Nieuwsbrief January 2017 - English

Happy New Year! We wish you all the best for 2017. Our agenda for next year is already filled up with a lot of exciting things. You can read all about it in this newsletter.

Painting for the fight against childhood cancer Last month Susan painted two tables with ex-cancer patient Carmen in the studio of painter Ans Markus. Each year the organisation KIKA (children cancerfree) invites children who have or have had cancer to paint with artists and celebrities. One of the tables will be auctioned in april durting the art auction for KIKA's 15th anniversary. The other table will be donated to the Princess Maxima Center for pediatric oncology. Last year, Susan painted two matching paintings with Bernicio, who had just overcome his leukemia. The artworks were auctioned for a record amount of €6.000,-. This year Susan was allowed to paint the tables with 16-year-old Carmen. The two angels and the poem they have painted, symbolize the two angels Carmen has sitting beside her bed. Hopefully, the table of Susan and Carmen sells for even more money than the artworks of last year. Stay informed? Follow Susan's facebook page.

Your turn! Does painting seem fun to you, but do you not know where to start? Do you already paint and want to learn new techniques? Or do you just want to be able to say you created that nice painting yourself? Susan loves to share her knowledge with you! Painting is wonderful and relaxing to do, but can be quite a challenge without the proper experience and techniques. During the workshop Susan guides you through the whole process and teaches you everything about materials, colour use, dividing the surface, design and other skills. During the 7 hour workshop you paint a medium sized canvas with acrylic paint. In between there's a great lunch at an authentic Italian restaurant. By keeping the groups small, Susan is able to give everyone personal coaching on their own level. Which makes the workshop suitable for both beginners and advanced painters. You can come alone or together with friends/family/colleagues. Do you have any questions? Please ask! Or check the website for more information.

"This painting feels great. The balance in my livingroom is restored and I feel great again!"

Bronze 2016 Was the year of Susan's first bronze statue. We can already tell you that a second one is coming in 2017. Susan has been busy sculpting and can not wait to show her to you.

6 Mistakes starting artists often make - Part 2 Do not use too much black A common mistake is the overuse of black paint. Black is good, if you are painting a cow, or creating a black dress, anything that is actually black. But if you want to create shadows or outlines, it is much better to use dark blue or dark brown. Waste away You are often afraid to waste material, such as canvas. You want it to be perfect immediately. You will however have to practice first. And you might have to mess up a few artworks, before you get the result you want. It is also important to experiment and try new things. A “failed” canvas can be used well for this. Put a layer of gesso (a primer) over it and use it to mix colours or try out new materials and mediums.