Karen van Dooren

Paint and People

Landscapes and animals are not landscapes and animals, but are dots of paint and people. The focus is at the small things, which you almost pass without seeing, to see them again. Attention to color, shape and coincidence will seduce you to take a new look at the everyday new ordinary things.

The paintings are about human nature: surprise, being together, just-not-making-it, loneliness, beauty, innocence, alertness and contentment.

Oil on canvas, untidy as a virtue, impulsivity combined with caring craftsmanship.

Merleau-Ponty (1962) describes that understanding and experiencing is led by what the senses show you. Meaning is created in the moment, where painting and viewer meet. That which occurs, is not entirely to grasp in language. My paintings like to offer that openness: you see your own story when viewing the work. That what I show you from my world, does not need to be the same as what you see.

Besides working as an artist, I worked in psychiatry and forensic psychiatry as art therapist. My work takes that experience into itself.

What is it about your studio space that inspires you?

The space, it is an unbelieving 72 m2, in a former beginning of 1900 school, it is the art room. It has built-in closets, with drawers divided for keeping brushes and all. On the stairs to my 2nd floor, you see the 72 stained glass windows with pictures of animals.

What sounds, scents and sights do you encounter while in your studio?

I can hear the birds in the top of the tree, the studio is on a hill, and has an overview on three sides of the city. Always dead flies on the windowsill, no idea where they come from.

What is your favourite material to work with? How has your use of it evolved throughout your practice?

Any material. Clay is great, ink, graphite, oil paint. I like the possibilities of acrylic paint, however I am always aware of the 'plastic look' if not used appropriate.

What themes do you pursue?

Feelings like 'just-not-making-it'. something happening that gives you a feeling you know it, but it doesn't show on the surface and sometimes humor in the work, in a way it makes you smile and tell you something at the same time.

What advice has had the biggest impact on your career?

It used to be something my teacher at the BA of Fine arts: "if you just make one thing a year which is good, you may already be very happy" (it was a message for all of my classmates, it didn't mean to say that i ma not that good of an artist. But this saying has been replaced lately by "Look at the work, and do what is needed for the work".

If you could install your art absolutely anywhere, where would that be?

As real-life touchable, smellable screensavers on computers worldwide, so people start their work looking at art in stead of blues screens.

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?

Something tiny to hold in my pocket.

If you weren´t an artist, what would you be doing?

Write books.

What are your favourite places besides your studio?

Outside, on my bicycle, feeling fresh wind, riding down a slope. Or dancing or eating with friends.

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