Welcome!
I am a Dutch-born artist, art tutor, writer and art historian, based in the UK. I run my online Art School with courses in oil and pastel painting. On my blog I write about everything art: painting tips and tricks, exhibition and book reviews and so much more. Check out The Art Cafe for a free and supportive community of like-minded arty folks
In my own painting I try to find a dynamic between the past and the present in my painterly depictions of lace, silk, and velvet as well as my portraiture. My portrait work has been exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the BP Portrait Award and elsewhere. I paint in oils and pastel and am available for commissions.
Sophie's Art School has oil and pastel painting online courses, and runs regular online workshops.
The Art Cafe is the virtual hub of the school: it's free so pop in for your virtual morning coffee!
Pets in Pastel
Painting pets in pastel is one of the most popular art genres in the world. Thousands of amateur and professional artists use pastel to portray our
Are Pastel Starter Sets a Good Place to Start?
If you have no pastels at all and you want to dip your toe into this dusty medium, a starter set would be a great place
RWA Open Exhibition 2019: Review
The Royal West of England Academy of Art is having its 167th annual open exhibition. The exhibition shows well over 600 works from well known and
Getting Started in Soft Pastel: Colours
When you want to try soft pastel, you might not be sure which colours to start with. There are so many brands and so many colours!
Bitesize Blog: The Large Piece of Turf
Albrecht DurerThe Large Piece of Turf1503Watercolour on Paper, 40.8 cm (16 ″); Width: 31.5 cm (12.4 ″)Albertina Museum in ViennaI find this work quite amazing. It
Oil Painting without Solvents
Oil painting without using solvents or toxic mediums; can it be done? Absolutely. This guide explains how oil painting can be enjoyed without the need for
Book Review: Chromatopia
An Illustrated History of Colour, so reads the subtitle of this small but chunky book. The blurb on the back of Chromatopia tells us it will
6 Tips for Getting a Portrait Likeness
Here are some tips and tricks for beginning portrait painters to get a likeness in your portrait work. I hope you will find these 6 tips
the past is not so far away after all
finding new meaning
through snippets of History
Busting some Painting Myths along the way
25 Oil Painting Tips
Improve your painting with this free ebook!
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