Commission Artist Tekenopdracht Kunstenaar

Where to order your Koi Carp art?

Nine Koi Carps represent unity,

prosperity, & longevity.

Who does not feel enchanted by Koi carps? The way that they gracefully slide through their watery world makes us believe that they represent our thoughts and feelings. These large, but ever so elegant, soft-finned Koi carps swim in freshwater; they appear and disappear, come and go from all directions, like our thoughts during meditation. The more the Koi carps feel relaxed whilst being watched by you, so our thoughts slow down during meditation as we do not engage with our thoughts, but observe them manifesting and disappearing. Koi carps stand for prosperity and success. Their hardy nature has also led to Koi being associated with longevity.

NINE KOI CARPS

Here is another Koi Carp commission. The typical number of Koi fish in a Feng-shui is 9 because it means unity, prosperity and longevity. The number nine represents attainment and completion.

MONOCHROMATIC or GRAPHITE ART

I also accept monochromatic (graphite) Koi carp commissions. Would you miss colour? That depends on what art you prefer and what kind of art decorates your home. Perhaps your home has neutral colours? Or your home is alludes to the 17-18th century? Or you have an earth home with only greys and ocher tones? Monochromatic art is soulful and although colour makes people happy, monochromatic art is without doubt a bit deeper.

Monochromatic Koi Carp Art Work by Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Contact me freely to commission your nine Koi carps. I make a colourful composition for you with measurements of 46-61 cm i.e 18-21 inches because these big fish need space. Compositions with 2 or 3 Koi carps can be smaller in size (and consequently lower in price).

Questions I will ask is whether you prefer accompanying lotus flowers and what colour Koi carps you favour. Also I need to know whether your preferences in relation to its orientation: horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait).

See more about commissioning me and its price indication at Etsy.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

at Etsy & at Instagram

Paula Kuitenbrouwer, Drs. M.A. Paula holds an MA degree in Philosophy and works as an artist in Utrecht. She is the owner of mindfuldrawing.com, a website with academic essays, short articles, and most of all: artworks. Paula’s pen and pencils are always fighting for her attention nevertheless they are best friends; Paula likes her art to be brainy and her essays to be artistic. Contact Paula freely for commissions.

Koi Carp Art Cards by Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Two (2) Koi Carp Art Cards

Two Koi Carp Art Cards by Paula Kuitenbrouwer. They are professionally printed, double folded art cards. They come with matching envelopes. One for keeping: one for sending. There are customers who frame the card. Free shipping.

€18.00

Commission your Countryside Mystery or Holiday Cottage Artwork

Creating Lasting Memories

‘Would it be possible to commission you for a cottage drawing, a bit like your see on this card? But with a Yorkshire cottage in a Yorkshire countryside? But not a summer scene; actually it should be autumnal. Could you add mushrooms and late autumn butterflies? And perhaps ravens in the sky? For decoration, lots of ivy? Yes, brambles are fine too. I like the cottage to be a bit bigger. The hills with a steeper gradient? Would this be possible?‘

The answer is ‘yes‘ because I like to hear about your preferences and I like to draw beautiful, softly rendered monochromatic art. Colour is also possible but I prefer classical, 17th century drawings that have so much technique and soul. Put a monochromatic drawing in a wooden frame with a golden edged mount and your cottage art will be timeless.

Please, do return here regularly because I will posts updates on my work in progress.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Commission Artist in Utrecht, Netherlands (and preferring her holidays renting a lovely countryside cottage in the UK).

Paula at Etsy & Instagram

Cottage Commission Paula Kuitenbrouwer — Cottage Commission by Paula Kuitenbrouwer

More updates will follow over the coming days.

Should you have questions related to (possible) commissions or technical questions, please use the contact form.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Paula has her shop with originals at Etsy & her portfolio at Instagram. Art cards are available in the shop on this website.

Two (2) Mandarin Duck Art Cards (Standing)

Two double folded art cards that come with matching envelopes. The mandarin ducks are standing on one leg, close together to confirm their life long bond. Two cards: one for sending: one for keeping. There is a larger image inside for framing. Free shipping.

€18.00

Latest & Related Posts

Koi Carp Commission Art

by Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Koi fish represent unity, prosperity, and longevity. For others Koi carp stand for resilience because these carps are strong. Feng Shui practitioners agree that the favored number of fish for your pond or aquarium is best limited to nine because nine stands for prosperity.

(Showing how a commission is made in several steps: from a monochromatic, detailed underdrawing, to the first colours, and several layers of colour later applying a protective spray).

You like to watch slow moving Koi carp? You like their meditative flow? You love Koi carp? Contact me freely should you like to commission a monochromatic drawing or a colourful painting of several Koi carp for your home.

I can paint a Koi carp pond for you with or without lotus-flowers or other water-plants. With as many Koi carps you like, however nine is maximum due to the size of the Arches paper that I work on.

Koi are often associated with elegance, strength of character, perseverance, and accomplishment. But also with meditation; watching them slows the mind. The fish also symbolize good fortune, and prosperity. Their long history and hardy nature has also led to Koi being associated with longevity. Koi carp are one of the most Feng-shui loved animals.

I have drawn and painted Koi carp in different settings, seen through water, from the perspective from outside of a pond, or from a ‘helicopter’ or above view. Contact me freely to discuss your wishes.

I invite you to have a look at my Etsy shop where you find several Koi Carp commissions.

If you can do with some guidance, contact me freely.

With or without lotus flowers, with blue, or orange, or yellow fish, your preferences are important to me.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Paula’s shop at Etsy

Two Koi Carp Double Folded Art Cards by Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Two Koi Carps and a lotus flower decorate this lovely card that comes with a matching envelope. Free shipping!

€18.00

Recent & Other related posts:

Wedding Gifts: Mandarin Duck Art

This is a lovely and exceptionally harmonious original Mandarin Duck composition. There is something magical about this couple positioned in the centre of a pentagonal shape, which is a Sakura flower (Japanese cherry blossom). Five chrysanthemums enrich and embellish the composition.

This artwork serves Fengshui aspirations, Valentine’s Day or as wedding gifts inasmuch as you aspire to confirm or attract love and loyalty. The mandarin ducks are closely together. Their show of synchronicity confirms their life long bond.

I have currently several of these Sakura- Mandarin ducks at my Etsy shop.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Paula Kuitenbrouwer’s art shop is at Etsy and her portfolio at Instagram. Contact her freely to discuss your commissioned artwork.

Mandarin Ducks, Mandarijneendjes, Aix galericulata

Over the last month, I have designed and worked on a new Mandarin Duck composition. A mandarin duck couple happily swims in their duck pond that is surrounded by five chrysanthemums. The duck pond has a pentagonal ‘Sakura’ shape, sakura referring to Asian cherry blossom. I combined the sakura, chrysanthemums, and mandarin ducks and was delighted and surprised by how harmonious the combination turned out.

At my Etsy art shop, I have several of these compositions available, mounted and not-mounted with a passe-partout, with full colour mandarin ducks or with albino or leucistic ducks. I am going to experiment with another Japanese flower shape: the Yukiwa flower, an equally harmonious shape that will elegantly ‘frame’ the mandarin ducks.

Should you like to commission a larger mandarin duck composition or you like to order a wedding set, feel free to contact me.

Stay healthy, creative, and kind.

Love,

Paula

Paula Kuitenbrouwer ‘s art shop at Etsy, her portfolio at Instagram. Here website at mindfuldrawing.com.

Graphite Art is Soulful Art: Artwork and Reflections

Graphite Artwork

Graphite drawings (parts of it) by Paula Kuitenbrouwer.

I have been working on large graphite drawings. Whilst the world around me bursts into colour (it is spring here), I find myself turning to graphite artwork more and more. Somehow Dutch 17th century artists, working with graphite, ink and chalk, have me under their spell. I can not get enough of their soulful art. The thing is that I love colours! If the world would fade before my eyes and represent itself as monochromatic, I would cry my heart out. Yet, when I study graphite artworks by 17-18th century landscape artists, one has to admire their beautiful artwork.

We see a drawing more clearly when it is reduced to its essential lines, textures, light, and shadows. Like a philosophical essay: one selects a subject (like a scene or scenery in drawing), adds perspective (like an architectural artist), focuses on an essential aspect or subject (as an artist does), and makes it clear what part of our complex world should receive our moral (in art, our aesthetic) attention.

Work in progress. Under -layers in graphite. The outside border shows oak-leaves. The inside border will hold my brother’s name, date of birth and death in Latin numerals, as well as a Latin text that I find suitable for remembering my brother’s life. The passion flowers allude to my brother’s academic passions which will be worked out in the centre of this large drawing.

I am also working on an In Memoriam drawing for my late brother. I like to share a few observations. First, this is a self-assigned task which I haven’t done before. I had to let the first weeks of grief pass because I needed a calm mind to assemble a composition that celebrates my brother’s life. As soon as I had worked out a composition, I noticed that I had postponed working on it. To my surprise, I found myself somewhat deliberately delaying working on this large drawing that will eventually become a prayer-card, a remembrance card, and an Ex Libris. Why, I asked myself? I am a far stretch from being a procrastinator; procrastinating is not me. Then I knew. I do not want this drawing to be finished, at least not any time soon. I want to stay with the drawing, as if sharing -in mind and in spirit- moments with my late brother.

I know myself well enough; this drawing shall get finished as I will offer it to those who want to have a remembrance card or Ex Libris with my brother’s name on it because this is not about me, but about remembering my kindhearted brother. Yet, I now understand more profoundly why artists add ‘unfinished’ symbols to their artwork: an open book, a broken off branch of a tree, or an open door, to name a few. As long as I am transforming my grief into artwork, I feel less grief, and delaying only shows that one needs time. This is not the kind of art-making that should be hurried.

*Note later added: the Remembrance drawing can be viewed here.

Working on Monochromatic Book Illustrations

Book Illustration Border Paula Kuitenbrouwer

This is a large and ongoing project: creating book illustrations for my daughter’s future publications. I use floral and plant motives and browse through richly illustrated books for inspiration and education.

Illustrations that hold me under their spell are those by William Morris, who himself was inspired by Medieval books. Today we find William Morris and Medieval book illustrations too dense, too busy, because they bombard us visually and we need a bit more calm in our full lives and busy world in order to focus. Despite that I adore William Morris’s work, I plan much calmer and specious illustrations. Nonetheless, Morris’s work inspires me as much as Mother Nature does.

William Morris Books — William Morris Book

More updates shall follow soon. For now, may my fellow artist friends feel a steady flow of inspiration, and wishing all others the very best.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Portfolio at Instagram

Commissions and Freehand drawings at Etsy

Have you enjoyed this article? Do you like to contact me for a commission? Please use the contact form.

I have two shops: one at Etsy and one on this website (for art cards only). Contact me freely should you need artwork.

Two cards with Mandarin Ducks Standing on One Leg

Two mandarin duck art cards that are professionally printed with artwork by Paula Kuitenbrouwer. Inside you will find a larger image for framing. They come with matching envelopes. Free shipping. One for sending to a friend: one for you to keep.

€18.00

RECENT AND RELATED ARTICLES

Trellis ‘Ode to William Morris’

Finding William Morris in Nature

One day I was admiring our local herbal garden and found myself in William Morris’ Trellis wallpaper design. To celebrate this moment of seeing artwork by the most famous Arts and Crafts Movement artist being alive right in front of me, I set out making a large watercolour painting. I believe the Arts and Crafts Movement and especially William Morris’ designs strengthened the human-nature connection.

Trellis Design

This watercolour makes a lovely wink to past artisan times. Morris designed a simplified trellis with perfect squares, which I stayed true to. But instead of climbing roses and bluebirds, I have chosen passionflowers as host plants to a hummingbird and a butterfly. I have paid much attention to drawing an Arts and Crafts frame, in dark wood with embellishments.

Work in progress with lots of blues and greens and a live model leaf of our own passionflower.

Morris used different ground colours including blue, dark grey, taupe, and the off-white which I will do too. Blue symbolizing heavens, the ethereal part of life and dark, wood brown representing our earthly life.
I have used some gold and iridescent paint so that light offers an enriching effect on this watercolour painting.

Ode to William Morris with bits of gold and iridescent shine.
Watercolour Painting Copyrighted by Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Size is 46 by 61 cm or 18 by 24 inches. Horizontally oriented. I always use Arches High Quality Art Paper, satin because of its soft satin feel and because, to me, it is simply the best. This artwork will need an off-white or softly coloured passe-partout (mount) and a frame. You will cherish this original artwork for years to come!

‘Trellis with lush Acanthus and Passionflowers, a Hummingbird and a Butterfly.’ (Passionflower is the host plant for hummingbirds and fritillary butterflies).

Should you like artwork that matches your William Morris wallpaper, consider commissioning me. I look forward to work with you.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Etsy

Etsy William Morris Inspired Artwork ‘Trellis

Etsy William Morris Inspired Artwork ‘Bouquet of Flowers’

Etsy William Morris

https://www.instagram.com/mindfuldrawing/?hl=en

Floral Triptych (Bloemen Drieluik)

Drieluik Triptychion

What better than receiving a request to draw a floral triptych of lush spring flowers during the Corona lockdown? After the monochromatic under layer, working on these large Arches sheets (41- 61 cm), adding many layers of colour, felt like wandering through a lush garden.

The contrary was true. We were home most of the time, our city turning into a ghost town with museums and botanical gardens keeping their doors locked. Going to the supermarket and making a daily walk through greener parts of our area was all we did. I bought new green plants and planted some extra flowers on our balcony. But my real garden was on my drawing station and it was full irises, tulips, and daffodils. Before giving the sheets a protective spray, I added bugs and bees.

Packing up an commission always makes me nervous. But it worked by using an XL artist tube and three protective folios. By the time I brought the artist tube to the post office, our lockdown was almost over. Only our botanical gardens keep their gates closed till the 1st of July. Although I long to visit them, I understand that they can do very well without us, humans. They might even have had a jolly good time!

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

@mindfuldrawing on Instagram

At Etsy as Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Dutch Heritage Nieuwe Gracht Huisjes (Utrecht)

Follow the progress that I make drawing three lovely houses located at the Nieuwe Gracht, Utrecht. This large drawing demands much patience because these three pearls are full details. I will update this blogpost regularly. For videos on this project, visit my Instagram account @mindfuldrawing. Contact me for questions and commissions.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Etsy

Instagram

Hercules Statute Utrecht Netherlands

In my hometown of Utrecht, on two Rococo houses alongside the ‘Nieuwe Gracht’, stands Hercules holding the sky onto his shoulders.

The ancient story goes that Hercules has taken up the firmament for Atlas allowing the old Titan a brief moment of respite to take up one of his labours.

I had to correct Hercules’ legs because all reference photos are taken from street level, and Hercules stands on top of a four story house, and it therefore the statute showed too short legs. I’ve elongated Hercules’ legs to create a level frontal view.

Hercules looks strong, but he is a demigod and demigods can do things we mortals can not. Yet, the maker of this statute, the Dutch sculptor Ton Mooy, has given Hercules a tormented expression.

I kept wondering why I like this Hercules. When I was about to draw his hair and face, I remembered. I had seen this kind of hair and facial expression before. Hercules has the same hair as Vercingetorix (see photo) and a similar tormented expression as the statute of the Dying Gaul (see photo), an Ancient Roman Hellenistic sculpture. There is beauty in showing that extraordinary strength and bravery often comes with pain.

Dying Gaul

Hercules Utrecht Statute by Ton Mooy, drawing by Paula Kuitenbrouwer

Herculus in Utrecht City Centre, drawing by Paula Kuitenbrouwer, Statute by Ton Mooij.

Herculus/Aardkloot/Nieuwe Gracht Utrecht by Ton Mooy

By Ton Mooy

Vercingetorix

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

At Etsy & at Instagram

Bruntenhof Gate Utrecht

My ‘Gate to Heaven’, a lovely gate is located not too far away from my home, at Bruntenhof, Museumkwartier in Utrecht.

In real, there is no flower vase, just pavement in front of this gate. I received some feedback, stating: ‘There is a great difference between a photo of this gate and your drawing. A photo shows beautiful stonework but you have drawn something dreamy and poetic. The gate has become a portal to another world. You can walk through it and find yourself in a Medieval landscape with knights and dryads‘. I think the feedback itself is rather poetical, don’t you think? Such sensitive feedback stimulates me to make even more progress.

This gate can be found at Bruntenhof, Museumkwartier in Utrecht, in the centre of the Netherlands. It dates back to 1620. But it could be any gate, a dream gate, a portal to heaven, to another world. Gates are symbolic and often stand for a transformation or travelling between worlds. Gardens are set apart from manor houses by a gate. People drive through gates to enter an estate. Gates impress, transform, and show style; Roman, Art Nouveau, Classical, Medieval or gates are used for defence purposes. Drawings of gates can mean so much and are open to your interpretation.

Commissions are welcome for drawing a favourite place be it a gate home, residence, manor house, hotel, garden, holiday-home, estate, or apartment. Contact me for discussing your preferences.