Bold as Brass

Ans Debije uses blades to carve impactful, painterly still lifes in oil

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NETHERLANDS

My aim in painting is to take things that we casually pass by every day, draw attention to them, and see that their beauty is recognized. Upgrading ordinary objects by using contrasting darks and lights to create shine is my way of emphasizing common, everyday items so they stand out.

I almost always work with still life as my subject matter. I spend a lot of time setting up and lighting a still life. The light falling on a still life or object helps me to see the shapes and the color values (dark and light) that are most important to express the objects in my painting. The values in a painting are extremely important to make the object stand out. I like to exaggerate that a bit. Especially with metal objects, very light colors are right next to dark colors.

Carefree, oil painted with blade, 8 x 11" (20 x 28 cm) Do not think, just do. Apply paint bravely-you can always move it or remove it.

I try to make an impression of the object with as few brushstrokes as possible. At the moment I only paint with oil paint on small-sized MDF panels, up to 12 by 16 inches.

I prefer to work with wide flat brushes and silicone blades. That forces me not to work too precisely but to get the paint on the wooden panel with great freedom. That doesn't mean I just accidentally throw the paint on it. Especially with coarser brushstrokes, you have to consciously put the right color/value in the right place. For that, you have to have an eye for the essence and material expression of the object to be painted. Recognizable from a distance, roughly painted up close. By not working too detailed, I create varied edges. Sometimes sharp, sometimes completely gone. An object never needs a complete outline to be recognized. Your brain fills in the missing lines.