How Anca Blok makes emotion splash off the canvas

KUNSTBLOC 's works are so lifelike that you almost can't stop looking. The 28-year-old artist Anca Blok always looks for the emotion behind a story and translates it into an impressive work of art. Working with charcoal on durable cotton, the artist manages to make emotion splash off the canvas. Anca's work can be admired during MASTERS VERNISSAGE where she introduces the public to her craft in a special way.Text: Fleur de Jong
Image: Anca Blok

The old man (Rembrandt)

"The Old Man" is one of my showpieces. The painting was chosen out of 8,390 entries for the 'Long Live Rembrandt' competition and was therefore on display during the 2019 summer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum. This was a big milestone for me. The Rijksmuseum is known for its great masters. That my work was allowed to hang among them felt like a huge honor. The artwork is based on "The Old Man" by Rembrandt. Inspired by the many painted portraits and etchings by Rembrandt, I gave the famous painting a completely modern look.

I work purely with charcoal on cotton, so my works are characterized by the black and white face. With charcoal, I put extra emphasis on the emotional layer, which fully stimulates the viewer's senses. As a result, The Old Man's fascinating hairstyle, drooping yet expressive eyes, lush eyebrows and impressive mustache are beautifully displayed in this artwork. Characteristic faces at enormous sizes, such as those of The Old Man, are authoritative for my artworks."

The waving reeds

"Nature is a great source of inspiration for me. I regularly go out to enjoy the ingenuity and transience that nature has to offer. The painting 'The Waving Reed' is one of my favorites and based on my roots which are in the fields in the Northeast Polder. Nature is so pure. It moves with the seasons and therefore has beautiful stages of life. That fascinates me. In this painting I have captured the swaying reeds that I grew up with. Stems that have defied weather and wind. Each living separately from each other, but together forming a beautiful whole. Reed that dances along to the sighing wind and stands up proudly when caressed by warm sunbeams. A pristine piece of wilderness with unparalleled beauty.

Working with the natural product charcoal, it is possible to manufacture the purity and movement of the cane on the canvas by accentuating the sharpness-depth, among other things. The painting was also part of the solo exhibition 'Polderland'.

MASTERS VERNISSAGE

"I find Yves Gijrath to be an entrepreneur pur sang. A striking man with a telling past and a vibrant heart for people and society. Exclusively for the MASTERS VERNISSAGE, I will produce a life-size painting of Yves. Normally I draw my studio in the beautiful countryside, but never before live and in front of an exclusive audience.

Yves' 54 leading years are reflected in his facial expression. A beautiful face, where every wrinkle, the lines around the eyes, the framing of the corners of the mouth, everything tells a story. A life story filled with peaks and valleys. By working out those beautiful shapes on an imposing cotton canvas, I make the story visual. 

As the basis for the artwork, I used an existing photograph of Yves, over which I poured my own KUNSTBLOC sauce. So far the contours of the face are set and the eyes are already shaped. During the days of MASTERS VERNISSAGE, I will elaborate on the artwork. With this I would like to introduce the guests to my craft and my life-size, pure paintings."

See more MASTERPIECES by Anca Blok here.