The Security Man and Policeman in front of kiosk Wall Street, New York
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 36.7" in x 27.6" or 93,3 x 70 cm 2006
Police As A Referee
‘Legal Mafia’ is how a friend of mine jokingly describes the police. He says they do the same things as criminals, but with one huge difference: they’re legal to do so. Although some policemen probably fall into this category, I wouldn’t go as far as calling them all mafia. That sure is a bridge too far to me.
No, there are good policemen out there. And they serve and protect. They do their best to keep criminals off the streets. To make their job a lot easier we as a people gave them certain rights nobody else in society enjoys. That way normal law abiding people like you and me walk the streets safely and everybody’s happy. Great!
But some policemen follow the law so closely that they neither serve nor protect anyone. By following the rules to the letter they don’t serve the greater good. It’s like a referee of a soccer game following the regulations so strict that he feels the need to blow his whistle for every little foul he sees. A foul is a foul, I know, but do you need to blow your whistle for every little thing? No, the game turns sour as a result.
A good referee does just the opposite. He sure follows the rules as well, but knows when to apply those and when not. He uses practical wisdom. The game keeps its flow so to speak and everybody enjoys the game. The players love it, coaches love it and the general public watching the game love it as well.
Policemen should be like this referee. Somehow I feel policemen like this are harder and harder to come by these days. I wonder why. I wonder why.
Art Business Auction Of Rothko Painting At Christies
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 35.6" in x 27.6" or 90,3 x 70 cm 2010
What Good Is Art
I feel silly for doing this, but with all the fussing and fighting going on in the Netherlands about the dramatic cutbacks on funds for the arts and a ridiculous tax-raise from 6% to 19% I feel the need to speak up and give you my answer to: ‘What good is art? What purpose does it serve?’
I always thought everybody knew at least some part of the answer, but nowadays it seems like a lot of people in my country don’t got the slightest clue.
Popular Opinion
These days popular opinion says that when art doesn’t sell, it isn’t any good at all. It says that if there’s isn’t somebody willing to purchase your work, you shouldn’t be making the work in the first place and you sure as hell shouldn’t get any funds creating it.
It’s now mandatory for Dutch museums by government policy to curate only shows that attract the most visitors. It doesn’t matter if the show has any cultural meaning or not. It’s all about visitors, visitors, visitors. In other words, if it doesn’t make any money, it doesn’t serve any purpose.
This means that the cultural meaning of art shifted from aesthetics and the gratification it provides over to the money side. Good art can only be expressed in terms of money.
It also means that the artists who are promoted the most are the best ones we have right now. That of course is just plain silly.
There are a lot of good artists out there we haven’t heard of before, because they somehow aren’t in the spotlights yet. Does that mean their work is bad, because nobody bought anything yet? Of course not, at least not by definition.
Why Do People Buy And Love Art?
Then what good is art to begin with? Why do some people buy and love art? Well, let me give you a couple of reasons how to appreciate art other than in terms of money.
Good art answers the big questions in life. It answers questions such as: ‘Why are we here and where are we from? What does it all mean?’ Or at least tries to answer those and many other questions.
It shows that there’s more to life than just average concerns and needs of everyday life. Art should make you feel more clear-headed and intelligent, it should inspire and motivate you to make the best out of your life. It should make you think. Think about yourself and the world we live in.
Art connects people, it has the power to turn total strangers into friends. It gives us coherence and sensations we otherwise would not have experienced. It even has the power to transmute sadness into a thing of beauty.
All art is personal, it expresses something of significance and value to you right now. It expresses your individuality and represents deply held beliefs, feelings and thoughts. It can help you get through rough periods in your life and enhances your self-concept and self-perception.
Owning a painting can be a perfect symbol of your own achievements in life and you feel good anytime you look at it. You are filled with pride if you own an exclusive, one of kind and 100% handmade work that took much skill and effort to produce. Nobody else in the world owns one exactly like it.
Good art influences anybody who steps into your home or office positively. It beautifies your place and enhances the quality of your life. Just think about the impact a room with bare walls has or one that’s filled with art.
Art breathes life into your interior and transforms your home into an unique, personal and engaging environment. It makes you proud to live and work where you do.
People from all over the world come to our national museums to see the great works of past and present. Art doesn’t pollute the air or causes global warming, nor does it need much service. Perhaps not the strongest of reasons, but good art is built to last so one day future generations will enjoy it too.
What Makes Art Good?
Just a bunch of random reasons what good art is and why people appreciate and buy art other than high prices and investment.
Of course we could go into great depth of what style or movement best portrays these reasons and benefits. About what qualifies as good art or bad art.
One might like abstract art, the other saying it’s just worthless crap and realism is the best for some reason. But I hope you realise that we’re not talking about what good art is anymore if we do, but what makes art good.
In other words, we’re not talking about function anymore, but content and form. We’re talking about tastes and that of course is very personal.
Of course artists anywhere should be concerned about making money if they want to do this professionally. You have to sell your work in order to make a living full time. There’s no other way.
You can’t totally rely on government aid to do so. You have to get out there and take full responsibility of your life. You should see it as the valid profession it really is and you have to develop good working habits in order to make it.
But art should never be solely expressed in terms of money. It deprives the work of art of meaning. I for one don’t want to stand in a museum only to be impressed by how much a work of art is worth.
I want to be impressed by it’s meaning and beauty. About what the artist thinks it takes to be human and I for one thank them for it. I sure hope you do too.
Entombment Tour guide explaining works by Rubens in Getty Center, LA
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 35.6" x 27.6" or 90,3 x 70cm 2009
I Work For Myself, Solely!
I always laugh when I hear an artist proclaiming that he only works for himself and his own enjoyment. No, you don’t.
If you would solely work for yourself, you would keep your works to yourself too. There would be no need to show it to others as well, because you already reached your full audience: You.
But of course if you're like any other artist you're quick to show it to other people as well whenever you have a change. That is, if you feel confident enough about it in the first place.
But when you do, you immediately work for those people too. Even if they don’t purchase your work or respond to it in a negative way.
You do, because art is a medium, a way to communicate with others. One of the oldest we have I might add. And just like any other medium it starts serving its purpose as soon as the message is being received by an audience.
There’s of course nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact that’s how it’s supposed to be: an artist should show his works to as many people as he possibly can. That’s how art receives its true value and meaning.
Of course this can be very frightening or exciting, because you don't control how your art is being received by an audience. As an artist you just hope people are touched, moved or inspired by your work. Or at least feel some type of connection to it. That would be great.
Yes, you should enjoy what you’re making and you should make the best paintings you possibly can. But you don’t work solely for yourself if you show it to other people too. It’s called sharing. And you should enjoy this too.
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 11.8" x 15.7" or 30 x 40 cm 2011
Remember my series of paintings for festival Explore The North? This is the first painting I did, but later thought it would be better when I used an imaginary museum as a setting for the series.
You can actually see this image of a stone breaker in my painting Hard Work. The image there looks way larger than it is in real life, but Hard Work has the same measurements as Stone Breaker.
So this painting became a study and I didn't really know what to do with it, but completed the painting anyway. I did, because I like the theme of this piece. A man working hard all day long for my community.
It also closely resembles The Stone Breakers by Gustave Courbet, a personal favorite of mine, but of course they didn't have those nice orange jackets back in the day. And nature got replaced for a shop window. Oh modern times.
kind regards, Gerard
If you're interested in purchasing this painting just send me an email stating the title for more information and price. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 23.6" x 23.6" or 60 x 60cm 2009
Technique VS Idea, Ideas, Ideas
As a realist artist I find it funny to see that modern art nowadays puts more emphasis on ideas rather than on technique. In a documentary about a leading school of art in the UK I even heard an art teacher proclaiming that technical skill doesn’t even matter, it’s all about ideas, ideas, ideas!
Well, having a good idea for a painting sure is important. Art should capture thoughts and feelings and having an idea what you want to say or express as an artist sure is the way to go. But saying that form and technical skill just isn’t important sounds outright ridiculous to me.
Let’s say you happen to be a singer and you got the greatest idea for a song ever. You pen it down, the melody sounds like heaven and the words are just like poetry. It’s just great!
But when you’re on stage performing this great song and you just happen to suck at singing, do you know what happens? You get booed off the stage and if you really stink people start throwing beer bottles at you. Or tomatoes and rotten eggs for that matter.
But with painting it’s a whole different ballgame. If you got this great idea, but your performance is just as bad as the singer’s: it’s called a style. People don’t boo you off the stage, they start throwing panties at you for God’s sake.
They appreciate ‘your style’ for your new take on things and daring or innovative way of working. They actually think it’s good or at least are so shocked and confused they're seriously considering it might be good.
No, it isn’t, let’s keep things in perspective here: it’s just a great idea badly executed. It’s like a singer with a great song, but who sings painfully off key. Who enjoys that? I for one can’t and never will.
That’s why technical skill is still important and it always will be. I’m not saying that artists have to work in a realistic style, but they should master their medium and develop their own unique style. To the max, no cutting corners and no slacking whatsoever.
In the end it’s visual art: it has to be visual attractive as well. Combine this with a great idea and you got great art. Now let’s cut the crap and start painting again. Please.
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 15" x 15" or 38 x 38 cm 2012
In the Hague I saw this wonderful scene of people riding a tram. The trams used to be all yellow brownish with red stripes but I guess advertising can change all that. But I definitely like the blue though.
kind regards, Gerard
If you're interested in purchasing this painting just send me an email stating the title for more information and price. I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
Tic Tac Toe Guys appreciating paintings by Mondriaan, painting in the center is a fake, I did that one:)
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 23.6" x 31.5" or 60 x 80cm 2010
Why People Find Art Intimidating
I never came across anybody who said he or she didn’t like art. All people do. But most are quick to add that they don’t know much about it. They usually know what they like, but somehow don’t trust their own opinions and feelings.
Many believe good art can only be determined by the judgments and decisions of art critics, dealers, curators or academics. While it's the job of these professionals to help you to appreciate art better, I only have one short definitive answer to this: No, it can’t.
It can’t, because you probably have a good idea if you like a painting or not when you see it. And that should be good enough. You should trust your own opinions and feelings. Just like you do with music. You know what songs or types of music you like and which ones you don’t care for, don't you?
But you don’t feel you have to possess a high IQ or substantial background in music to fully appreciate or understand a song. Same goes for books, movies or any other form of art.
Why should it be any different for visual art? If you like what you see, that should be good enough. And when you’re willing to live with it and there's a safe way to purchase it, go ahead and buy it already! Really, it’s that simple. You can thank me later.
If it’s that easy how come so many people don’t trust their own opinions?
I guess there are two main reasons. First, in school we get conflicted messages about art. Visual art is considered to be a filler subject, not as major as let’s say mathematics or science. As adults art suddenly becomes so difficult to comprehend only a true blue expert does. Nothing filler about that anymore!
Also, since visual art has thrown realism overboard as an indicator of what good art is supposed to look like, people got confused or insecure about what makes a painting great. And they sure don’t understand why someone is willing to pay big bucks for it.
To most people abstract and minimal art just looks way too simple. It really isn’t if you give it a try, but it sure looks like it. Like it didn’t took any special gift or talent.
People think they themselves or their children can paint like that too. Or the one I like best is when somebody says:’My 3 year old nephew can’t paint like that either.’
They just have a hard time understanding what makes certain art so great. Some even feel attacked or stupid not comprehending something experts say is excellent. They wind up doubting their own tastes or worse, keep on apologizing for it. All this makes people shy away from the visual arts.
It’s the job for all art professionals to explain art in terms people can relate to and understand. But again, if you see something you do like, that should be all you need to know. Don’t let anybody tell you what you can or can’t like.
That sure sounds like music to my ears. And I’m not even a music expert.
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 19.7" x 15,7" or 50 x 40 cm 2011
Merry Christmas! The last painting of this year is situated in The Hague, the same city where I now have my solo show at the ROI.
Tram Platform shows a young girl standing on a platform waiting for her tram to show up. She's holding her cell phone, but she's looking up at something behind the viewer. I don't usually paint my figures like this, but it sure adds something extra here.
Through the window of the tram we see another girl playing with her phone as well. I couldn't paint a scene like this just a few years ago. It seems like we now spend every free moment with our phones. We grew so attached to it. The trams used to be ad free too.
In january I'm picking up my daily painting practice again. You can expect a small painting almost every day. I'm also planning on publishing more articles on this blog about my philosophies on art and life or society in general. For now I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
kind regards, Gerard
Tram Platform and 27 other paintings are on view at my solo show at ROI, Heerengracht 23, The Hague. The show runs until jan. 31, 2012. You can see all paintings included in the short video above.
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 30" x 29.3" or 76 x 74,5 cm 2011
After painting my series for Explore the North festival my original plan was to return to my daily paintings, but I couldn't help myself. I really wanted to paint this still life of art books first.
On the painting you see a detail of Caravaggio's masterpiece Judith beheading Holofernes. The painting tells the story of how Judith saved her people by first seducing Holofernes and then decapitating him with his own sword.
Although the story is pretty gruesome, I feel the portrait of Judith is one the best in art history. The expression on Judith's face is just amazing. Of course this large still life was a great excuse to make my own copy. Other art books include books about Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali.
Caravaggio Books and 26 other large paintings can be seen at my solo show at ROI, Heerengracht 23 in The Hague. The show opens this tuesday december 20 at 16.30h. and runs to the end of january. I hope to greet you there as my guest!
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 9.4" x 12.6" or 24 x 32 cm 2011 SOLD
Remember my portrait of Jojanneke pregnant? Well, she gave birth to Thomas, the lovely baby portaited here. The parents of Jojanneke asked me to paint their grandchild and gave it to their daughter as a present.
On the painting Thomas is just one day old. Imagine that, just one day old and already immortalised! He looks so innocent, sleeping without a care in the world.
I can only imagine what life has in store for him, but whatever it is, I'm sure he's going to be okay. How can it be any different if you're surrounded with so much love.
Frisian Printing Press Man behind computer controlling printing press
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 31.5" x 23.6" or 80 x 60 cm 2011 Reserved
After a tour through the building of the Leeuwarder Courant I definitely wanted to paint the printing press. I was captured by the ceiling, nothing but technical stuff up there. Even the man is sitting behind a computer.
Man might be small in comparison, but in the midst of this technical jungle he still controls everything. He's still the boss. Last saturday this painting appeared on the back cover of the Leeuwarder Courant. Full-page and full colour!
This afternoon I'm going to bring my paintings to the Grote Kerk. Tomorrow morning famous radio and television host Jan Douwe Kroeske is our host at a special breakfast to kick off the festivities.
I'm going to be called to the stage to present todays painting to the Leeuwarder Courant. A part of the proceeds go to Youth Theatre School Meeuw. I'm looking forward to this! But first I need to decorate the show!
kind regards, Gerard
Explore the North
Friese Pers is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
Friesland Friesland Friesland man looking at paintingg of 3 frisian flags
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 15.7" x 19.7" or 40 x 50 cm 2011
The ulitmate Frisian symbol is of course the flag. This painting of 3 Frisian flags is my version of the famous painting '3 American Flags' by pop-artist Jasper Johns.
Because the painting shows 3 flags it says: 'Friesland, Friesland, Friesland'. If you'd pronounce this joyfully it represents the Frisian pride.
However, if you'd say it in a different tone you'll hear that Frisians are always focused on their own province. Something Frisian do extremely well.
The painting then shows that it would be okay to change this inner focus towards an outer focus every once in a while. Yes, please.
kind regards, Gerard
Video of Printing Process
In this short video clip made by Reinout Meijer of Leeuwarder Courant you see an impression of the newspaper being printed. No subs available, but still a great watch if you'd asked me!
Reinout followed me around with his camera during the whole process of making this special series. You can watch all 4 movies here
Auction
If you're interested in purchasing this painting or any of the other Explore The North Paintings just place your bid by email. All paintings have a startprice of just 500,- euro or 690,- USD. The auction closes at midnight, December 5th, 2011.
A part of the proceeds of the auction goes to Jeugd Theater School Meeuw. This youth theatre school in my hometown Leeuwarden recently has been burgled and could use some extra funds right now!
Explore the North
Friesland Friesland Friesland is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
Big City 2 Frisians looking up to painting of skyline Rotterdam
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 31.5" x 15.7" or 80 x 40 cm 2011
Surrounded by other Frisians you hardly even notice you're Frisian. This becomes clear as soon as you visit other places as well.
The biggest city in my province only has a population of 90.000, so when Frisians do visit a real big city they hardly know where to look. My painting shows this quite literally: they look up to the big city.
Of course this attitude changes after only a few visits and in my opinion that can't happen fast enough. If Frisians could only be a little more worldly that sure would be nice.
Newspaper
Yesterday the newspaper was printed! It was just great to see how this huge machine spit out 10.000 copies within a couple of minutes. It all happened so fast! I've never seen my works being reproduced so many times.
When I looked up at the ceiling I could see all the newspapers traveling through the building to dry, a great sight to behold I can tell you! At the end of the production line they all came out neatly packaged in plastic.
I'm really satisfied with the quality as well, those guys at the printing press did an excellent job! Well, I could tell you a whole lot more of course, but somewhere next week you can see it for yourself. I'll then post a short video about the printing process.
If you want to own a copy of this newspaper just let me know by email. They're free of charge and you only pay for postage.
kind regards, Gerard
Auction
If you're interested in purchasing this painting or any of the other Explore The North Paintings just place your bid by email. All paintings have a startprice of just 500,- euro or 690,- USD. The auction closes at midnight, December 5th, 2011.
A part of the proceeds of the auction goes to Jeugd Theater School Meeuw. This youth theatre school in my hometown Leeuwarden recently has been burgled and could use some extra funds right now!
Explore the North
Big City is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
Sober Frisian woman looking at painting of drunk man
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 19.7" x 15.7" or 50 x 40 cm 2011
People from other parts of my country usually say that Frisians are down to earth and extremely sober. The drunk man on the painting proofs that this isn't necessarily true. Nothing sober about that. It's my crummy way of saying that stereotypes and assumptions don't always speak the truth.
I like to think that woman looking at the painting is the wife of the drunk portraited. He's got some explaining to do when he gets home. Perhaps I should have given her a rolling-pin. Back in the day a bloke in Makkum solved this problem rather nicely by the way. He slept in the garage which he had fully decorated as a bedroom. His wife thought this to be an excellent idea. Long live sobriety.
kind regards, Gerard
Auction
If you're interested in purchasing this painting or any of the other Explore The North Paintings just place your bid by email. All paintings have a startprice of just 500,- euro or 690,- USD. The auction closes at midnight, December 5th, 2011.
A part of the proceeds of the auction goes to Jeugd Theater School Meeuw. This youth theatre school in my hometown Leeuwarden recently has been burgled and could use some extra funds right now!
Explore the North
Sober Frisian is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 15.7" x 11.8" or 40 x 30 cm 2011
Frisians are hard workers. The type that get right down to it no matter what the job is. That's why for example the Frisian part of the Afsluitdijk is longer than the North Holland part. On todays painting you see a modern version of this.
An older man sitting on this knees all day long taking out bricks from a sidewalk so my hometown can finally have its glass fibre network for faster internet. It's a pretty rough job, but you don't hear the man complaining about his position. But then again the man just might be Polish, meaning that Frisians do things a bit different nowadays.
kind regards, Gerard
Auction
If you're interested in purchasing this painting or any of the other Explore The North Paintings just place your bid by email. All paintings have a startprice of just 500,- euro or 690,- USD. The auction closes at midnight, December 5th, 2011.
A part of the proceeds of the auction goes to Jeugd Theater School Meeuw. This youth theatre school in my hometown Leeuwarden recently has been burgled and could use some extra funds right now!
Explore the North
Hard Work is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 19.7" x 15.7" or 50 x 40 cm 2011
The chain represents solidarity. You could take the Frisian out of Friesland, but Friesland not out of the Frisian. You can't escape your background, it will always be there. The chain also represents this strong feeling of unity that's still present in Friesland today.
Others might experience this as a feeling of being stuck like crabs in a bucket. As soon as you want to get out, something stops you from doing so. The chain also represents this.
kind regards, Gerard
Auction
If you're interested in purchasing this painting or any of the other Explore The North Paintings just place your bid by email. All paintings have a startprice of just 500,- euro or 690,- USD. The auction closes at midnight, December 5th, 2011.
A part of the proceeds of the auction goes to Jeugd Theater School Meeuw. This youth theatre school in my hometown Leeuwarden recently has been burgled and could use some extra funds right now!
Explore the North
Chain is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
Social Control woman looking at paintings of security camera's
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 19.7" x 15.7" or 50 x 40 cm 2011
In Friesland people still look out for each other, especially in small villages. Some don't like it, because you can't do anything without somebody noticing it. In times of need you're more than happy somebody saw you to give you some much needed help. Both elements are in this painting of security camera's.
But none of the camera's is actually aimed at the woman. You could ask yourself if the social control really is that good as people think it is or if it's only used when it comes in handy.
kind regards, Gerard
Auction
If you're interested in purchasing this painting or any of the other Explore The North Paintings just place your bid by email. All paintings have a startprice of just 500,- euro or 690,- USD. The auction closes at midnight, December 5th, 2011.
A part of the proceeds of the auction goes to Jeugd Theater School Meeuw. This youth theatre school in my hometown Leeuwarden recently has been burgled and could use some extra funds right now!
Explore the North
Social Control is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 15.7" x 11.8" or 40 x 30 cm 2011
An honest man's word is as good as his bond. That's the motto of almost every Frisian. A deal is a deal and if you promised someone you would do something for him or her, you do it no matter what. The handshake represent this. It also represents harmony and and the way we should treat each other. That's how it's done overhere.
kind regards, Gerard
Auction
If you're interested in purchasing this painting or any of the other Explore The North Paintings just place your bid by email. All paintings have a startprice of just 500,- euro or 690,- USD. The auction closes at midnight, December 5th, 2011.
A part of the proceeds of the auction goes to Jeugd Theater School Meeuw. This youth theatre school in my hometown Leeuwarden recently has been burgled and could use some extra funds right now!
Explore the North
Handshake is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
Dime Quarter woman looking at paintings of old Dutch coins
G. Boersma acrylics on masonite 19.7" x 15.7" or 50 x 40 cm 2011
'Who's born for a dime can never become a quarter.' The old Dutch coins of a dime and quarter on this painting allude to this old saying, but at the same time I'm saying that through my eyes Frisians are too modest for their own good.
Often Frisians underestimate their own abilities. They pretend to be the dime, but they really have the qualities of a quarter if it isn't something of even a greater value.
Frisians are known to be proud of their province, but it sure would be nice if they could be a little bit more proud of their own accomplishments too and not talk down to themselves all the time.
The old coins also allude to the Frisian tendency of clinging on to the past. The woman's haircut resembles the one Queen Beatrix has. Not too modern either, but above all the other side of the coin.
kind regards, Gerard
Auction
If you're interested in purchasing this painting or any of the other Explore The North Paintings just place your bid by email. All paintings have a startprice of just 500,- euro or 690,- USD. The auction closes at midnight, December 5th, 2011.
A part of the proceeds of the auction goes to Jeugd Theater School Meeuw. This youth theatre school in my hometown Leeuwarden recently has been burgled and could use some extra funds right now!
Explore the North
Dime Quarter is part of a special series of 12 paintings I made for music and literary festival Explore The North. All paintings are a reflection of the Frisian mentality.
10.000 newspapers containing only the 12 paintings will be spread across my hometown during the festival on november 25 and 26. On these 2 days the paintings are also on display at the Grote Kerk in my hometown Leeuwarden.
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this and seen this on the internet. Being a curator as well as an artist I have come across this too many times! Many upcoming artists seem to think that it is just ok to copy other artists works and concepts. Although artists do not "own" concepts, among the artists community this is definitely not what artists do. Artists work very hard to come up with concepts that other artists are not doing. This is very difficult to do. So to have another artist think it is just ok to run with that artists concept hurts the artist and only makes that artist look bad to collectors and the artists community. It will surely ruin your reputation! Is that what you want? If they would look around and see all the beauty that God has created they should have no problem coming up with their own concepts. Open your eyes! Be your own person / artist. Paint from your heart. Artists are working even harder now in this economy to make a living. As far as I am concerned, copying another artist is "stealing"! Remember this....Do unto others as you would have them do to you!
New Book Now Available by Clair Hartmann
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Window Between Worlds Charity Event Artworks for Healing by Terry Romero Paul
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Chinese Sweatshops Re Producing Original Fine Art
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New Watercolor Painting Tips Blog by Leslie Redhead
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Cowgirl Magazine Features Theresa Paden Paintings
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2012 Art Calendar Marina Petro
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Faithful Advanced Copies Book Giveaway Clair Hartmann
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Gerard Boersma Solo Show at Roi Hague
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Giclee Art Gift Cards on Canvas by k Madison Moore
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Pet Portrait Gift Certificates - Clair Hartmann
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Holiday Art Trunk Show - Terry Romero Paul
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Explore The North - Recap - Gerard Boersma
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Clair Hartman Dog Paintings Calendar " Faithful" Now Available at Red Bubble
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Giclee Art Gift Cards by k Madison Moore
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November Newsletter Helen Read
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Clair Hartmann Featured in North Carolina Magazine
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Commissioned Pet Portraits by Clair Hartmann
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Clair Hartmand Featured Artsy
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Connoisseur Wine Masters Series Coffee Table Art Book - k Madison Moore
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My Blog List
Welcome Suzanne Berry - New York
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Welcome Nancy Orozco - Mexico
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Welcome Back Beth Barrett - Washington
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Marina Petro - New York
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Welcome Cheryl Ratcliff - Idaho
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Welcome Mary Hughs Michigan
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Welcome Gerard Boersma - Netherlands
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Welcome Clair Hartmann - North Carolina
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I am so happy to Welcome Gerald Schwartz - California
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Welcome Thom Glace - Pennsylvania
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Welcome Helen Read - Illnois
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k. Madison Moore
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Welcome - Nancy Eckels - California
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