ART IN THE MAKING

Two paintings this week. A large one showing the government buildings in watercolor and gouache. And a commission showing a window in a church. The colored light shimmers through the window and reflects colors on the floor. Creating art is showing what you see, not what's in front of you. I play with wet in wet washes, finding balance with sharp traces and contours.Watch this episode on youtube.titusmeeuws.com

I tell you how I like this weeks painting subjects. After working in quite smaller sizes I'm longing for a larger size and I continue on a Marching Band painting. I'm using watercolor, gouache, soft pastel, oil pastel and gold leaf.Watch this episode on youtube.titusmeeuws.com

I bought a new table easel and I start a watercolorpainting of the most impressive monument of our town. I like these statues, they bring drama in the painting. The composition is quite simple; I couldn't find more time to work this week and I used a picture which I shot from my car while I was waiting in a traffic jam.Watch this episode on youtube.titusmeeuws.com

This week I started working from my sketches in stead of my photos. Since a long time I was not sure if I was able to do this. I was tended to hold on the pictures, because these are supposed closer to reality. But while I'm working from my sketches I discover that I get closer to my truth.Watch this episode on youtube.titusmeeuws.com

When I think back to my time at the academy, I realize the difference between listening and obeying was crucial. In this week's video, I reflect aloud on the value of listening and the freedom to make your own choices.Watch this episode on youtube.titusmeeuws.com

I'm obsessed by painting and drawing horses these days. I have images in my head of parades with many horses and riders in blue uniforms. In this video you see me sketching in watercolor some compositions for larger paintings I want to make. I'm using gouache and gold as well.Watch this episode on youtube.titusmeeuws.com

I'm having 4 upcoming shows next month. One of these exhibitions is quite special; I will show my paintings next to Floris Arntzenius (1864 - 1925), a painter I've admired since my childhood. This week I'm working on a scene of a street which ahs been painted many times by Arntzenius.Watch this episode on youtubetitus meeuws.com

When a painting subject turns out to be very complicated, but still attracs me, it is because its abstract character. I like to approach complicated subjects abstractly. They lose their function in reality and reveal their beauty in the painting.Watch the video on youtubeinstagram facebooktitusmeeuws.com

This week I talk about how much knowledge is important in creativity. I go back to my childhood, remembering those schooldays when I knew everything exept what the teacher told me to know. I was taught to remember only the main issues, not the side issues.Now, working as an independant artist I can say that those "side issues" turn out to be main issues.Side issues are becoming essential when we look at ourselves, focussing more on the meaning of facts, meaning of life. We find happiness in that what carries us through the day; the light, sounds, smells en so on. It's remarkable that those details are those we learn to notice again in activities like mindfulness. Facts are only facts, these can only be interesting and attracting with a meaning.Watch this episode on youtubetitusmeeuws.com

I was asked to make some courses for an online art academy. I have decided not to do it. For me, an essential part of creating is that what can not be taught neither explained. It felt awkward for me to explain how I make some paintings, step by step because it will become static in stead of spontaneous. In this video I talk about being in the flow, in the zone, or however you would describe it.Watch the video here titusmeeuws.com

This week I was amazed by the beauty of Holland. Dutch skies are the best when rain and sun alternate. I paint a typical Dutch sky with clouds and an old mill in a meadow in watercolor. When I'm not happy with a result and the painting must go to the client, I make it again from scratch. Last weeks houseportrait got a second chance this week.Watch the video here titusmeeuws.com

I'm painting a houseportrait in Holland and I tell you about my preferences in compositions and painting gear.Later in the video I explain how I see the artistic development and the learning process.Watch the video heretitusmeeuws.com

While I'm working on a watercolorpainting of a house in a beautiful garden I tell you about my way to find the true artist in myself and find my own style. Watercolor knows many effects. In this technique I find what I need.Watch the video here titusmeeuws.com

Since American composer Zach Sprowls started making music as a daily job, things have changed. How he is dealing with deadlines, clients and his own musical signature? After he played a few compositions for us at Morren Galleries Dependance (Odijk, Holland), we had some good conversations in the gallery and my art studio. Music in this podcast: "Dreams" and "All Beginnings are hard" by Zach Sprowls Watch our conversation on youtube

Titus Meeuws visits painter Sam Drukker. Sam prefers working on old used wooden boards, sails and rough materials because of the hidden histories in these materials and the need to play with structures and left paint. "There was a time I wanted to know as much as possible about painting techniques to become a skillful artist. But the things you can't control are very nice. So trying to control a line with a material that doesn't work with you is nice. To make it difficult for yourself." Watch this episode on youtube titusmeeuws.com

The Dutch painter Suzan Schuttelaar used to work with life models, but is working with AI (artificial intelligence) nowadays. While we were painting our portraits we had a conversation about women in art, our times at the art academies and our careers. Watch this episode on youtube

I visited the Dutch painter and sculptor Rob Houdijk. While we were painting our portraits we had a conversation about the Dutch artist Kees Verwey, painting from life, painting as a living, art and painting portraits. See our portrait session on youtube.

About weaknesses, ego, expectations and depth in your work Watch this episode on youtube. Follow me on instagram Facebook website

This week I've been working on 7 value sketches in watercolor for new commissioned paintings. As always I tell you what's on my mind and this week I spoke about the system we build together. It seems to make us stronger but some of us feel captivated by it. Watch this episode on youtube Follow me on instagram Facebook website

This week I retouch an older watercolor. It shows a ditch in Amsterdam in autumn. The next morning I'm leaving early to make several plein air studies for some commissioned watercolours. I went to Deventer and Epe, both here in Holland. Thinking about one of the comments I read under one of my videos, I noticed the importance of lightness and ease in watercolorpainting. I think these elements put poetry in this beautiful technique. Watch the whole episode on youtube Follow me on instagram Facebook Website

This week I made the first plein air watercolour study of this year. I was really looking forward to paint outside on a sunny day and I found a spot in front of the building I have to paint for a client. So the preparations are made for this commissioned painting. Thereafter a large oilcolour painting needed to be varnished en later we will visit the framer for this piece. Watch the whole episode on youtube. Follow me on instagram. Facebook Website

There’s a lot going on in art world. Tools, software, technique, NFT and AI. We can find almost everyone and everything online, but what if someone steals an idea? This video does not contain any technical solution, I always handle a philosophical and spiritual approach to creating. Watch this episode on youtube Follow me on instagram facebook titusmeeuws.com

In this episode I talk about working outside and breaking the daily routines in the art studio Watch this episode on youtube titusmeeuws.com

Rick Rubin wrote his first book and I think everything is in it. I tell you about my thoughts on some remarkable chapters in this amazing book. This podcast is an audio edit from the same titled video on my youtubechannel Follow me on instagram facebook website/contact

I had an interview with the watercolorpainter Amid El Haddad during the Masters of Watercolor event in Leiden, Netherlands. Follow me on instagram facebook website youtube

Saying you can't find the time or discipline to accomplish something is useless. You won't find any discipline in the whole universe, it's made by yourself. And you can train it. Follow me on instagram Facebook website youtube

Philosophical thoughts on making art by Dutch artist Titus Meeuws and guests. Weekly feed. Watch more on my youtubechannel.

This is a podcast made from audio of my youtube video with the same title. I am working on some sketches for commissioned paintings and busy with my own watercolor paintings. Follow me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titusmeeuws/ Facebook: https://nl-nl.facebook.com/people/Titus-Meeuws-painter/100034743952168/ Website: https://www.titusmeeuws.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClkD8pGvbbsnmOVaXlOjQOQ