Sushi

Something different this time, as I am still waiting to hear back when I can go make some more prints at the print workshop.
My new job has given me some quite handy new skills, and I decided to try them out at home.
I hope you like the result, I thought they where quite tasty!

Donald Ray Pollock

Hello All,
First of all I have to apologize for letting you wait so long for a new update. I have been doing a bit more on my official Facebook page (Sander Schoonbeek), but heard from quite a few people lately that they miss my blog posts. I do have something fun to share so thought it would be a good way to give you all another update this way. I have been contacted by a publisher in the Netherlands about using my artwork for one of there new books. The book is by Donald Ray Pollock and is called Knockemstiff. He is a writer from Ohio and since I feel quite connected to that state I was very happy that they wanted to use my work for their cover. Please check out the interview with the writer in this video and let me know what you think about it!

AAF Maastricht

Last weekend Gallery Post + Garcia took my work to the AAF (Affordable Art Fair) in Maastricht (the Netherlands). Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to have a look myself but thanks to Laura Post and my parents I ended up with some nice pictures. I think they went all out and gave a better presentation of my work than I expected. Besides showing 4 new prints that I made especially for this occasion they also showed 3 of my large prints. The concept of the AAF is to make Contemporary art more accessible for everyone with prices going from 500 to 5000 euro max. I think this is a very good concept and hope to see more of these events in the future. I included some pictures of the show but also some to introduce my latest series of prints.

 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, in the new year.
As usual I have been doing all sorts of stuff, but I thought I would share this one with you all.
As in Japanese tradition we went out very early to see the first sunrise of the new year. Unfortunately it was a bit too cloudy to actually see this sunrise, but Hove being a beautiful place at the sea I managed to get some nice pictures either way.

I wish you all the best and hope to see you in this amazing new year!

Web Shop

It's getting closer to December and I'm still trying to find out what to do with my life.
But on a more serious note I am having a good time in Hove and have a lot of fresh inspiration and ideas to go with. One of those ideas has already turned into something real. Today I opened my first web shop on my website. I have made a new series of post cards from my latest series of screen prints (including my latest), and put them up on the site. I thought it would be a good time to finaly try something like this as I have always been interested in it. These days it is getting easier and easier to set something up like that and the only really hard thing is to figure out how the tax and payment systems work. So if you feel like getting some amazing cards to send something truly unique for Christmas or just something for yourself to enjoy (or maybe just to support a struggling artist ;) ). make sure to have a look at my new web shop. I am giving away free shipping if you buy the complete set until the 5th of December (just use coupon code: 689) so don't let that hold you back. Alternatively for those of you outside the Netherlands or UK please feel free to contact me if you are interested in getting a set as my shop is not yet set up for dealing outside of those countries yet.

http://www.sanderschoonbeek.com/shop

Bus

Besides taking some more pictures I have also been able to finish up a print I have been wanting to make for a long time. It has been a bit more difficult getting the color the way I wanted and I think it looks better in real life than on the picture but you will get the idea.
I am still getting used to living in Brighton (Hove) and am trying to find my way into the local "art scene". So far I found a nice little artist collective which I am hoping to join (someday).
Also the temperature outside is starting to drop and I am loosing the illusion of a never ending summer (moving here from Scotland it is definitely warmer though).

I hope you are all ok and still enjoying my update's.

The Untitled (Bus) print is made in a series of 8 all colored in by hand (110 x 74cm.).

The Residency ends

It has been a weird couple of months, with my first solo show in the Netherlands and the Artist in Residence at the glass program in Edinburgh coming to an end. I have been going about quite a bit and that makes it all feel a little surreal. Not being able to find (or get) a job that I would really want here in Edinburgh made me decide it might be time to move on to the next adventure. Failing to persuade my wife to move to Japan (still not giving up on that though ;) ), we have decided to move to Brighton. This because it is just a much better location for going to the Netherlands (from Edinburgh you either have to fly or spend 18 hours on a boat if I want to bring some of my work along). It is also a city with an interest in art as there are many gallery's and it is very close to London. So who knows I might actually have more to blog about!

Before I am leaving though I want to show a little bit more about the stuff I am working on at the moment. It is kind of a strange closing as it feels that I am leaving with what started it all. You might remember the many efforts I made trying to make a mold of the USA cutout and how difficult it was to get it the way I wanted. Well I didn't give up and this week I was able to take the first of 2 out of the kiln. It is so strange when you spend so long trying to get every detail to show up in the mold starting over and over until you get it right. Well it amazed me that when I took the piece out of the mold and I didn't even care that all that detail failed to show up in the glass. I got back to what I enjoy most in my work, that little uncontrollable element that makes it come out just a little different than you anticipated.

well here is a little preview of the first piece, it's time to think about how to move on from here.

I want to thank all the people that I came to know and got close to me during my time here in Edinburgh, I will miss you!