Blog – Page 71 – Astrid Volquardsen

1 Jun 2010

painting, painting, painting…

by Astrid | 3

The days over here are very intensiv: If we’re not working, we’re chatting, talking and/or eating. This is very easy to do if three different nationalities and generations are coming together. The past two days we have spent with painting, painting, painting and thanks to the fantastic model Eva it was a pure joy. I realised how much I missed the figurative painting over the past years. Those who know my older figurative work can see that Margaret pushed me to a new level.

Eva, Gypsi, Pastell, 2010, ca.45×60cm

Eva mit Kimono, Pastell, ca.45×60cm, 2010

31 May 2010

Demo with Margaret Dyer

by Astrid | 3

Yesterday Margaret made a Demo which was really fascinating…

She starts with a loose characol drawing

She breaks down the picture into three values and starts with dark colors, but not with the too dark ones. At one point she adds black to be able to compare how dark her dark colors should be…

Within each value she plays with warm and cool colors and it’s a treat to watch her doing this.
The next day Margaret wasn’t too happy with the result and she wants to go back to the painting and do some corrections.
She’s trying to do it, while within the next days and I would like to show you what she did to it.

30 May 2010

Neue Sichtweisen

by Astrid | 1

Sorry, this entry is only available in German. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.

Neulich habe ich bei Richard McKinley gelesen, das es gut tut eingefahrene Wege mal zu verlassen und sich völlig neue Sichtweisen zu öffnen. Nun, genau das mache ich gerade und ich bin gespannt, was sich mir die kommenden Tage eröffnen wird.
Dieses Fußrost liegt am Eingang zu La Bonne Etoile in Fontaine-Fourches, ca. 1 Stunde Autofahrt von Paris entfernt.

In dieser Umgebung darf ich mit super netten Leuten unter Margaret Dyers Anleitung die nächsten Tage arbeiten und neue Einblicke gewinnen.
Das Haus ist ein altes Farmhaus und genau so, wie man sich alte Farmhäuser vorstellt mit dicken Mauern, einem großen Karmin im Wohnzimmer und an jeder Ecke ein kleines nettes Accessoire.
Hier draußen ist es absolut ruhig und eine Wohltat nach der Pariser Hektik. Zum Glück ist es gestern in Paris trocken geblieben, so dass wir dort uns von dem Großstadttreiben mitreißen lassen konnten.
Unsere Gruppe ist es fast vollständig und ich freue mich sehr mit all diesen netten Leuten zusammenarbeiten zu dürfen. Die Stimmung ist super und wird eine tolle Arbeitsatmosphäre ermöglichen.

29 May 2010

From my work: Kliff bei Hedehusum

by Astrid | 4

Kliff bei Hedehusum, 78×42cm, Pastell, 2010
© Astrid Volquardsen

The cliff at Hedehusum on the island Föhr (in the very far north of Germany) is one of my favourite places to paint, just look and be astonished by the amazing beauty. Nowhere else can more endlessness be found.

Ausschnitt, © Astrid Volquardsen

23 May 2010

Plein Air Pastell – Brunsnæs

by Astrid | 6

Hi Loriann, this is for you. I wanted to post this picture earlier, but sometimes life gets in ones way.
So here we finally go.
I’ve looked at this picture for the first time after the last week and I still like it. (That’s not always the case. Some pastels improve and others just seem to be horrible.)
This picture captures the mood as I have felt it.

16 May 2010

Plein Air Pastell

by Astrid | 5

It’s too cold for May and I’m longing for warmer days. We spend a couple of days in the far north of Germany at the Flensborg Fjord. The sailors obviously don’t care about the cold weather and add a pituresque element to the landscape. For short moments the sun showed up and I enjoyed this plein air sketching so much.

15 May 2010

Flensborg Fjord

by Astrid | 0

A new artistic project emerges into my life. In the far north between Denmark and Germany lies the beautiful Flensborg Fjord, an estuary which goes back to the ice age. I know this place for quite a long time now and it finally will play a bigger role in my paintings.

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About me

I am fascinated by the light conditions of the countryside, particularly in Northern Germany. I grew up in Hamburg so I am used to the rugged countryside and sometimes bleak weather and light conditions. The light in northern country landscapes is very special and it is indescribably beautiful. It touches my soul and opens up my heart when I visit the coast and feel the elemental force of the sea.
As opposed to my seascapes, I am very interested in the closely cropped views of the harbor and its endless diversity of shapes and colors.

With pastel painting l have found the ideal medium to artistically and creatively transform these special conditions of illumination. I love to spread pigment on paper without anything else in between.
Pastel paintings come alive when you put different layers of colour on the canvas. This is a great artistic stimulus for me. Which combination of colour pigments can be used to achieve precisely the effect of light and shade that I want? During the artistic process, layers of colour are continually built up and removed until the light situation has been captured and the picture can unfold its unique illuminating power.