Roundism 04-07-17

Website link: corneakkers.com/roundism-04-...

Drawing (Pentel 0.5 mm, 3B) on Strathmore Bristol paper (21 x 29.7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#artcuration #artinvestment #artcollector #artadvisory #artprint #roundism #cubism #femaleform #graphitedrawing #art

Color Theoretical Challenges This oil painting ‘Neo Deco – 10-07-25’ demonstrates everything I know about color theory. In fact, it’s a search to converge all 6 main colours of the color wheel into a majestic scenery. A tall order you might say and I do agree. Didn’t the great Raphael once proclaim to only use a maximum of 5 main colors at the same time? Well, to some extent I do agree. The use of too many colors can lead to screamy kitsch. Almost as if Bob Ross would have set to work his palette with all colors of the rainbow on it. Therefor, using all six of them seems like wanting to have a taste of the forbidden fruit. However, in the past I already used all 6 before such as in my oil painting ‘Nina – 12-10-23’. The reason my inner urge directed me to used them all once more I will explain below. A Big Gordian Knot It all began with my graphite pencil drawing ‘Roundism – 05-07-16’ which I sold very quickly after its completion. For years I had this on my to do list of oils yet to start. I always thought of it to be a great cubist concept. Successfully merging cubistic body parts I knew this also held the potential of a grand painting. Somehow I had this concept of matching this mergance to the use of colours as well. Almost as if one would look at a display of mother of pearl-like colors. As stated above, a tall order and a big Gordian Knot. This time not one Alexander The Great would solve by simply cutting through it. Soon I found myself in big trouble because all colours were screaming at me in full force. both in the positive and the negative space. The Solution Consequently, this time the forms, composition and proportions weren’t the problem. Those have been sorted out by the prestudy in graphite pencil. For 95% of the time I have suffered because I was constantly looking at a big candy box full of screamy colors. Even though I tuned down many of the color saturation into more subdued colours the solution arrived only today.

Neo Deco – 10-07-25

Oil on portrait linen (60 x 80 x 2 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

Website link: corneakkers.com/neo-deco-10-...

#printableart #printables #art #neodeco #cubism #cubisme #roundism #rondisme #oil #painting #neodeco #artdeco #artcollector #collectingart #chiaroscuro #paintings #deco

Gjon Mili’s Inspirational Influence This oil painting ‘Neo Deco – 07-05-25’ is an elaboration of a recent graphite pencil drawing ‘Neo Deco – 10-03-25’. Homage to Albanian photographer Gjon Mili. Last oil painting was from August 2024 so it was high time for a new one. In addition, I always have considered my drawings as prestudies for future oils to come. Now I come to think of it I have so many drawings that to my opinion are good enough to transfer to oil paint. If I only had enough time before time will catch up with me. Maybe I should paint more this year. Perhaps some outdoor sketching. Well, I don’t know really. The artistic wind may carry me to unknown destinations. 6 Main Colors Anyway, using your own drawing as reference is always a comforting thing. The composition is something to simply take over and then …? Sheer copying is out of the question. Therefor, the most natural inclination is to delve right into the realm of colors. There is true value added! And so I did but I have to confess something. Oh Lord, forgive me for I have sinned. Against the magic rule of max 5 colors according to Raphael’s law. In fact, I used them all (6) in this painting. Hence, it took me quite some time to complete this one. Once you set forth to use a complex color palette you know troubles are bound. Backlighted Initially I was in awe with the sheer beauty of the dress. Especially the backlight that turned the scenery into a spectacular tonal vision. For me that’s meat for the beast so I the drawing was finished quickly and with gusto. Now I come to think of it, that was the very reason I used all six main colours. That is, to depict the effect light has when it permiates through structures. You may say the colors I used have got nothing to do with reality or does it? In fact, you might be wrong. Light has the tendency to break up into the full colour spectrum of a rainbow. Furthermore, I strived for a perfect balance between cool and warm, and complementary colors.

Neo Deco – 07-05-25

Website link: corneakkers.com/neo-deco-07-...

Oil on linen (60 x 80 x 2 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#art #neodeco #cubism #cubisme #roundism #rondisme #oil #painting #neodeco #artdeco #artcollector #collectingart #chiaroscuro #clairobscur #chiaroscuro #paintings #deco

Natte Beek This graphite pencil drawing ‘Beek – 14-04-25’ depicts a slighty cubist interpretation of an eponymous landscape. There’s this house called the ‘Natte Beek’ (‘Wet Rivulet’) which is funny. All rivulets, creeks or waters in general are wet, aren’t they? This actual spot is very well known to locals because it is a striking scenery. When you pass it via the Rijksstraatweg you’ll easily spot it. That’s because it is situated in an open field in the bushy hills of Beek. Many times I have seen it with childish curiosity sitting in a bus towards my grandmother in the Ooij. Especially in winter it looks like a gothic fairytale, looking forelorn in the woods. In summer it looks less threatening when meadows are all green. Spring has arrived and my outdoors sketching inclinations are growing. Therefor I thought it would be a good start using this spot as artistic motif. Paper Strucure Quite a while now since I made a last landscape really. My last one of Beek showed the old and the new Bartholomeuskerk in a cubistic approach. This time I had it in me to combine impressionism with cubism. This feeling appeared to exactly match the presupposition I had with regard to this Hahnemühle Bamboo sketch paper. Rather grainy of structure reacting to my pencil made me think of Ingres paper of the same brand. It happened to be that my soft 14B pencil scratched across the paper like a knife cuts through soft butter. Even rubbed out with a stump the structures still looked broken and open. Very likeable indeed I must say even though a bit too grainy without using a stump. Slightly Cubistic The goal was to implement cubist styling only subtlely. The treeline in the back for example is drawn more abstractly than it lets on initially. The hedge in front of the house has a split halfway. A deliberate addition from my part according to the principle of singularity. The tree in the front to the left was nothing but fun to draw. Very rewarding and satisfying to erase this dots.

Beek - 14-04-25

Click here to see this artwork on my website: corneakkers.com/beek-14-04-25/

Drawing on paper (21 x 29,7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#artcollector #artprint #artposter #art #graphite #pencil #drawing #beek #beekubbergen #impressionism #cubism #roundism #artdeco

My Favorite Spot This graphite pencil drawing ‘Berg en Dal – 21-04-25’ is my next landscape endeavour after the previous one, called ‘Beek – 14-04-25’. Cubism meets impressionism once more. The title is a bit arbitrary because I think it might also be part of Beek. Ubbergen, Berg en Dal, Groesbeek, Beek and even Ooij are all part now of the bigger municipality Berg en Dal. Therefor it doesn’t matter really. Since I gave a couple of drawings and pastels the same title I think it’s fair enough. They are made in the same area as this one, which offers a view on the Boterberg positioned to the left. In fact ‘Berg en Dal – 25-10-23’ is a vista on hill in the center to the right. This must be my favorite spot. Probably since 1980 when I visited it for the first time with my parents. Not Fully in Leaf Yet The reference photo I took some weeks ago when the trees were not in leaf yet. Only some pines on the Boterberg show some darker leafy planes. Even though there weren’t many leaves yet, tree branches show subtle bifuractions. Especially when the outer ends already show buds their outlines tend to appear as beautiful bulged structures. Certainly, similar to abstract geometric shapes and I simply love those. When trees are fully in leaf often they block the view too much. You simply can’t suggest depth between trees too much anymore. My aim though was to depict the structures of the hilly slopes and treescapes altogether. So was right on time. Sketchy Feel This having said, the lighting of course is the key factor but it needed more. The previous one was made both cubist and impressionist. However, my roundism adventures are still in my fingers but I kept an early drawing ‘Valley of the Philosophers - 20-10-15’ in mind. Quite abstracted that one was. So executed this one in geometric shapes but also took care of maintaining a sketchy feel. Surely I was avoiding overproducing it, keeping the essential message of impressionism in mind.

Berg en Dal - 21-04-25

Click here to see this artwork on my website: corneakkers.com/berg-en-dal-...

Drawing on paper (21 x 29,7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#artposter #art #graphite #pencil #drawing #bergendal #beek #beekubbergen #printondemand #impressionism #cubism #roundism #artdeco

A Mixture of Cubism & Surrealism This graphite pencil drawing ‘The Hague Forest - 21-06-18’ is a mixture of cubism, roundism and surrealism. After Roundism 12-06-18 I wanted something different. Nothing more boring than to do the same kind of motif over and over again. It’s not the first time I tried out such a mixture. Perhaps you remember a previous drawing called ‘Strange Goings on at ‘t Meertje - 10-02-16 (Sold)’. That may have been the first attempt to employ such a combination of styles. Now I felt it was about time to try it out again and see what may stem from my pencil. You see, there was a special event that inspired me to do so. Just Around The Corner Normally, riding my bike through The Hague Forest (Haagse Bos) just around the corner I see only beauty. On a sunny day and in season it usually is a leafy light and shadow play. But one time I happened to bike through it at 3 AM in the dead of night. You see, I was coming from a party in Benoordenhout. The shortest yet the creepiest way back home was through this forest with no street lights at all. Wouldn’t you just love the challenge of overcoming deep fears for the darkness in such woods? Then I came across the central lake in the forest and creatures big and small came out. I tried to capture this feel during daytime. A Forest As such, a forest is a archetype for all our fears. Because behind every tree perverts, notorious highwaymen and other strange folks can dwell. So you better be aware. However, it is not as freightful as you think once your eyes get acclimated or is it? Strangely, after a while I felt quite comfortable once my eyes got adapted. Then I saw the sheer beauty of it all. My fears were gone.

The Hague Forest (Haagse Bos) - 21-06-18

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Drawing on paper (21 x 29.2 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#denhaag #thehague #surrealism #cubism #graphite #pencil #drawing #roundism

Solarization This graphite pencil drawing ‘Roundism – 19-08-20’ is walk down the path of Man Ray’s solarization and combination with cubism. It is also called ‘the Sabbatier Effect’. Solarization became an important part of his oevre. Legend has it that one time his model Lee Miller entered Man Ray’s darkroom. She overexposed a photo he was developing. After his first rage he came to his senses and saw it created beautiful, somehow surrealist effects. Upon my word, how great inventions can be spawned by the biggest of mistakes. My Own Attempts I did a couple of pastels on Man Ray some 8 years back. Recently I made some, like Roundism – 27-04-20, Clara – 24-04-20, Roundism - 31-03-20, Roundism 29-03-20 and Roundism – 04-04-20. This drawing however differs from the previous ones. There are only straight cubist plains, no roundish forms. In fact it’s a bit of a joke really because there are no roundish forms included this time. However, to keep up with my Roundism formula it’s included in the series under the same name. Composition Basically the model was reclining on my bedside. Her body position looked very straight with only two main diagonals: in the arm and the thigh. Overall composition I tried to improved a bit. I added dark blocks in the lower right corner and in the upper left. Next tot his, I also put a diagonal fold in the mid-section to the right. Also some loose folds to the left so the arm would not float too much. It’s about solarization and not surrealism, even though the first often is considered to be part of the latter. All-in all It has become a kind of cross-over of styles from the past. Time will tell what ways I will turn to. Perhaps adding color?

Roundism – 19-08-20

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Graphite pencil drawing (Sakura 0.5 mm, 4B) on Winsor & Newton Bristol paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm) - A4 format)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#roundism

My oil painting ‘Roundism - 07-08-22’ on display in Museum Voorschoten

5 - 30 March 2025. DM me for more info.

#museumvoorschoten #roundism #cubism #artexhibition #artgallery #artcollection #artcollector #artcollectors #oil #painting #paintings

Dynamics This graphite pencil drawing ‘Nude – 02-06-15’ is an attempt to create a female form in motion. The last drawing already looked very dynamic and I liked the result. Evidentually I’m not alone because not much later I sold it. Therefor I had it in my to take dynamics one step further. Why not do a couple of repeted extrapolated contours outside the body? That is: to the right and left of the nude. This way she looks almost dancing and even about to move off paper. Getting Used to It Now, I have to be honest here and admit to having to get use to what it became. A bit unexpected really although there are new aspects to this developing Roundism style that I like. Maybe it’s the amount of repetion in circular patterns that I do not really underlign. Certainly after a decade rewriting this art statement for SEO resons. Luckily I even sold a print in the past so someone was quite happy. However, as artist I tend to keep my standards high and always seek for improvement. Why wouldn’t I? Negative Space Now I come to think of it more thoroughly I think it’s all about the abundance of negative space around it. I even can remember now why I created aforementioned patterns in the first place. Surely to experiment further with the previous drawing in mind. Then again, also in an attempt to fill up the paper in a meaningful way. Otherwise the model would have looked a bit like a needle with too much nothingness around her. These last 10 years I learnt a lot. Not least that it is most important to balance out positve and negative spaces in a suiting manner. In fact, I consider this principle a keystone to my artworks nowadays.

Nude - 02-06-15

Website link: corneakkers.com/nude-02-06-15/
Print: corneakkers.com/print-nude-0...

Pencil drawing (Pentel, 0.5 mm) on Canson Bristol paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm) (A4-format)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#cubism #graphite #pencil #drawing #roundism #geometric #art #kunst #traditionalart

A New Year’s Kick-off A graphite pencil drawing typical for my roundism series. I felt like throwing in a piece around midnight of New Year’s Eve. My last one was ‘The Hague Forest 28-12-15’ and all of a sudden I realized something. Lately I did only landscapes and cityscapes so it was time to return to nudes again for a change. Variation is the spice of life. What about some sensuality incorporated in this drawing for people around the world? Social Media That is why I posted the drawing a couple of minutes before midnight on social media. Luckily I was not blocked by Facebook again. Prudity seems to be back on the menu and nudity is the defenseless victim again. I comtemplate a restoration of the admiration for the human body like before World War I some day. As to this I feel there is a valuable task bestowed upon me. Great Tonal Distribution Some time ago I spotted a great reference picture online. Perhaps it came from the 1950s. I don’t know for sure but the hairdo suggests it. Anyway, the nude showed great round shapes that were of my fancy. The photo also showed a great distribution of dark tones, mid tones and high lights. For artists like me that is a lot of wonderful stuff to chew on. Consequently I felt confident to extend the body shapes into the negative space around it. The eye can get hold of the body features because of this tonal distribition anyway. A little distortion therefor does not cancel the recognition. The result is an attractive female figure with lots of dynamics and swirls, even though she lies still.

Nude - 01-01-16

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Drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#pastelpencil #pencil #graphitedrawing #roundism #drawing #cubism #pastell #artdeco #neodeco

4th Drawing Appreciating Fleischmann and Bauroff This graphite pencil drawing ‘Neo Deco – 03-02-25’ is another token of appreciation of photographer Trude Fleischmann and model Claire Bauroff. As explained in my last pastel drawing ‘Neo Deco – 25-01-25’ I saw them in Museum Arnhem. Why is it that I feel being attrackted to these artists all the time? To briefly sum it up once more: great chiaroscuro photography and composition. Claire of course is an artist and female dancer in her own right. Next to this, her slenderness is both very female and athletic. A reminder for us all, living hunderd years later, of how people can look in their natural glory. healthy and slim, not being obese. A Drawing and an Oil Painting As you true followers might know by know is that I always keep one drawing in progress at hand. Without one I simply would feel artistically forelorn. Since this artistic life is the only one I lead that means a lot. So there it is: a drawing and an oil at the same time always. With my focus on my painting ‘In Hoc Signo’ and Spring still waiting to arrive, a sort of a quicky. Well, not that exactly but I try to keep up the pace by posting an artwork a week. This makes sure I keep on thinking sphericaly like Fellini used to prescribe. If I keep up the speed the oil painting will be finished by the end of Winter. Then I can go and sketch outdoors. Artistic Accountability When you see these grand photographs of a century ago there is always a moment of doubt. First, why is it that all things nice have been done before? Secondly, what could I add to the splendour of such magnificent artistic motifs. My recepy is to simply start and measure out all proportions. There is always a slight mutation or deviation that slips into the mind. This way I came up with a series of vertical and horizontal blocks counterbalancing all things diagonal in the body. Initially I thought of executing this one in pastel.

Neo Deco – 03-02-25

Website link: corneakkers.com/neo-deco-03-...
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Drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#pastelpencil #pencil #graphitedrawing #roundism #drawing #cubism #pastell #femaleform #artdeco #neodeco

Oosterbeek Again On my walks I came across Estate ‘Oosterbeek’ again. I was in the mood to do another landscape after my last one of Buitengoed Leeuwenbergh. After all, Spring has arrived and South Holland is covered in sunlight. Let’s hope the sun will bring relief in this cursed pandemic. Anyway, I was struck by the abstract quality of the treeline set off against the grassy curves in the mid-section. It almost resembles a lush English garden kind of style. Albeit my preference for trees in leaf I also like them without. Then they show an almost transluscent contour delineation that seems to linger on endlessly. Opaque versus Linear These abstract forms reminded me to a previous graphite pencil drawing ‘De Hofvijver’. That one was all about bringing back forms to the essential geometrical shapes of the circle, rectangle and square. In this drawing my aim was to contrast opaque round forms with linear structures. There are some other apearances too I wanted to exploit. What I found attractive are the parts appearing to be darker where treescapes overlapped eachother. The sprouty branches directing outwards in a curve also caught my eye. Surely the golden ratio is to be spotted in every organic object by those whose eyes are opened. Abstract and Realistic All-in all the idea grew in me to combine abstract principles with a realistic regard. This way people look at a landscape more abstract than they can would expect. Reality is an illusion. It is the combined result of many abstract building blocks. So I ask you: is it real what looks real to you? I hope people with appreciate both reality and the implicate order behind it all some call ‘abstract’. The latter is real but can be spotted only by eyes wide open. I consider it to be my task to uncover those principles bit by bit for those who want to know.

Creating Oosterbeek - 31-03-21

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Drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#zuid-holland #artdeco #treescape #trees #roundism #denhaag #graphite #graphitedrawing #pencil #pencilart #drawing #art #kunst

After Rembrandt’s Drawing often is called the primary process and I like it so much, brimming over with an ocean of ideas, that I forget about transfering those ideas to the secondary stage: the canvas. There always is something to dust off and in 2017 I used ‘Nude – 03-09-15’ to work out a bigger theme, called ‘The Widow of Aleppo – 18-05-17’, after Rembrandt's painting Jeremiah lamenting Jerusalem's destruction. Syria Since the war in Syria sort of came to an end but the people still suffer, I found it appropiate to do this anew but then in oil. Unfortunately more paintings will be needed to question these themes since war, deprevation, pain and suffering seem to last forever. At the time of reediting this story (January 2021) for the sake of SEO, Syria is suffering still. Assad keeps on holding the country in his grizzly grasp. Tonally Balanced I focused on the strong values in the bodily region while keeping the tonal bandwith in the upper right corner small, thus balancing out between strong tonality and the stronger color saturation to the upper right. True artist know that the primary attention always is drawn to where the bandwidth in tonal variation is the furtherst. Color only plays a relative part in the most litteral sense of the word. It is the realm of feelings and expression from the point of view of the artist. Tonality prevails in my eyes though.

The Widow of Aleppo (2019)

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Oil on wood panel (85 x 120 x 0.9 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#cubism #oilpainting #art #colorful #artprint #roundism #painting #oil #artdeco #oilpainting #femaleform #aleppo

Solarization and Surrealism This graphite pencil drawing ‘Clara – 25-04-20’ is a bit of solarisation. Generally considered as part of surrealism, this is something different from the series of landscapes I made recently. The last one was ‘Marlot – 11-04-20’. However, once in a while I answer to an inner urge to shift my focus. Obviously there was a good reason and that reason naturally was female of nature. Such is my life: to depict nature in all her glory and of course women. Instagram Looker Some time ago on Instagram I saw a beautiful woman Clara showing a seated position of herself. I asked her for permission to draw her and got it from her. You see, lately I have become fascinated by all these women promoting themselves on the internet. Then I decided to employ only my solarization effects of late. Such can bes een in my drawing ‘Roundism – 31-03-20’. The challenge was to keep the drawing recognizable whereas the original photo was a puzzle to solve for many. Perhaps employing solarization could be one bridge too far for many a fan? Well, I’m satisfied with the result even though I kept it pretty much photorealistic. Knitting and Textures Furthermore I liked depicting the knitted pattern of her sweater. The overall contrasts in textures like skin, bracelet and cloth I kept like they were. She certainly has a feel for composition. So there was nothing left for me than to underlign her natural beauty. Next tot his, the body shape kind of picture gives it an abstract look. Altogether, the exact depiction of those structures, being solarized, still offer a recognition for those who scrutinize with care. For the trained eye it is plain to see. Can you spot her?

Clara – 24-04-20

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Drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#graphitedrawing #interiordesign #artprint #graphite #roundism #drawing #surrealism #solarisation #femaleform #artdeco #solarization

So Many Themes, So Few to Make This graphite pencil drawing ‘Roundism – 07-08-20’ is a return to the nude theme. It was time to do another in my Roundism series after a couple of commissions such as ‘Friends- 29-07-20’. Many themes to draw but so little time to do them all. One could choose cats and dogs, people, still lifes, landscapes and what have you not. Bestowed upon me the heavy burden to do nudes and why not? Being a bachelor I have more than time to pick the nude of my fancy and draw her. Perhaps I see more nudity as a bachelor than many a married friend. A Giant Zigzag There are many positions a model can show. Then, one day I saw the reference picture for this one. Particularly the slanted position of the legs I licked very much. A great opportunity to show heavy tonal rhythmic cadences whereas the body is folded into a giant zig-zag. The body position almost looks like some kind of knitted pattern. You know these elaborate celtic knots, right? Often I try to unravel them with my eyes. Who could unfold the mysteries of a woman? Simply and Essential I kept the abstraction quite simple without any nifty deformations. In this respect I didn’t do a front-to-end fill-out of the paper. This way the heavy tonal violence could breathe a bit. Besides that, leaving blank the lower left corner and the upper right one echoes the diagonals in the body stucture. To me it is the rhythym of light and dark plains that show repetition in variation and variation in repetition. Maybe this is the main ruling principle on this planet Earth and in the Universe.

Roundism – 07-08-20

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Drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#graphitedrawing #artprint #artprocess #graphitepencil #graphite #roundism #drawing #cubism #geometric #femaleform #artdeco #neodeco

Park ’t Loo This graphite pencil drawing ‘Voorburg – 16-07-19’ is about a place I know very well. On my way to my students in Voorburg I come across Park ‘t Loo that had a reshape last year. Some natural river banks were created for birds to nest. The variety of vegetation also is extended. There is a herbal garden and some lovely flower beds. I once heared Princess Marianne van Oranje-Nassau used to walk this park from her home to Palace Huis Ten Bosch. Much has changed though ever since I guess. Sun Shimmers Through In this time of year I love to see the sun shimmer through leaves. It causes me to see a whole range of blue, yellow and ocre kind of greens. Besides these hues these settings show a maximal tonal bandwith sparkle in my eyes, almost like flikkering diamonds. I wanted to draw a rather abstract feel, still suggesting the powerful essence of this specific chiaroscuro play. Abstracted Trees Besides the chiaroscuro aspect I wanted to do some more abstracted trees in my roundism style. I kinda liked the trees in my laste graphite pencil drawing ‘Voorlinden – 11-07-19’. However, the ones in this drawing show more broken structures, almost shattered. It is the sort of impression I have when I look into a wall of leaves. There are circular lobes detectable but the most striking is light flickering through peep holes. The path in this drawing shows the shadows of these lobes of leaves. By that the viewer can get hold of the depiction. Surely I wanted to avoid too much abstraction. There is nothing more tedious than to send spectators into the blue. Any tiny clue to can put them on track again. Another one is the bridge structure in the back. Not too much, not too little.

Creating Voorburg - 16-07-19

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Drawing on paper (10.5 x 14.8 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#treescape #cubism #graphitepencil #art #artprint #graphite #pencil #trees #drawing #leafy #roundism #zuid-holland #voorburg

Return to Roundism After a bunch of landscapes and cityscapes I felt it was time to return to my roundism ladies. For me changing the theme once in a while is very useful. I forget about model sketching for a while because I was occupied sketching outdoors (see my graphite pencil drawing ‘Voorburg – 01-06-19’). Maybe it is because I would like to see what happens after some time. It may be just so sketching landscapes also will affect my nudes on paper and by this process I keep from getting stuck in a style. Inspiration Surely I was inspired by the model in the reference picture showing attractive triangles and I decided to focus on the rhythym tonal values show, contrasting abrupt contour delineations with gradual transitions. As can be noted I wanted strong repetitions of light, dark, light, dark, etc. That is the rhythym I talk about! Straight and Slanted If the spectator has a keen eye on art, he or she also can discover the balance in horizontals, verticals and diagonals. Unfortunately this is not invented by me, as I took this picture out of a magazine but my added value, next to drawing it, also is the recognition of it.

Roundism – 10-06-19

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Pitt Graphite Matt pencil (Faber-Castell) drawing on Hahnenmühle paper (24 x 31 x 0.1 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#cubism #drawing #femaleform #neodeco #artprint #retro #roundism #artdeco #art

On the Brink of a New Year This pastel drawing ‘Neo Deco – 28-12-24’ is a test really. At Brugman Art I found this new mix media paper made by Clairfontaine. Sturdy and nice 250g/m2 paper that comes in different colours. Lately I am having fun doing pastels again. That must be have been motivated by last month’s live model drawing sessions held in ‘De Blauwe Tram’. So there I am, on the brink of a new year. All things in due order: a brand new page I built on my website and enough artworks created in December. After a couple of months I picked up oil painting again. My project ‘In Hoc Signo’, based on a drawing under the same name, is waiting for completion. In between I had some spare time to do a little drawing. This is the result. Need for Speed Another reason for this pastel drawing was the speed I made last pastels with: within one hour. It made me realize how much fun it is to create a sort of ‘on a whim’. Basically with the same intent I made ‘Neo Deco – 04-11-24’. There is no real innovation in these, only cubist styling I applied. That’s enough for me for the moment. Normally I always striving for incorporating something new. Just like some kind of genetic mutation in each consecutive work. However, not this time. Instead, I tried to feel how this new paper would react to my chalks. Quite nicely I must say. Green Paper The paper itself has not an impressive tooth but it clings on pigment particles efficiently nonetheless. My eye felt on the green paper in the block. The result is a bit magical. The female form I forged looks like a green bronze statue. You could say this opens up a lot of new possibilities. Surely not the first time I used paper with color in it but a renewed acquaintance I quite like.

Neo Deco – 28-12-24

Website link: corneakkers.com/neo-deco-28-...
Print: corneakkers.com/print-neo-de...

Pastel drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#pastel #artprint #artprocess #pastelpencil #pencil #graphitedrawing #roundism #drawing #cubism #femaleform #artdeco #neodeco

A Second Tribute This graphite pencil drawing ‘Roundism (Tribute to Anita Ekberg) – 22-06-23’ is not my first homage to her. Some years ago I made a first one. People must have fallen in love with that one for I sold it quickly. Consequently I still sell prints of that drawing regularly. So I had this idea of turning it into an oil painting. But you know, it goes all the way with me all the time. So many ideas and so little time. Mostly I will be caught by a new idea I try to capture frantically in graphite. Once in a while I take one of the drawings from the stockpile and turn it into an oil. However, not this time … yet again! Take on the Challenge The reason is I’m inspired doing swirls and cubes in a new way, resulting in this Neo Deco series. I am quite content with the last drawings, swinging from straight cubist planes, curves to solarized appearances. I have returned to using Ingres paper more often since I feel comfortable with the grainy structure supporting my cubist styling. Browsing through some old pictures I collected I saw the one I saved of this great moviestar. It’s photographed in clean cut hefty tonal values. I remembered saving that one for a rainy day, still figuring out what to do with it. The reference picture is an art work in its own right. For a longer period of time I simply couldn’t image adding value to it. There is not a sound reason for postponing intentions forever though. Time to take on the challenge. Slight Cubist Styling Solarisation didn’t work because of the quantity of dark tones. The scarce light tones would become too dark, giving the depiction an almost unrecognizable appearance. For days I pondered what to do. I tried making the picture considerably lighter and that did the trick. I saw some tonal nuances appearing I could style cubistically. In the beginning I had some straight lines in it but soon erase them. Instead I put the stress on the flow of her curves, even extrapolating them outside her body.

Creating Roundism (Tribute to Anita Ekberg) – 22-06-23

Available as original (if not sold), prints and printable

Website link: corneakkers.com/roundism-tri...
Print: corneakkers.com/print-roundi...

Drawing on paper (21 x 28.2 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#pencil #graphitedrawing #roundism #cubism

Christmas Time This graphite pencil drawing ‘Neo Deco – 25-12-22’ follows shortly after Roundism – 22-12-22. It’s Christmas and I have plenty of time for drawing. Even though I’m with my family there is nothing particularly interesting on the telly. I don’t like watching Love Actually for the 10th time nor do I fancy watching or listing to annual overviews. I quite like beginning and completing a drawing in one day. There is less time for artistic reconsidering by sleeping over it and redo things the next day. It’s more or less a sort of hit or miss. I think it might be a hit. I have a good feeling about this one. Art Deco-ish In my last Neo Deco drawing I stated the reasons why I started this series. Consequently I refer to that art work if you want to read more about it. I think this one is a valid contribution because the motif stands for everything nice, at least in my eyes. There is a lovely lighting from two sides, creating a dramatic effect but great midtone nonetheless. In fact, I am a bit jealous because I didn’t take the photo. It’s a picture I don’t know the origins of so I cannot give credit to the maker. However, I think it might be originating from the Art Deco era. One day I hope to have a bigger studio in which I can mimic these lighting and settings. What Style? There were no real nifty artistic improvements I craved doing this one. The motif itself was perfect enough so I only added the cubist styling. As to this I explain once more. My sort of cubism has nothing to do with traditional Picasso multi-perspectivism. What’s left is an abstraction in straight planes that causes the association with traditional cubism. Perhaps that is why I decided to call it neo deco. Tere are plenty of people who think my style is cubistic though. There are other people too who scorn me, nitpicking because of the lack of the multi-perspectivist qualities of my works. There are others coming up with suggestions for style naming.

Neo Deco – 25-12-22

Website link: corneakkers.com/neo-deco-25-...
Print: corneakkers.com/print-neo-de...

Pencil drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

Available as original, print and printable

#cubism #femaleform #drawing #artdeco #art #neodeco
#deco #kunst #roundism

Swirly Swirls This graphite pencil drawing ‘The Nude Portal – 03-07-19’ shows my love for vortices. They show an endless sequence of swirls, each of them leading to singularity. These golden ratio curves never cease to inspire me. They did in a previous drawing ‘The Eternal Waves of Eternity – 15-06-19’. I also made landscapes visualizing this principle like in Leidschendam – 11-04-19. It is applicable with regards to all things organic: trees or women. My Artistic Search Perhaps the endless sequence of numbers of the phi number also means eternity in my artistic search. The sequence produces numbers that cannot be predicted or calculated in advance. Such will be true with regard to my artistic development. Some say the number leads the way to eternity, others consider it to be just a mathematical principle. I am fascinated by the depths and possibilities with regard to the female nude. I can look at it and each time discovering something new, a bend or an edge I did not expect. Therefor will there never be an end to my inspiration. Golden Ratio Who would have thought the human body does not just contain golden ratio curves, accidentally or hidden it may seem. No, the curves express the bodily features or better stated, are the human kind or life in general. The more I come to think of it this is true for our physical presence but also in relations. A practical example: we place furniture not in the middle of the room. Such can look very static or dead. No, a bit off-centre, certainly not all against the wall. I wonder what the full extent is of the ratio’s range. Does it fetch more or are my thoughts on the subject far-fetched?

The nude portal – 03-07-19

Website link: corneakkers.com/the-nude-por...
Print: corneakkers.com/print-the-nu...

Pencil drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

Available as original, print and printable

#cubism #femaleform #drawing #artdeco #art #neodeco #deco #kunst #roundism

My Niece And it so happens my niece Lilian turned out to be a great photographer. Lo and behold, artistry runs deep in the veins of our family and I asked her to use a beautiful photo she took of a treeline in Puiflijk, near to where she lives. Direct Cause Direct cause to draw this one, next to the photo, is a discussion I had with a friend of mine (Piet-Jan) about the meaning of ‘The Star and Crescent’, being a symbol in islamic traditions, only for us to find out the invention of the very symbol stretches back another 1000 years prior to islam. Something powerful is happening here for sure. Anyway, boom! There it was, Lilian’s photo arrived in the mid of our discussion and there you have it: the Universe intervened. Royal Estate ‘De Horsten’ When I looked at the picture a previous graphite pencil drawing Royal Estate ‘De Horsten’ – 23-10-15 came to mind instantly and that is a blessing and a curse at the same time. The rendering of such a piece also can get in the way and I wanted to convey some other feeling in a different style. So I tried to dissociate myself from it and feel what I wanted to say 5 years later, on treelines but also the crescent of the moon. Flow and Checkered Patterns Albeit the picture capturing a great moment it was a bit blurry. From my own experience I know tree branches and trunks easily can be rendered too sharp and thus do not correspond with the way the human view works. When you for example look at a tree, you do not see the individual brances clearly and vice versa. The solution was to make circular patterns and a trick I learned when I was young: checkered patterns to get some subtle contrasts. Hence, the flow that swirls through the sky and clearly demonstrates the feel we all can have looking at the crescent.

Creating Puiflijk - 27-11-20

Website link: corneakkers.com/puiflijk-27-...

Drawing on aper
Artist: Corné Akkers

#treescape #cubism #graphitepencil #art #monochrome #vintage #artcollector #artcollection #interiordesign #print #artprocess #graphite #pencil #trees #drawing #puiflijk #roundism

Neo Deco - 02-09-24

Available as original (if not sold), prints and printable

Read more>> corneakkers.com/neo-deco-02-...

Graphite pencil on paper (21 x 29,7cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#graphite #graphitepencil #graphite #graphitedrawing #roundism #drawing #cubism #femaleform #artdeco #neodeco

cubist impressionist nude graphite pencil drawing

Neo Deco – 15-08-24

Read more>> corneakkers.com/neo-deco-15-...

Pencil drawing on paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm)
Artist: Corné Akkers

#printableart #printables #art #cubism #chiaroscuro #interiordesign #realisme #graphitedrawing #artcollector #collectingart #impressionism #print #poster #roundism