Astrid Volquardsen | pastellbilder

The paintings in this gallery are small studies in the size of 5×5 inches.

Some of these pastels are studies for bigger paintings and some are a kind of playground, where I try out new techniques or subjects.

The vastness of the North German landscape sets my soul at peace and I can be at one with myself. It gives me a feeling of returning home. I am fascinated by the changing light at different times of the day and year. This is why I have called the series »Northern Lights« which reflects the special conditions of illumination.

Most of the paintings in this series show coastlines of the North Sea or Baltic Sea in Northern Germany. Particularly those who have been there during a gale or in beautiful summer sunshine know how both coastlines and water differ in colour. I like to capture the typical atmosphere and mood of the moment in my paintings.

I was born and brought up in Hamburg and, naturally, the port of Hamburg has a special place in my heart. During my childhood my father and I went there many times and those pictures of the past have left a deep impression on my mind. It is interesting to see how the port has changed over the years. The port of Hamburg has a special kind of magnetic pull and it attracts many visitors as well as locals.

I love to wander around this cityscape, watch the ships go by and see how they disappear into the distance or follow a small dot on the horizon of the river Elbe to see it turn into an impressively large ship.

In the far north of Germany the Flensburg Fjord, occasionally known as the Flensburg Firth, forms part of the border between Germany to the south and Denmark to the north stretching 50 kilometers into the Baltic Sea. Following its path starting from Flensburg, steep coast lines, wooded areas and fields trim the water’s edge until the Fjord opens out into an almost infinite horizon to the Baltic Sea.

Over the years I have made frequent visits to the region and become very fond of this part of the world and, at present, the artistic focus of my work on this region has found a special place in my heart.