It’s been over a year since I last caught up one of my favourite abstract artists – Netherlands based Esther Barend. Since that time she has been busy moving to a new studio, exhibiting in numerous solo and group shows, and creating a series of new paintings and portable art bags.
Barend’s vivid paintings are created by mixing the paint colours on the canvas with a lot of layers both thick and thin, resulting in a spontaneous, intensely coloured, yet balanced form of personal expression.
“Impulsions and Thoughts – Running Through My Head” (the featured image above) actually has four sides. The image shown here is Esther’s favourite. “It reflects the vortex of impressions, impulsions, and thoughts running through my head, together with the feelings running through my heart. The world literally is getting smaller every day. There are positive and negative aspects to this. The negative ones give me feelings of sadness, powerlessness, and sometimes anger. Often they confuse me because I cannot comprehend what people are capable of doing to each other. I prefer to focus on the positive aspects which warm my heart and give me the necessary wings to keep going. That is why the main colour of this painting is red.”
Barend has also created a new series of her fantastic one-of-a-kind art bags. “These art-bags are much more wearable, functional, and durable than the first collection. Although they are unique pieces of art, valuable and vulnerable, you can still walk in the rain without having to worry!”
Esther’s next exhibition is at Gallery Tatiana Tournemine in Paris starting at the end of January 2011.
To see more of Esther Barend’s work or to inquire about her art bags, visit EstherBarend.eu. You can also check out her blog at EstherBarend.Blogspot.com.
