Astrid Volquardsen pastellbilder

Smalltalk

Astrid — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:49:13 +0000

Smalltalk, 20×20 cm, 2013
© Astrid Volquardsen
450,- EUR

Before the oil drums are loaded onto the ship Stettin, the workers have a small talk.

The figure is coming into my paintings. The life of a harbor is somehow incomplete without the people.

Coating

Astrid — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:50:27 +0000

Coating, 20×20 cm, 2013
© Astrid Volquardsen
450,- EUR

I watched as one of the pilot changed to the bigger ship. Suddenly I realised that one of the seaman hang on the outside coating the ship. Seems quite brave to me.

Icebreaker Stettin

Astrid — Thu, 09 May 2013 09:56:18 +0000

Every year we celebrate the anniversary of the harbor (something around 800 years) and it gets extremly busy by now. Yesterday we went on the icebreaker Stettin, which is the biggest coal fired steamboat on earth that is still running. (But not in its original use).

2013
© Marc Volquardsen

While I was sketching sailor Willy approached me and this led to a very pleasant trip on the Stettin in the evening.

2013
© Marc Volquardsen

Right now I am experimenting with a new sketchbook (Canson Art Book 180) and my gouache and a more bolder approach. This sketch took me about 40 minutes but I was constantly disrupted to talk with different crew member (which was so nice and funny).

Sketchbook, 2013
© Astrid Volquardsen

Mooring Boat L&R 1

Astrid — Mon, 06 May 2013 06:25:43 +0000

Mooring Boat L&R 1, 23×60 cm, 2013
© Astrid Volquardsen
950,- EUR

The mooring vessels can be seen anytime in the harbour. Their job is to moor vessels quickly and safely to the quays. It is said to be one of the most dangerous jobs in a harbor, because the men have to do this job day and night regardless of the weather conditions.

Pastel Society UK Annual Exhibition

Astrid — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:36:22 +0000

My work has been selected from over 700 entries to appear alongside paintings by some of Britain’s leading pastel artists – honorary members include Paula Rego and Rose Hilton. The Pastel Society UK’s Annual Exhibition will be on display at Mall Galleries near Trafalgar Square between 10th to 22nd of June 2013.

The Pastel Society hold an open submission exhibition in central London each year. Founded in 1898, with historical membership including Walter Crane and Dame Laura Knight. Today the Society is well known for spanning figurative, abstract and experimental work in all types of dry media. The opening speach will be held by Philip Mould, who some of you might know from the Antiques Roadshow of BBC1.

London Sketches

Astrid — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 19:05:26 +0000

I do really enjoy strolling around in a city and discover the places with a sketchbook.

Originally I wanted to visit Westminster Abbey but when I arrived it was already closed. Since it started to rain I took shelter in the next church close by, St. Margarets. When I approached the altar I realised that in this very church the book of condolences for Margaret Thatcher were on display.

So I started to sketch the people when I was approached by a security guard:

»Are you sketching?«
»Yes, something wrong?«
»No everything is a.ok. I am just always fascinated by people who sketch and capture a moment with a pen. May I see it, when you‹re finished?«
»Of course.«

In the end we have a really nice conversation about sketching and about body language. Some people we observe seem to be really touched, some look just out of pure curiousity and others obviously write funny comments in the books, because they start to giggle.

ST. Margartes Church, Canson sketchbook, edding und guoache,
2013 © Astrid Volquardsen

The next day I sat in the Great Cloister at Westminster Abbey. The sun enlightened this place, and while sketching the air was filled by the music of a choir and organ.

Westminster Abbey, Canson sketchbook, edding und guoache,
2013 © Astrid Volquardsen

Pastel Society UK exhibition at the Mall Galleries London

Astrid — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:58:02 +0000

I am pleased to inform you that I have been accepted for the annual exhibition of the Pastel Society UK in the Mall Galleries in London. After I had made it through the online preselection, I went to London this weekend in order to hand in my painting. Today I have learned that my pastel painting »Autumn surf« was selected for the exhibition in June.

The Federation of British Artists(FBA) consists of nine art societies, and is based at the Mall Galleries in London where the societies Annual Exhibitions are held.

Right now the annual exhibition of the watercolour society is on, so I went in and had a sneak peak of the exhibition rooms. Unbelievable that my painting will be in here as well in June.

Light Vessel Elbe 3

Astrid — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:27:37 +0000

In German a light vessel is called a fire ship. So as a small kid I always thought that the light vessels were something like a firefighter ship on sea. Well, it is actually a navigation sign (something like a light house) which were posotioned in the rivers.

Cap San Diego

Astrid — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:52:39 +0000

Cap San Diego is a general cargo ship and today the only seaworthy museum freighter in the world. This ship belongs to the Hamburg skyline like one of our most famous churches, the »Hamburger Michel«.

It was build 1961/62 and ran a regular schedule between Germany and and South America. However, even on this route, the inexorable rise of the standardized shipping container left less and less room for conventional cargo freighters.

Notable for its elegant silhouette, it was the last of a series of six ships known as the »White swans of the south Atlantic«

Oevelgönne – Tugsteamer Claus D.

Astrid — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:53:26 +0000

One of the last winter paintings this year. It was quite unusual that the snow kept being here so long in the spring. But now its getting warmer every day.

It wont take long and in the small harbors along the river the activity will beginn again. looking forward to see and here the old steam tug boats in action again.