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!
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
Ampersand Gessobord Review
Ampersand Gessobord is a premium rigid oil painting support. It is a wonderful support that I regularly use. In this article I'd like to describe its
Slow Down Perfectionist!
So many of us get frustrated while we paint. The painting just doesn't work, you can't make it sing, there's something wrong but you're not sure
How to Paint a Background
Should I paint the background first or last? This is a question I hear quite often as an art tutor. It illustrates very well how many
the past is not so far away after all
finding new meaning
through snippets of History
Busting some Painting Myths along the way
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