Birgit, Hanneke’s still life also got me looking at ordinary objects more closely. I think in part it is because she does them well, and in part because I’m interested in whatever she paints because she is Hanneke.

I did not like still lifes till I saw yours. I did not understand their potential.

Your pictures express so much personality. Perhaps, you have invented a new way of doing still lifes.

This is indeed the way that I would like to look at the painting. But I surely never intended to paint thistles for the baby, those are dandelions which is one of my favorites to paint and edible also , but they look pricky indeed.
Why did I go to still life?
I am inspired by Pieter Claesz a Haarlem painter from the past. In 2005 there was a big exhibition in Haarlem were I live.
I felt I had to give it a try and I am happy with what I did though I would want to paint more complicated still life but I do not underestimate the difficulties that that will bring, so …

Angela,

I am very happy with your comment and I will try these things. I will maybe get into figure painting again but I still feel a bit scared for that I am pretty much a perfectionist and figures are so difficult !

In painting and drawing the subconscious comes showing through and that is where I find it getting interesting. You would think maybe that that doesn’t happen in still life but I feel there is a lot of in my still life paintings.

Steve,

The green I learned to use from Karl . He sort of re - discovered it and made a lot of that for me, it is wonderful to work with. The looser and sketchier style would be absolutely something to try to keep in a finished painting but I should than keep it in mind right from the beginning. But lucky enough we have photo’s of the different stages.

Wolfbaby,

I am so happy to have people now that really like my work, although you seem far away you are really around for me and giving me strength to hold on.

Painting from still life can be fun or really boring it depends on the inspiration that you get for the objects.
I remember painting still life in art school and I really did not like it. I think I was to young, it was not exiting enough.

Your comment about the beauty of the underpainting stage echoes earlier comments by Tracy and Birgit on your work. Maybe you should experiment with a looser, sketchier style for some pieces. But please don’t give up your lovely finished style, we need that too!

Very interesting comment. Hanneke has attempted to do at least one of the things you describe — paint a still life with one of her fantasy backgrounds. She didn’t take this very far, but I think it is a great idea for combining the two approaches. I hope she tries it again.

I especially like what you wrote above: “The subconscious reflects on my paintings about life at the moment, my fears, my desires, my hidden thoughts… I get surprised with the outcome sometimes, it strikes me and it is beyond my explanation!” That sounds like one for Dion to add to his list of artist quotes.

June,

How interesting, to think about what the child will do when she wakes up! Run around in that big field, is my guess. Hanneke remarked that the big question this painting leaves unanswered are, “Where are the parents?”

Hanneke has not in depth described why she turned to painting still life in the past year and a half. Part of the inspiration was an exhibition in a museum in Haarlem of a painter, Pieter Clasez, who worked here in the 17th century and was an important pioneer of the still life genre. I hope Hanneke describes more of her inspirations one of these days.