.

 

 

How your work has grown and changed?

From sculpture to the above mentioned.

 

 

Do you experiment with different materials a lot or do you prefer to work within certain parameters?

No.

 

 

Can you tell me something about your residence in Rijsakademie?

It was a pleasant time (a.o. made it possible for me to travel and study in Italy),

I learned a lot and met a lot of interesting people that were sometimes good for my career.

 

 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It’s hard to make a living

“in bocca al lupo”.

 

 

www.joriswille.nl