Comments on: Old grapes, new painting

By: Karl Zipser

Karl Zipser — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:23:28 +0000

Hey Frank, nice of you to stop by. What kind of “scriblings” do you have in mind?

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 20:35:18 +0000

Hey Sis!
Still love your work. If only I could put up my scriblings up here!

Greetzzz …

By: Rex Crockett

Rex Crockett — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 03:09:19 +0000

There is a great tradition in “Still Life” to paint dead and dying things, As I’m sure most painters know, the French refer to it as Nature Morte. “Dead life.” What is the Dutch phrase?

I have seen a lot of edgier stuff that transcends the merely decorative and speaks directly about the fleeting and ephemeral nature of life. There will always be collectors who understand this and will gladly pay extra for a more transcendent piece.

Carry on Hanneke. Carry on. Your work becomes more valuable still, for now you talk about life itself.

By: hanneke van oosterhout

hanneke van oosterhout — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:54:15 +0000

Wolfbaby,
this is a very meaningfull comment for me . I didn,t understand the meaning of the rotten grapes yet The painting gives a vey wise lesson to the painter and I shoul not sell the painting just to remind me of that.
Thanks a lot

By: Lisa Call

Lisa Call — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 04:37:57 +0000

I think the correct response is that the only way Hanneke is going to be able to paint is if she sells.

But does a painter have to sell every single painting? Is there never room for growth and learning in a direction that is possibly not marketable – or are such efforts just a waste of time if you need cash?

By: wolfbaby

wolfbaby — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 02:18:29 +0000

I just wanted to note I really appreciate it when you post from the begining of a piece. I have learned more from seeing you guys then I ever realized I would. For someone who has never had the opportunity to study with a proffesional this is a wonderful opportunity to see how some things are done!!!

As for the grapes.. I like what it adds to the painting it makes it unique and it reminds us that not everything in life is perfect. It comes with good and bad. If I could afford it, it is something I would buy just because it does remind one of that. I love the glass and how you painted the colors. It is a beatiful piece.

By: Karl Zipser

Karl Zipser — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 16:08:53 +0000

Leslie, good point about the rotting grapes. I agree with you, of course. That’s why I was interested in Hanneke’s interpretation.

Birgit, sorry about misinterpreting your comment!

By: birgit

birgit — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:58:47 +0000

I was only alerted to the moldy grapes by reading comments. Sitting in an internet cafe, quickly scanning mail and artandperception, I was delighted at the combination of pink background and green glass. Not liking black as a color, I am happy that Hanneke has forsaken her black backgrounds. Perhaps, I did not focus in on the mold because as an outdoor person and biologist, I don’t find moldly grapes so terribly weird.

By: Leslie Holt

Leslie Holt — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 09:52:31 +0000

Karl,
Despite Hanneke’s intents, her work refers to the vanitas still life tradition in several ways. I don’t think you can paint rotting grapes in her naturalistic style without referring to that history. She may not have intended the grapes to be somber, but their rotting is not exactly cheery is it? I am just being playful with your careful dissection of her connection to the vanitas tradition here…

“If she can paint from her heart and sell, good for her” I have had plenty of non-art jobs, both interesting and uninteresting that support my art making. Sometimes the ones that are interesting are TOO interesting and take my energy away from the art. So an uninteresting “day job” can sometimes free up energy and time and make it an economic possibliity to “paint from the heart”. If I couldn’t mostly paint from the heart, I am not sure if I would do it.

By: Karl Zipser

Karl Zipser — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 08:40:07 +0000

Lisa, you said/asked:

I want to know why you said “who is going to pay for it?” – is that the only reason Hanneke paints – to sell?

I think the correct response is that the only way Hanneke is going to be able to paint is if she sells. If she can paint from her heart and sell, good for her. That seems to be what she is doing here with her moldy grapes — painting from her heart. Leslie likes them, but Leslie is not an art collector.

If Hanneke needs to adjust her message in order to survive as an artist, then she will do that, or she will have to find another full time job. That is economic reality. I hope she succeeds with her art, one way or anther, because she doesn’t have the skills you do in computer programming. Her non-art job might be something quite uninteresting.