Artist Interview With Rob de Vries
Today’s Artist Interview Is With Rob de Vries From Koog aan de Zaan, Noord-Holland, the Netherlands.
Whopple: How long have you been an artist?
Rob: As I child I was always drawing and painting. In my early twenties I started with photography because to me my works on canvas and paper where not as realistic as I wanted them to be. I returned to drawing and painting about ten years ago and worked hard on my level of realism. I had lessons in 17th century painting techniques which I use for my portraits. For the rest I’m self taught.
Whopple: Tell us about your first attempts to be creative.
Rob: Being an Elvis fan since I was ten, my first creative attempts where portraits of him. Some of them are still hanging on the walls of my mothers home.
Whopple: Do you make a living with your art?
Rob: Yes, since 2003, the first couple of years I combined it with graphic design and site building. Now I only do that to make my own promotion material and sites. I make many commissioned portraits.
Whopple: How many hours a day do you create?
Rob: Between 4 and 10 hours. Depending on what other things are going on in my life.
Whopple: How did you pick your creative medium?
Rob: My art teacher in high school let us experiment with all kind of mediums. I fell in love with oil paints immediately. Later, after seeing examples on the internet, I enjoy working with colored pencils too.
Whopple: What are your inspirations?
Rob: I always get very inspired from visiting a exhibition or museum. Meeting and talking with fellow artists is always a source of inspiration. And looking at the work of Photo Realists and Hyper-realists.
Whopple: How do you recharge when your creativity hits the wall?
Rob: Visit a museum, gallery or read some art magazines/books. Surf the internet to see what other artists are doing or search for and buy an instructional art book. Go out and do nice things with my wife.
Whopple: What was your first job?
Rob: Pre-Press with a advertising company and when computers where introduced I became a DTP operator.
Whopple: What are your favorite snacks when you are creating?
Rob: I like dark chocolate. I don’t eat anything while I’m creating, only when I’m behind my computer working on my site or blog.
Whopple: What gives you hope in the world?
Rob: All the supportive and generous people I meet on my journey to become a better artist.
Whopple: What do you wish you could do?
Rob: Travel in a Chevrolet from the fifties along Route 66.
Whopple: What are your artistic goals?
Rob: I want to become a internationally known Photo Realist.
Whopple: What has been your most exciting moment as an artist?
Rob: Two years ago I made a portrait of a famous Dutch singer. I was able to present the painting to her personally after a performance she did in the theater. She was really grateful and loved it a lot.
To See More Of Rob de Vries Artwork Please Visit The Following:
Website: http://www.realistischekunst.com/engels/index_english.html
Blog: http://realisticartbyrob.blogspot.com/
Fine Art America Shop: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/rob-de-vries.html
These Interviews With Artists Are Copyrighted To Whopple.com.
Classifications: Photos to Paintings
One Response to Artist Interview With Rob de Vries
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I think I'd also want to make a living out of my art someday, I mean for a lot of people that's the dream right? But you will find few will have that realized. I mean, Van Gogh died poor, sadly. I feel like he died for his convictions.