About Gaby van Baal

It is all about painting and bringing alive the canvas! Since I graduated at the Fine Arts departement on the Artez Arts Academy I have been creating paintings and drawings. Different periods with different subjects have succeeded eachother. For a long period, I have painted portrets and abstract geometric forms. Always with oil paint. Around 15 years ago, as a result from my abstract work, the first flower still lifes appeared The need of mankind to depict flowers is already centruries old. People and flowers are inseparably connected. From the East to the West, from the Egyptians via the Romans and subsequently through the whole art history to the contemporary art in the works of a.o. Warhol, Ellsworth Kelly, Georgia o’Keeffe and Anselm Kiefer. All have expressed themselves through the theme of flowers For me, the painting of flower still lifes are first of all about creating a painting. Painting is establishing a dialogue with colour, light and form. It is dynamic and alternate process of adding and removing. I give my hands the room and trust them as they know the way. I try to release any thought process in order to let the unexpected and inspiration flow in. In essence, I sculpt the oil paint and ‘weave’ multiple layers together such that a tingling of colour and texture arises. Painting an exact depiction of the perfect flower true to nature is not my ambition. The essence of my paintings lies in revealing the landscape within: creating an atmosphere where the tension between wild and serene, whole and still, growth and decay become visible I continue to paint until there is a certain sense of stillness and the painting becomes more than the flower and the pot which are depicted. Nontheless, the character of each individual painting can be completely different. Some are more exuberant, others more restrained and meditative and others more mysterious, even sensual. They are abstracted flower still lifes built upon a long tradition of flower paintings within the art of painting My paintings are made on a larger scale which ensures one is completely drawn in painting and one can lose oneself in the colour, textur and atmosphere. My drawings are usually made on a smaller scale. These are finger exercises, etudes, capturing the essence and the rythm of the flower. Represented by lines drawn by pencil or ink. The painting and drawing of flowers keeps on fascinating and inspiring me. New ideas to give the flower still lifes extra dimensions continue to develop. Leftovers of the oil paint at the end of the day serve as inspiration for the start of a new painting the next day. In this way, a new painting is born organically It is great that I recently discovered Artfinder and I am very excited to share my inspiration, paintings and drawings with the people around the world. I think Artfinder is a fantastic platform to make it more easy to reach fellow art lovers and help me to sell my paintings and drawings