This month’s sidebar worth mentioning

One of the reasons I have selected Ingrid Dijkers as this month’s featured artist of the month is that her work appeals to me on several levels. Her exceptional artistic qualities, craftsmanship, stylization consistency, and the work is mostly gender neutral, as well as not stuck in a Victorian time-warp as so much of other artists journaling imagery is.

Ingrid Dijkers

One of the reasons I have selected Ingrid Dijkers as this month’s featured artist of the month is that her work appeals to me on several levels. Her exceptional artistic qualities, craftsmanship,  and stylization consistency, the work is mostly gender neutral, as well as not stuck in a Victorian time-warp as so much of other artists journaling imagery is.

Ingrid’s first Coptic book “A Small Town”

Made from many “parts” of reclaimed books

Her work encompasses complexity and simplicity, a delicate balancing act in which the two dance in a visual performance of colour, composition and visual creativity to delight the eye. The artwork is filled with a richness of imagination, luring the viewer with her magic, telling a tale to delight the child, as well as the adult. Stories that will ignite into dreams of their own, to all those who let their mind wonder down the rabbit hole.

“Glass House”

Constructed of collage elements and mounted between glass

Ingrid’s artistic repertoire is not limited to just art journaling, rather it is rather extensive, ranging from ATC, collage, altered books, wearable art known as ‘SteamPunk’ jewlery, and contemporary dolls, a true mixed media artists who is also very accomplished in her photographic skills.

Various pages from altered books

It should therefore come to no surprise to anyone, but Ingrid’s art and creations have been widely published in magazines like ATC Quarterly; Belle Armoire Jewelry; Cloth, Paper, Scissors; Art Journaling; Somerset Studios and most recently in the premiere issue of Jewelry Affaire. Her blog is also listed as one of the top ten by The Art Journal Caravan Navigation Guide.

Prototypes for “The Bug Collection”

“Flight to the Garden”

Clay and cloth construction figure riding a paper maché Pterodactyl.

Though here blog is chuck full of beautiful imagery of her art, I do recommend a visit to her official website for a greater in-depth view, as there her years of work is excellently catalogued, making it easy to navigate about.  So pour yourself some hot tea or coffee and be prepared to be lost in a magical world of Ingrid’s art.

“When I saw you”

Wearable collage made from kiln fired clay, glass, solder

and various small charms contained within.

Full quote reads

"When I saw you I fell in love and you smiled because you knew”

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Christen Købke

Danish Master of Light

March 17 thru June 13, 2010

This is the first exhibition outside Denmark to focus on the paintings of Christen Købke (1810–1848). Emphasizing his exquisite originality and experimental outlook, the exhibition focuses on the most innovative aspects of his work – including outdoor sketching, his fascination with painterly immediacy, and treatment of light and atmosphere.

The exhibition features around 40 of Købke’s most celebrated works, spanning a variety of genres. Works include landscapes, portraits of many of his family and closest friends, and depictions of Danish national monuments using his charming and unusual sense of perspective.

Christen Købke, 'Self Portrait', about 1833

Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

Købke was born in Copenhagen, where he trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts from 1822 to 32. From 1825-8 he was a pupil of the portrait painter C.A. Lorentzen, then studied under C.W. Eckersberg until about 1834.

In 1838 he travelled to Italy via Germany where he visited the painter J.C. Dahl in Dresden. He stayed in Rome, Pompeii and Naples, but spent much of his time sketching outdoors on the island of Capri.



The Northern Drawbridge to the Citadel in Copenhagen, 1837

Købke was a pre-eminent painter in his country and arguably one of the greatest talents of Denmark’s Golden Age. With the exception of one journey to Italy, he spent almost his entire life in and around the Citadel in Copenhagen, where he found the principal themes of his art.

Købke’s work demonstrates his ability to endow ordinary people and places and simple motifs with a universal significance, creating a world in microcosm for the viewer.

Exhibit catalogue

Christen Købke died at the early age of 37 with a career that barely spanned 20 years, nothing in his formative years as a painter were exceptional to that of his contemporaries which highlights his talent as all the more remarkable. His modest and unassuming nature make him an instantly likeable character. Although his working life was tragically short, he was inventive and extremely productive and this catalogue gives an overview of his entire career.

The exhibition is organized with the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh,

where it will follow from 4 July–3 October 2010.

Supported by The A.P. Møller and Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation, Copenhagen

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The previous week we experienced spring but as of Monday it was a throw back to winter with cold temperatures and snow falling around 2000 foot elevation. Our cherry tree just outside of the kitchen has passed its prime and with the return of the rain, the fragile petals have fallen like tears and lay scattered about the ground like a dusting of fresh show.

I wish to express my sincerest gratitude for your many inquiries and support regarding my health. In brief, I am doing a little better since one of the medications was dropped and shortly I will be entering into a three-month cardiovascular rehabilitation, which should help improve the current situation. There still remain unanswered questions regarding the future and this is still unsettling as it is distraction. So I continue to accept each day with its gifts as well as its faults, not thinking about tomorrow, as the moment is more precious than an unknown future.

I thank you for your visit

Egmont