Dutch artist Charlot Terhaar sive Droste shares a fresh and engaging collection of mixed media abstract paintings. Visit her website to see more of her work.
“Painting 411” mixed media on linen, 130 x 130 cm
To create my semi-abstract paintings, I do not have a preconceived plan or fixed ideas in advance. On the contrary, to have a preset plan basically implies that I have expectations that influence and affect the spontaneous generation process.
“Painting 422” mixed media on linen, 100 x 100 cm
The challenge is to be as free and open as possible while painting in order to fully focus on the impulses and inspiration from within. Once the first stroke hits the canvas, the painting process has started. This first action automatically triggers the next reaction. Consequently recurrent actions occur gradually whereby images grow or evolve.
“Painting 473” mixed media on linen, 80 x 80 cm
This way I can work on several paintings simultaneously, thereby keeping the flow and avoid getting stuck. By rotating the paintings, I view and experience the imagery from different perspectives. By adding, removing, accentuating or blurring more and more elements and layers, a hierarchy arises in the image, in which each element is given its right place within the whole.
“Painting 479” mixed media on linen, 60 x 60 cm
A painting feels similar to a symphony of timbres, movements, tones, lines, repetitions and all kinds of contrasts between roughness and refined details. As such, one could perceive the painting as if experiencing a musical composition or an orchestrated atmosphere that invites you to ponder and wonder. A world of tension, which is neither chaotic nor harmonious, but rightly balanced.
“Painting 502” mixed media on linen, 100 x 100 cm
Occasionally, a sort of semi-realistic landscape emerges in which numerous unpredictable abstract elements can be discovered. In my work I use a combination of acrylic paint, oil crayon, pencil, pastel chalk and sometimes graffiti or texture paste.
“Painting 475” mixed media on linen, 80 x 80 cm
In addition to my semi-abstract paintings, I also paint commissioned realistic portraits. These artistic representations of persons based on photography stem from a completely different creation mode whereby the initial plan and direction is very clear.
“Painting 424” mixed media on linen, 100 x 100 cm
A number of my paintings are included in private, institutional and corporate art collections. Over the two decades, I took part in numerous art exhibits, art fairs, gallery expositions and solo exhibitions during cultural art events. In 2014, I received the Best Artist Award during an international art fair in Rotterdam.
“Painting 491” mixed media on linen, 100 x 100 cm
My studio and gallery, located between Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Netherlands, is in an old farm building. I have two websites to expose my work to the world. This one is dedicated to my smaller artworks, sketches and a variety of drawings on paper, cardboard and stone.
Charlot Terhaar sive Droste invites you to follow her on Instagram.