My artbooks

Some of my artbooks

I really love to have these beautiful books in my home.

 Reading the background story of other artists. Looking for new ways to apply illustrations. 

Learning from the process. To be honest I don't experience 'artist blocks' and I think... 

this is one of the reasons.

Street Sketchbook

Streetart

As a teenager one of my big influences was graffiti and streetart. I used to live near the beach (in Vlissingen) and there was this large mural of an underwater world. Everytime I went to the boulevard I stared at it. A couple of years later I've met the artist who made it and he teached me how to use spraycans for the first time. Very grateful for that, because it teached me to have 'no fear' for big walls. If I never learned how to handle big surfaces, I would never be able to paint murals in stores, hotels or loungebars. Streetsketchbook is definitely one of my favorite books.

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Kindling by James Jean

Signed

In 2009 James Jean was having a sign session in Brussels. I went there (was working on a big project in the meantime, put all my money in it) and I bought this book from my very last money, like...I didn't know if I could buy a ticket back to Netherlands. But it was worth it. :)

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Tomer Hanuka in Juxtapoz

Juxtapoz

If you don't know Juxtapoz you should check the site, it's always up to date with the newest illustrations and mindblowing artwork. This spread is from Tomer Hanuka, love his scenes and colour combinations.

Juxtapoz

www.tomerhanuka.com

Edwina White in 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide

Personal styles

I always have been interested in different styles of illustration. People are using different media, textures. Love that. As an assistant editor of IllustrationAge I try to post those different type of illustrations.

Illustration Age

www.edwinawhite.com

Gordon Wiebe in Illustration Now

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www.gordonwiebe.com

Tsang Kin-Wahn Graphic Alive

Graphic Alive

I've bought Graphic Alive because it's just full of ideas. Although there's a lot of graphic design, it shows that illustration can be applied in many ways.

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www.tsangkinwah.com

Gustav Klimt by Taschen.

Gustav Klimt

In artschool we had an assignment to replicate an excisting painting, as a study. I chose Gustav Klimt, image on the left. I didn't know who he was (shame on me) but I realized later how influential this man was.

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Hi Fructose

One day I received a package of a client with this Hi Fructose Limited edition book in it. 

It's so amazing!

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That's me in Illustration Now, volume 5.

Illustration Now

I remember the day that I was looking in Illustration Now, hoping one day to be published in it. 

This is really special to me.

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Mucha

Love Mucha and what I think is interesting to see, with Mucha but also Gustav...Is that they painted very realistic at first, but as the years pass by, they developed their personal style which made them famous. 

Ron Mueck in Hi Fructose

Want to see this with my own eyes!

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What's your favorite artbook?

Share it in the comments.

Process, businesscards, painting on leather

An old book full of experiments.

Red pencil on paper. Old sketch for a mural.

Instagram

These last months I've been posting a lot more process pictures on my Instagram instead of my blog. It's just easier to share, people don't have to log in to comment, so it makes everything a lot quicker. Take a look here and join.

MT Washi tape from Japan. Mechanical pencil from Pilot. Elephant from Spain.

 New businesscards

When I changed my website from .nl to .com I really needed to order some new businesscards. 

Finally I could put my new logo on it. Did you know I started my business in july 2008 and I never could design my own logo? If you are making things for other people it seems a lot easier than making something so permanent for yourself. 

 Anyway, I'm very satisfied with it and I didn't want it earlier.

Painting on leather

My current project is quite interesting to me, because I'm going to paint a handmade Leica cover. 

I had to order leather paint from Angelus, they don't sell it in your ordinary art supply store.

My first impression is very good. I was a bit worried that the paint wasn't thin enough for this kind of surface, but as you can see, even thin lines are possible. 

I'm making more video's on YouTube, so if you want to see me paint the Leica cover, come on over to the channel and subscribe. It will be online soon!

 

Alice in Wonderland

This is a sketch of Alice in Wonderland painting that I still have to tweak. 

I broke my hand while I was in Spain working on it and although I 'finished' it, I couldn't give it my all. Wearing plaster, working with a painful hand, it just wasn't right. So I'm going to look at it again and add those changes!

My Dearest Deer painting + video

My Dearest Deer.
Acrylics, oil and gold paint on heavy paper.
14,7 x 21 cm / 5,51" x 8,27", 2015

Painting again

This painting is kind of special to me, because I started painting it while my (left) hand was still in plaster and I could finish it without it. I am so happy that I can use my hand again. I'm getting therapy 2 times a week to get my flexibility back. 

I thought I could never make a fist again, but right now I'm getting there 70%. It's very important for the improvement of fine motor skills and stability, so 5 times a day hand and wrist exercises are part of my daily schedule.

More video's

I will be posting more video's on my youtube channel.
Subscribe and follow my journey there!

If you have any questions or suggestions share it in the comments.

Auction

All my work in the last auction was sold. But there's another online auction coming up on may 15th. 

Follow me on Facebook if you don't want to miss anything.

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Online Studio Sale & Auction with Copycat Violence TODAY!

Today at p.m. CST (23:00 in the Netherlands) there will be an online auction. 

Here's how it works: 
- Go to the Facebook page of Copycat violence. Click here to see all the art pieces available. 
- Browse through all the artwork of international artists.
- Bid on the piece you like.
- End time: March 10.

Fingertips.
Gicleeprint.

Emerge.
Gicleeprint

Twins.

 

Mesoglea

12 ideas to keep sketches organized

Over the years I've sketched on so many papers, it's sometimes hard to find a nice place for it.
Especially large papers...Do you keep them under the bed, rolled up somewhere?
Ruined sketches, damaged paper, spilled coffee on your favorite work?

Here you can find 12 ideas to keep your sketches safe!

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#1: www.4x6photosketchblog.blogspot.com / #2: www.youtube.com/homeorganizing #3: www.gefken.eu

 

Current projects = quick access

If you are working on some projects for school or for an assignment, you need some quick access.

#1 and #2 are perfect for that, because you can put it on your desk. 

I would prefer #2 because of the difference in height, so you are able to read the labels quickly. 

If you want to hide your projects #3 would be nice. You could even take it with you. 

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 #4 www.yellowlaurie.blogspot.com #5: by Apairandasparediy #6: by http://irideeen.blogspot.nl/p/my-work.html

 

On the wall = overview

If you prefer to have a clean desk you can get a magazine/mail holder like #4 from Ikea 

(name: Kvissle). I like the idea of the clear plastic folders she used and labeling the holder.

The vintage clipboards #5 look cool and you can switch sketches easily and you have an overview of what you are doing. #6 Is such a nice idea don't you think? I love walls that look like moodboards.

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#7:www.creatingkeepsakesblog.com/ #8: marcy penner / #9 www.craftstoreideas.com

 

Storage older sketches/illustrations

If you have a lot of different sizes, a carousel like #7 would be nice, 

especially for people who are working with different materials / making collages. 

If you can't find a round 'clip-it-up-carousel', you could also use clear folders and a small rail. 

We have all seen #8 in the stores or in the classroom.   

A big open shelf closet, where you can organize all your papers.   

'wish I had that at home!' is on your mind, but...this is hard to find. I've tried.

However, I saw a d.i.y. version here:  

D.I.Y. paper storage solution

#9 are those handy reading boxes that you can find anywhere and this is something I use as well. Labeling the folders makes it even better.

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#10: www.jonathanfongstyle.com #11: marcy penner #12: www.officeknallers.nl

Storage for BIG sketches and artwork

#10 is an open shelf made of Linnmon table tops from Ikea. Very smart idea. 

The tabletops are very cheap. 

#11 is a very big wooden box that you could fill with big clear folders. 

 #12, which is one of my favorite solutions for organizing my prints, 

my big sketches and moodboards! They are really affordable.

Which one is your favorite or are you already using one of those ideas?

Do you have another great idea?

Share it in the comments.

Illustration of Chriselle Lim

I've made a little illustration of Chriselle Lim. 

You can watch the making of video below:

'Wintersleep' available in online auction now.

 

You can buy this painting in an online auction.
Till wednesday november 19th 2014.

 

Go to http://tinyurl.com/jvkur6l
Bid on "Wintersleep" by making a comment.
Starting bid is only $150,-
Buy it now option is $500,-.

 

Acrylic on heavy Canson paper.
9,45" x 11,81" / 24 cm x 30,7 cm, 2014.

 

It's the first time that I've tried Canson watercolourpaper.
Although I normally don't like rough surfaces, I loved painting on it!
If I paint on Rives BFK or Arches hotpress paper, the paper absorbs so quickly, that I don't have enough time to blend it. Maybe that's a good thing for watercolour artists, but for me it's kind of annoying...
I love to blend and just take my time. I know that painting wet in wet would be a solution, but I just want to paint without have to think about if my paper is still wet enough.
With Canson everything went so easy, it felt like a relief.

 

 

 

 

Instanigel

 Pencil, acrylics, oilpaint on heavy watercolourpaper.
14,7 x 21 cm / 5,51" x 8,27", 2014.
*Not available.

I saw this awesome dog on Instagram. His name is Nigel. I just had to draw and paint him. Streamlined and white...a beautiful combination. His boss made lots of pictures from different angles, so it was hard to choose.

Lodestone, little painting

 Pencil, gold ink, acrylics, oilpaint on heavy watercolourpaper.
14,7 x 21 cm / 5,51" x 8,27"

*sold

I'm not totally satisfied with this outcome. I like paintings that have a little mystery, or some transparency. 

This seems too obvious somehow.

This is the part I like because of the textures, gold glow and the birdskull. I went to a natural museum a while ago and took so many pictures.

If you want to see if a portrait is anatomical correct you can look in the mirror while holding the painting and you will see the "mistakes" you've made. Or you can flip it in Photoshop to see the difference. 

 Process of the sketch, while I was visiting my sister in Spain.