FRANK VERBRUGGE ART

July, 2022

First of all, a big thank you to those who visited my short solo exhibition in my birth town Ede. It was a privilege to show my work to you and it also marks a very important moment in my life: I left Philips in May and am now a full-time independent and professional artist. From now on, I will be focusing with great passion on portraiture and abstract art. 

Portraiture has my full attention at this moment. The special thing is that I recently completed a portrait of a dog called Vesper, which I worked on with great pleasure. And shortly afterwards I received a request for another dog portrait. Hope to be able to show you the portrait of Fanu next season, a Spanish Mastiff of around 90 kilogram!

But first I'm going to work on another commission that came to me just before the exhibition. It concerns two separate portraits of a sweet couple that lives in our neighbourhood and who I can now say are friends. The photo shoot has already taken place and I can get to work with two beautiful reference photographs.
A good start is made!

In the meantime, I made a portrait of Leonie. Simply because it is so incredibly instructive to do and also terribly difficult. After all, I know just about every line and character trait. And of course I have developed an extremely good feel for how it feels to be near her. : ) The portrait will have to give the same feeling...

In the end, I am very satisfied with the process in the first place, but the result is also very pleasing to look at, at least, I really enjoy it. You can (hopefully) admire the portrait and the painting process and read about it in a fresh blog. (scroll down for a button to the blog).

While you scroll further down in this newsletter you will find other topics, like a summer reading tip, new pieces of art, and a link to the making of Vesper. A lovely dog I painted recently. Enjoy the scroll! 

I am very happy and grateful that you have subscribed to my newsletter. If you think you can inspire others with my work, service or newsletter, I would greatly appreciate it if you would forward my profile. Every connection is very welcome.

Have a nice summer!
Frank

PORTRAIT OF LEONIE

"Sort of like letting a gun go off without you hearing it, but then with the effect of light."

Oil on canvas, 40 x 40 cm

See the whole work and read about how it was created by clicking on the button below. 

POSTCARDS AVAILABLE

Prior to the solo exhibition, me and my best friend Bram, created these postcards together. I wrote a short blog about the creative proces which gives you an idea of where these visuals and phrases of Bram are coming from. 

"Just coffee smear. What are you looking for?"

Text, Bram Stieltjes

"One could see the result as a conversation in silence between me and Bram; A set of visual expressions that came from within (me), upon which he took an unconditioned look and intuitively replied, again, from within (him)."

The cards as they are packed, including 7 envelopes.

"Spaciousness or loneliness, chance or failure or ... why ... or

Text, Bram Stieltjes

SUMMER READING TIP

I am impressed by the way Arghavan, a young Iranian woman, perceives and describes her world. A sensitive person who lives modestly in the Netherlands and has her roots in Iran. The cultural differences gradually come to the fore in the experiences she describes. A beautiful book for those who resonate with things like 'minimalism', 'slow', 'sensorial' and descriptions of the void. If it does, definitely a book I recommend you to put in your suitcase!

No idea if it has been translated yet... It is written in Dutch. 

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The Sky is Always Purple by Sholeh Rezazadeh is a sensuous novel about love and longing, about memories and about the question whether you can ever really know the other person.

Winner of the Bronze Owl Public Prize 2021
Longlisted for the Libris Literature Prize 2022

PORTRAIT OF VESPER

Oil on canvas, 60 x 80 cm

Recently I handed over the portrait of Vesper to Denise and Martijn. They came to our home and saw the work being unveiled by our daughters. 

Vesper passed away earlier this year. I made the reference photo of him back in December 2021, when he was already doing less well. 

The unveiling brought him back a little. It is confronting but also comforting. I found it very special to hear that they felt his closeness when they saw the portrait.

Smell, too, came to the fore again. I cannot imagine a greater compliment. 

Click on the button below to read and see how his portrait was created. 

PORTRAIT OF A HORSE

Oil on canvas, 50x70cm.

Love painting horses! If you know someone who might like a portrait, please share my profile. Happy to take commissions.

This is a portrait of a horse from a little while ago. Finished now after making some tweaks in the icy and cool background. 

Original portrait by #AllaBerlezova, who is a very skilled horse photographer.

Next one will be photographed by myself. It will be beautiful Cas! So more to come.

A LITTLE OF YOUR HELP!

Do you know someone who would like to have a portrait done, or might be interested in this newsletter, I would greatly appreciate it if you would forward my profile. Every new connection is very welcome.