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Rachel van Balen - Visual Artist
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Rachels Lighthouse Ameland
Added on the 19th of March 2017

Every year in November there is an Artmonth on Ameland, one of the Dutch islands. In 2016 the Artmonth was organised for the 20th time. Director of the Artmonth, Pieter Smit, had been fantasizing about the lighthouse of the island. Wouldn't it be something when their lighthouse would be painted by an artist? The lighthouse desperately needed a new paintjob, and so it should be an option to temporarily give it another artistic look. It would be quite a task, and it would cost quite some money, and it would be quite difficult to get the permission.. Despite inhabitants who tried to prevent the whole thing from happening, permission was granted, and a sponsor came along to support the project by delivering the necessary materials.

At that moment all of the designs had been sent to the organisation. 45 artists tried to participate with their ideas. And then they picked my design.. I was so happy when I heard that I had won, and I saw myself standing in front of a huge challenge. Together with my family I thought about the execution of this incredible project. I visited the lighthouse, had a close look at it, and made a plan. I drew the entire lighthouse on paper, and included all of the windows, the red and white areas, and the lines of the building structure. Then I made a maquette, which provided me with the basic squetch from which I would be working.

The job would be executed with the aid of a cherry picker, and had to be done within three weeks time. The cherry picker could carry three people up in the air, one of them being the engine driver. The driver wanted to help, and so I had been looking for a third pair of hands. My brother joined me during the first week, but stopped after a day and a half, due to fear of heights. To my amazement it was easier to work with two people at the same time. The driver was in control of his machine, and I was in control of my paint job. From that moment on we decided to finish the job with the two of us. My sister photographed the entire project, and we want to publish a book containing stories and pictures.

Everything went well, and it was fantastic to see so many cooperation coming at us from so many directions. Special bonds were made, also with the lighthousekeepers and some island inhabitants. Every now and then the weather was causing problems, and we had to stop working. Rain was the biggest troublemaker, since it could wipe out our work within minutes. This could be quite frustrating, since we were working with a time schedule. But we stayed positive nonetheless. And despite a stressful contractor who wanted to have the job finished even quicker, we managed to finish the project within 3 weeks time. At the last day I put my name above the entrance door of the lighthouse, and we went home. The Artmonth would officially open a week later.

At home a new job started, because we were allowed to have an exposition within the lighthouse, with my sisters pictures of the project. We only had a week time to arrange the whole thing. A week in which we started to feel exhausted. In the meantime people were starting to ask for small souvenirs. Nobody was arranging this, and so I designed stickers that could be put around small existing souvenir-lighthouses. People could buy those, and also I offered larger handpainted lighthouses, after someone asked me to paint one for him. I did the best I could, and enjoyed every bit of positive attention the painted lighthouse received.

Just before the end of the Artmonth the contracter started putting up the scaffoldings around the lighthouse, in order to start the recovery job in time. Even though I had known all along that this would happen, it hurt. There had been so much positivity around the entire project. So much had happened, and so many things had been attracted. Not only enthusiastic visitors, but also newspapers, television crews and even the most famous weather reporter interviewed me in front of the lighthouse. All the time it seemed as though all kinds of beneficial opportunities coincided at the right time with my presence. It was a fantastic and unique experience, and I hope one day in the future to be able to do a project like this again.


Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature









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Muralproject Parking Garage Zaailand (Fries Museum Leeuwarden)
Added on May 19th 2017

In 2016 the Academy for Classical Painting in Groningen celebrated its tenth birthday. For that reason they organised several events, including a muralproject. Everyone studying at the academy had a chance to participate. Because I was following a one year sculpting course I could add my name to the list of participants. And because I had been working as a muralist for some time already, I saw a great opportunity to learn some more about it. Exciting, because I had not had a classical painting upbringing. My work can be very graphical.

Two teachers were leading the project: Matthijs Roling and Jille van der Veen. I learned a lot from their views. Atmospheric perspective: the painterly effect with which you can create depth within a landscape, by decreasing the amount of colour when things should appear from a large distance. Then a Dutch word that I don't know how to translate, but that expresses the personal touch of a painter when he or she is quickly painting leafs from trees. Trompe l'oeil: creating an optical illusion that makes things appear very three dimensional. Anamorphs: optical illusions the way streetpainters make them. Like those painted holes in the street, making it appear as though it's a real hole you need to walk around.

All of the participants made a design, inspired by the immediate surroundings of the chosen wall. The designs were critically observed during several months. Because of this my design had been changed a great deal. Some parts stayed, other parts disappeared. Eventually my design was approved as one of the winning designs by both the teachers and by the owners of the wall.

In a week time we painted the wall, while still adding changes along the way. The paint was sponsored by The Fine Art Collective, which was representated by Lennaert Koorman, who helped me a great deal with the job. Matthijs Roling had not been painting himself for six years, due to a physical illness. But nonetheless, this time he decided to grab the brushes once more. Among the exhaust fumes of the continually passing cars we worked our way towards the finish, to leave behind a successful result.


Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature









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Family Exposition 'Groninger Pracht'
Added on May 19th 2016

It had been eight years ago since I asked for an exhibition in Zeeland, one of the Dutch provinces. Back then the plan was to exhibit together with my mom and her clay sculptures. I knew there was a waiting list, but I didn't know it would be this long. I had forgotten about the whole thing already, when I received the proposal to come and exhibit after all.

In the years that had passed my sister had developed a beautiful way of photographing. We decided to have an exposition with the three of us, and came up with a theme that united us all: "Groninger Pracht" (the beauty of the place we live in). My sister took photos of her children walking, standing, cycling through the place we live in, my mom made wonderful little islands of villages we know, including one of the only island that belongs to our place. I made a series of landscapes, making use of old and new photograhps from my own archive. I cutted them in Photoshop, combined them into different layers and ended up with a series of three triptychs.

It was wonderful to work towards a theme together, and to inspire each other along the way. Usually I work on my own, which is something I enjoy. But this time the joy was shared, making it into a unique happening.


Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature









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Painting Course at my house
Added May 9th 2015

As a response to a request I organised a painting workshop at my place, from January till February. 8 lessons of each 2 to 2,5 hours. I delivered the materials, and aligned the program to the wishes of my three participants. They made it easier for me by telling me they wanted to express their feelings, have a good time, and do something they wouldn't easily do at home. All kinds of things I could deliver.

I first made them experiment. Getting rid of the idea that you should have control over whatever it is you're making, which was a true challenge! Then we experimented with making stains. Then lines, and shapes, and how to combine this all into creating a composition. Experimenting in a very quick way slowly changed into working from an idea with more time. This way, different ways of working came around. Doing this slowly showed the specific preferences of my participants. That way I was better able to guide each person by their own talents, which was truly beautiful to see.

The first person had a love for working with natural materials, and to start from that, working in a concentrated yet experimental way. The second one had a good time by just starting and trying to allow something to emerge from within, from hidden feelings and ideas. The third clearly needed a plan to start from, and to work towards, which needed more time as well. Such differences!

While my course members were enjoying themselves I made some quick drawings of them. Afterwards I turned these into small paintings, and offered them to them. It was such an instructive experience for me, and they made it possible, so I wanted to give them something for that. It was the first time that I organised a course at my place, and it was a very nice challenge to keep thinking of new things with which they could surprise themselves, and me. If you would like to take a course at my place as well, you can send me an email. It should be possible to arrange something.


Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature







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The Public's Favourite - Gallery Pictura
Added May 9th 2015

In November 2014 I participated in a group-exposition in Gallery Pictura, Groningen. During the exposition people could vote for their favourite works, either live in the gallery, or online on Facebook. In the first week (the exposition would last three weeks), each of the 30 participants received more or less equal votes. Exciting! But then, all of a sudden, there was someone gaining a lot more votes... Soon enough I found out why. The artist had put up an action: he would give one of his paintings away when he would receive a hundred votes. And I was shocked to see the amount of Facebook-friends he had...

I almost considered it a lost case, but thought I could always give it a try, and so I decided to ask all of my Facebook-friends personally if they would like to have a look, and perhaps would like to vote for my work (if they liked it). Some Facebook-friends wanted me to win this match, and shared it on their Facebook-page. The amount of votes I received kept rising and rising.. In the meantime I also received a lot of reactions of people telling me they really liked my work.

Until the end I hardly dared to believe it was possible to win something. It so rarely happens.. But at the final day it had happened indeed: I could call myself the first winner of a contest called 'The Public's Favourite'! Gallery Pictura wants to repeat this contest every year, and this was the first time they organised it. Winning this contest meant winning your own show in this beautiful gallery, and that was something I totally wanted to win.

The exposition was a few months later, so I had time to work towards that. I decided to focus on Groningen, my hometown, as a theme, and made diverse works. Also some lino-prints, which were sold, and which motivated me to do something more with. And that already brought me something, because I participated in another match with the new lino-prints I made, and won myself participation in a group-exposition in a museum. Fantastic!


Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature







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Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau (Bayern, Germany)
Posted on the 29th of Augustus 2014

Two years ago I was invited to this place as an artist-in-residence. This year I was invited to teach for 8 days. Such a special challenge! The idea was to make a combination of drawing, painting and linocut/printmaking. We would focus around details that can be found in nature. Lots of that around that place!

I strengthened myself with the positive experiences I had had as a project teacher at the Zernike College, and as the teacher of my own painting-workshops. I tried to prepare myself as best as I could, but knew that, being a visual artist, I had to get into a flow, so that I would be able to help others through my enthusiasm, inspiration and creative insights.

And there I went, 9 hours in the car, starting off the very next day. In the image below you can have a look at my original plan, and the way it turned out to be.






Glass-artists
Hein van de Water and Jakobine von Doemming, who had initially delivered me to Frauenau, gave me advise in advance about giving workshops. They told me that, as a teacher, you might very well learn more than your students. I guess in this case that's something that happened for sure.

While my students were working, I was working too. I drew and painted with them, studied different ways of color-printmaking, in order to teach my students something about that as well. I discovered what I could do better or different next time, learned that people can have unrealistic expectations, sometimes first need to learn to have patience and realizing it can bring a lot of frustration when you want to jump from A to Z in one leap. I even think the he amount of what you can learn equals the amount of having no expectations. Talking about the process helps everyone to gain more insight on what's going on. The other thing I learned is that people oftentimes can do a lot more, or are a lot more talented, than they like to admit.

Below you can see the result of my own undertakings. My students have been looking over my shoulder, and it was wonderful to see them being inspired by this, and using their inspiration in an original way.



Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature








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Paintingworkshop
Posted on the 29th of Augustus 2014

My sister in law Martha and her husband Peter live in a house with a wonderful garden. They're slowly turning it into their own paradise. How nice when they asked me to give my first paintingworkshop in this very garden! Martha would make sure everyone got their drinks and snacks, and I would provide the content of the workshop. I figured out a concept and created invitations. My father built, with our help, some very handy painting eals. Soon we had more than enough participants, and it was time to hope for good weather.

It couldn't have been any better weather. In a nice warm sun, and not too much wind, everyone started. I told all of them to pick some detail from the garden, and to try and draw it. This drawing we would transfer onto our panel, at least two times. Repeating a theme, where one part of the repetition should get more attention. A few had some difficulties at the beginning, but eventually everyone was able to create something very special. It was a successful afternoon, and might very well be repeated next year.

Here are some reactions: (translated)
"I liked it very much! Fantastic surroundings and very calming! You had good tips and allowed everyone to do what he or she wanted - nice to see how this resulted in so many different paintings! I would love to participate again next year!"
"What I liked a lot was the place and the subtle attention you gave me. I've learned that I see things with a graphic eye, or at least attempt to put things down onto a flat area. That that is okay. I owe that to you. The care around it all was lovely, and made sure I had some time off from all my daily cares."
"I loved it, and your way of doing things with rest, subtlety but honoust has appeased me very well."
"I liked it very much and learned a lot. It really worked! First I thought 'I can't do this'. I surprised myself that I could. I just wanted some distraction. I let myself go and was actually painting deeply, a pleasant feeling. I'm really happy it worked out. When I was finished I looked upon my painting, and thought 'Hey, did I do this myself?!?' At first I didn't want to believe it, but later I did :) I was really proud of myself :)"
"It was very nice and instructive. A good lesson. I had some difficulty finding the right shapes, but I'm grateful. Thank you, dear Rachel. See you next time."
"I liked it very much! I had some difficulty at the beginning, but along the way things went better and better."
"Thank you very much for such a nice afternoon ! Until next year?"


Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature






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Project Ateliervisit Zernike College Haren
Posted on the 29th of Augustus 2014

In my hometown there's a center for visual artists, where I'm enlisted. One of the things they organize is called 'Project Ateliervisit'. From there I was approached with the question whether I would like to create a mural, together with a class of students from the Zernike College in Haren. It was a group of 15 year olds who had chosen me from a list of possible artists. How nice to hear this.

During ten lessons we created a ten-meter mural. We did this with 8 students and their art-teacher (Ingeborg Abrahamse). The mural was situated in a classroom where Spanish lessons were being taught, and so we started off with 'Spain' as a theme. I told everyone to make line-drawings of things that reminded them of Spain, and we all drew our own background scenery. At home I stitched all those background together, creating one large piece. We could begin.

It was a lot of fun to make sure the mural would become a whole, while still stimulating each individual person to do her own part. That way one person concentrated on the mountains in the background, another on the buildings, and another on the details coming to the front. While we had to work in an incredible speed, the result was something everyone was happy with and proud of, including CBK-lady Inge Pijnacker Hordijk.


Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature






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Art Battle in Simplon
Posted on the 25th of March 2014

On December the 14th 2013 I joined the 'Art Battle' in Simplon, a recurring event in which some artists make a painting within a given amount of time (30-45 minutes), based on a theme that was chosen by the public. Afterwards the public chooses a winner, based on the amount of decibels they can produce, and the works are sold to the highest bidder.

I enjoyed it a lot finding myself invited to join this event; a huge challenge. It doesn't happen every day, standing in front of a crowd, making a painting with a limited amount of time. You could just totally get stuck, find yourself without inspiration, or worse, seeing your attempts fail completely. The other option though would be for things to totally work out.. By confronting yourself and conquering your fear you could surprise yourself...

To my amazement my nerves were not bossy over me, not even when I was on stage, together with my fellow-painter. I only got nervous for a minute when the public seemed to go for 'Justin Bieber' as a theme.. Luckily the theme 'Freedom' had more votes, a word that gives me endless possibilities. And so I started painting, feeling self-confident, painting an expression of a dance of freedom, while being bombarded with photo- and videocamera's.

I had all the time in the world the finish the last details, and turned around towards the public. Enthusiasm, proudness, satisfaction. Such pleasure! It was time for the public to shout. Compared to my fellow-painter I had brought very few people with me, so it was surprising to see that there was a minimal difference in produced noise. He became the winner, but my work was sold for a higher price to someone I had never seen before. Such a special and happy experience!



Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature








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Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
Posted on the 29th of August 2014

Three is the charm. After twice having successfully painted a portico for the project 'Pimp Your Portico' from housing company Nijestee, I was given the opportunity to do it once again. This time it was a finale.

The residents of sheltered housing complex 'Damsterborg' invited me for a conversation about their entrance hall. They loved the parrot I had painted somewhere else, but they actually didn't mind what I would paint, as long as it was something happy. Because the way it looked now was way too gray.


Luckily I got all the time I needed, so I could travel around the world to Australia, before actually starting out on this project. Over there I received enough inspiration, and after a few months we met again, and decided I would make a plan. I conceived a concept with butterflies. The walls would turn sky-blue, and would be inhabited by clouds and butterflies. The plan was approved of, and so I could start.

I had to use more of my inventiveness and structuring capabilities, because I had to work not only with normal walls, but also with tile-walls, metal postboxes and a concrete staircase. All of those needed another treatment, and along the way I gathered a lot more knowledge of materials. But also knowledge of human nature...



Because of the size of this project, it took me a long time to finish it. And while I was working there people passed me by, on and off. To the shop, the doctor, family visits, for a walk, or just for a little talk. Lots of them stood still and started making conversation. Most of them thought their hall became prettier and prettier, but some older people really had to get used to it. Especially in the beginning they made sure I knew, but I believe eventually everyone came around.

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All this time I was being taken care of wonderfully by Freddi Kuipers, who works as a volunteer for a fund for seniors (Stichting Senioren Werkplaats Groningen). Every day I received coffee, tea and sandwiches, oftentimes accompanied with stimulating conversation. He encouraged me to create a movie from my mural, and this resulted in the YouTube movie you can watch below.

The completion of this project had a festive opening, in which I received a hand and a flower by Gaaike Euwema, director of Nijestee.


Berichten
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature






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Mural Australia
Posted on the 19th of January 2013

On the 18th of August 2012 I took off, all by myself, to take a 3-month trip through Australia, the country on the other side of the globe. Ever since I was a child I played with the thought to go there. For a long time I had been thinking about all the things I wanted to see out there, I had been saving, looked forward to it, doubted about it a lot as well. Should I go there all alone, for such a long time, so far away? Wouldn't I get lonely? Could I actually leave the people that I love, especially my husband, behind like that? And yet, it would be so cool if I could make it by myself! Eventually I 'cut through the knot'. My husband supported my descision in every possible way.

There I went. It was so hard to say goodbye! But oh, what a special experience it was! The way my trip evolved, the things I saw, the things I did and encountered, were better than I could ever have imagined. Since the very first day everything seemed to evolve automatically. I met so many people, among which were the most adventurous fellow travellers and warm-hearted local, who took me under their care. Not a single moment did I feel bored or lonely, and I only wished I could stay there for ever.

But, my ticket back home was already booked, and there were people back home having a hard time waiting for my return, and so I made the best of my time out there. I cruised through the entire country. First the southcoust starting from Perth, then the entire Westcoast, up to Darwin, straight through the middel down again, and up along the Eastcoast, passing through Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, up to Cairns where I ended my wonderful trip with an eclipse.

What a special thing it was to be invited to make a mural, in the very hot heart of Australia, in a hostel in Alice Springs! I left a piece of my heart out there, something I had only dared to dream about. And so I'm very happy about this. See the result!



Messages
- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature



During my trip every now and then I had some time to make a drawing. Sometimes it was really hard to find some spare time,,, travelling can be a tough job! Occasionaly there was this lovely moment in which I realized 'I'm having a holiday!'.






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Pimp Your Portico, Nijestee
Posted on the 19th of January 2013



In the summer of 2012 I was given the opportunity to paint another portico of housing company Nijestee. This time I was allowed to work without restrictions, and so I decided to 'pimp' the entire portico. After talking with the people living there, I started. My goal was to create a feeling of nature, by painting trees and animals. In doing so I didn't forget about the children that were living there.

I started painting a tree at ground level. Her branches grew upwards. A second tree appeared, and the branches eventually reached to third, top floor. Birds lived in the trees, a squirrel on the ground, and a deer, and a rabbit. Insects and butterflies finally flew through this little forest.



The portico was transformed from a cold hallway into a vivid place where the inhabitants love to be. They've become proud of their entrance, which adds to their joy of living. I'm very proud of that myself!


- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature





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Artist in Residence, Frauenau, Germany
Posted on the 15th of Augustus 2012



I June I was asked to be an Artist In Residence in Frauenau, together with two other young painters. Bildwerk-Frauenau is an international summeracademy that is being held each year, after an American example, but smaller. It turned out to be an honour to be invited, especially since my invitation was the result of a search through the artists-file of my homecity.

The trip towards Frauenau went well, and we all arrived in time for dinner, after which everyone introduced themselves. There were a lot of teachers on glass-art, an old tradition in the vicinity of which, until then, I knew very little about. The teachers would be giving courses that would last for one or two weeks.



Us, the Artists in Residence, were given a wonderful big space in which we could create our own works, but we were also allowed to make use of the other workspaces around that place. We could look around as much as we liked in order to be inspired. This definitely happened, also because of the beautiful weather and natural surroundings.



We were staying in a lovely small, local hotel, where we had our breakfasts. Dinner was taken care of as well, and we could use the materials they sold in their little artists-shop. There was only one old computer for sending emails and stuff, so in that sense it was all back to basics, but every now and then that's a good thing.


I never thought that glass could be such a special material to work with. It was so inspiring to see something as hard as glass turn into something fluid by heating it. To see how people, sometimes with a lot of physical tension, could turn this material into the most amazing transparant shapes. It's a profession that unfortunately is disappearing more and more, due to mass production. Luckily though, there are still people that like to share their knowledge, and Frauenau is a very suitable place for this.


- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature





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Workshop Painting Stones
Posted on the 15th of May 2012



During a local event I was asked to give a workshop on painting stones. It was my first workshop ever, and immediately a succes. Seven participants were silently working on their stones, and made some very nice things this afternoon. In the meantime I was working on some stones as well.



It's wonderful to see everyone searching and finding their own way in creativity. The participants first picked a stone, had a good look, and started working. Whenever they struggled I came to the rescue, after which they could continue with new ideas.



A few stones I took home with me, so I could varnish them nicely. That way I had a good chance to make nice pictures of them.

Despite the fact that I was quite nervous, everything went very well. A good preparation is part of that deal. I made a nice introduction, and brought more than enough example material. That way I created the right atmosphere, after which everyone could just jump into the creative process.



I had intended to create a snake all together, but everyone was so much encaptured in their own work, that I decided to make the snake myself. The head of the snake could be me as a teacher, while the seven parts of its tail could represent the seven participants. This way te workshop has given me new inspiration!

If you're interested to follow a workshop with me, please contact me. The costs are 15 euro's a person, everything included. The painted stones will be varnished, and ofcourse you can take them home with you. Very nice as teambuilding or even family-building.


- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature





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A Photo A Day
Posted on the 7th of June 2012



Since May 2012 I’m joining the challenge ‘Photo A Day 2012' on Flickr. Flickr is a website where you can post pictures and photographs, and share them with others. You can also join groups, or make new ones. ‘Photo A Day 2012' is such a group, founded by an Australian woman called Fat Mum Slim. Each month she provides a list with words or short phrases, one for each day. The challenge is to make a picture each day that has something to do with the word or phrase belonging to that day.

It’s a great challenge to come up with an enjoyable idea, every day again. Sometimes the words that are provided seem to be unremarkable. It’s very nice to notice that even seemingly unremarkable words can lead to surprising ideas. By working with themes and words you normally would not even think about, you notice that inspiration can be found in the smallest things. Photography suddenly becomes a playful element within your daily routine, and thinking of creative solutions becomes a joyful undertaking.

The pictures that you’ve created you add to your Flickr-account, and then share them with the group ‘Photo A Day 2012'. By doing this, the other members can have a look at your result, and give a reaction. If they really like your picture, they can even add them to their list of favourites. Such an honour! You can do this with others as well, and this interaction makes it extra fun.

Click
here to see the result of working with black squiggly lines in my photo's for a month...


- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature





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Mural Nijestee: 'Pimp Your Portico'
Posted on the 6th of April 2012



In 2012 I joined the project ‘Pimp your Portico’, from housing company Nijestee. Very nice that they started this project, both for the people that live in their buildings as well as for the artists in the city, who like to earn a living through their work.

One lady who lives in one of Nijestee’s portico’s reacted with a wish to brighten up the portico where she lives. We agreed to make a mural at the entrance. She told me she would really like to have a brightly coloured Ara on the wall. And so I searched the internet, looking for suitable images, and created my own design.

The design had to be approved by all the neighbours in the portico. After sending an offerte and signing a contract bothways, I was ready to begin. I started with the background, and worked towards a layer with more and more detail. Every day it became prettier and prettier.

The mural now makes the entire portico radiate with renewed vitality. It’s very nice to see everyone turning enthusiastic about it. What I myself also like is that in this painting I made a combination of a graphic style (the birds in de background) and a more realistic style (the coloured Ara), and how they both complete eachother.


- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature





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Landscape Drawing
Posted on the 5th of April 2012



While carefully exploring my options on drawing landscapes, I noticed someone out of the corner of my eye. This annoyed me somewhat, and I turned to look. Then I found myself staring into a camera’s eye.. My annoyance grew and I closed my sketchbook. Behind the camera there turned out te be an old lady who was just a fanatic photographer of nature, who just felt such wonder about a person drawing the same scenery she loved to depict.

Her enthusiasm came over me, and we talked a bit about art amongst a few other things. We exchanged our website-url’s, and she turned out to become a great fan of my work. She sent me the photographs she took of me, and I sent her my drawing. Thanks to this meeting, I now have a nice collage of myself and my drawing.

I’m exploring landscape-drawing because landscapes have a lot of depth. In my drawings and paintings I often don’t use that much depth. My work tends to be graphical and quite flat. Sometimes I create more depth, and usually more people feel drawn towards those works.

It’s stimulating when people like something you do. Developing yourself as an artist therefore works both ways I guess. Ofcourse you should always express your inner self, but if this can somehow be combined with other people’s aspirations, you would meet both worlds…


- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature





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Painted Guitar
Posted on the 5th of April 2012



I was allowed to paint on someone’s guitar. This gave me a lot of joy, and I think this joy worked both ways, since it was transferred into both the guitar as well as into myself. I would be happy to do it again.

On beforehand I had no idea about what to paint on it, because I just wanted to react directly onto the shapes of the guitar itself. And so I started drawing black lines and dots, following the curves and empty spaces of the guitar. The result was quite pleasing, and I now could ‘see’ the colours I wanted to use. Strong contrasts, easy, joyful and powerful colors. Luckily I still had some yellow, red and black. A little bit of white gave it a finishing touch.

I decided to use a glossy paint, the one which is mostly used for wooden things in interiors. I imagine this kind of paint to be quite strong. A guitar is usually used a lot, so it needs a strong kind of paint. Also, I decided to varnish it well. First I used a varnish they use on boats or ships. It can deal with moist very well and gives the paint a deep kind of feeling. Then I added varnish they use for stairs, which prevents scratches to form and ruin the whole thing.

I had to turn the guitar around and around to varnish each side, one at a time. The hard thing is to keep dust as much away. I guess you need a more than ventilated room to accomplish a 100% smooth surface, but I did well enough. See the result! (If you also have experiences with painting musical instruments, I would love to hear from you)


- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature





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Website as A Living Creature
Posted on the 5th of April 2012

My website is a living creaturen that grows; A thing that develops its content and visual appearance. And mostly because of my own input. Quite a sensation..

I started building my html-website in 2009. Ever since it was put online, into the world, there has been ongoing growth. Sometimes with bumpy bounces, sometimes in utter silence, other times with giant leaps forward.

It’s great when your creation gets clearer and clearer, especially when you want to offer insight in, and an overview of a lot of data. Data which in my case consists out of my own work.

Making an overview concerning my work has not been an easy taks for me. It takes insight into the direction I want to go with my work, and that takes insight into the hidden patterns behind my work.

Every new insight reflects itself into a clarifying step within my website. The website and the works help each other in this process, which is a beautiful experience.


- Painting the Lighthouse of Ameland
- Mural Parking Garage
- Mural Parking Garage
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Teaching at Bildwerk Frauenau
- Paintingworkshop
- Project Ateliervisit Zernike College
- Art Battle in Simplon
- Pimp Your Portico - Damsterborg
- Mural Australia
- Pimp Your Portico
- Artist in Residence, Frauenau
- Workshop Painting Stones
- Photo A Day
- Mural Nijestee
- Landscape Drawing
- Painted Guitar
- Website as a Living Creature





©2010 Rachel van Balen