See my virtual gallery for an update on current galleries and exhibitions.
Artist Statement Sandra de Nijs has a BDes degree from the Design Academy Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and now lives in Orlando, Florida. Her acrylic paintings are contemporary, mixing abstract expressionism with figurative art. “My goal is to paint an image that directs and controls vibrant and constructive energy. Dynamic strokes and flowing colors are balanced, precise and absolute, inspired by structures and patterns in nature and music.”
Her artwork has been selected for solo or group exhibitions at the DeLand Museum of Art and the Orlando Museum of Art - First Thursdays in Florida, the Richmond Museum of Art and the Indiana State Museum in Indiana, and at galleries such as the Arts Center in St Petersburg and the Sarasota Art Center.
How long have you been painting?
Over the years I have worked in different media, and learned something from each of them. The light touch of colored pencil, the layering of colors in pastels, and the fluid movement of watercolors. Combined they form my own style of painting in acrylics: flowing yet structured, and very colorful. I have been working with acrylics for about ten years now, and they suit me well; I paint very thin, so I can quickly layer colors and like to use a lot of shaped brush strokes. There is movement and music in every form and color.
Do you see colors in music?
I do visualize music in colors and shapes, and the more interesting the music, the more intricate and colorful it gets. Jazz and classical music have a lot of imagery, very often creating fanlike layers that overlap and become very 3 dimensional. When I paint I turn this language around, now I try to listen what my painting sounds like, and definitely go for the jazzy side.
Do you listen to music when you paint?
Never, it distracts too much, like having two stations on at the same time.
Who are you painting for?
For myself. It is kind of like reading your own book, you turn pages in your mind, and then paint what you see, very subconscious. I do filter images too, if I feel they are going to lead me somewhere where I don’t want to go.
What do you decide to paint?
Images that have a sense of purpose and energy. They have to be paintings that have resolved issues and come out strong. I don’t think there is anything wrong with painting death and despair, but I’d rather paint something solid and balanced. Something you can hang your hat on. Negative energy gets you nowhere, and isn’t going to help anyone much.
Are your paintings “healing” art?
I wish they were. And many people who see my work say it is life affirming and positive. Very often these are people that have had (or are battling with) cancer. I think that is the best compliment you can get. They know what they are talking about. As a child I was always in and out of hospitals with some unknown disease (I grew up in Africa) and I think my parents were always worried sick about me. They never let on though, and that’s probably what you need when things go bad: some kind words and a firm assurance that things will get better. When I make a painting it is for that little girl in the hospital, some time, somewhere, it could be me.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
From an escape, from a book, from music, from a place far away, from life so close you can see tiny molecules and think they are boats on a river going to God.
Galleries representing the artist Infusion Gallery, Hilo, HI ArtLink-Rhonda Schaller Studio, New York, NY Founding member Gallery One Artists, Kissimmee, FL
Solo Exhibitions AOP Gallery, Lakeland, FL August 7 - 26 "On the Double: Betsy Bohrer and Sandra de Nijs" 2009 Mount Dora Center for the Arts, FL February 22 - March 28 "Messages" 2008
Founders Gallery Alcove, Orlando Museum of Art, FL August 1 -31 "Visual Music" First Thursdays Artist of the Month 2007 Art Center Sarasota, FL March 14 – April "Kinetic Art: Sandra de Nijs" 2007
University Club Gallery, Orlando, FL "New Work" 2006
Pasco Arts Council, Main Gallery, Holiday, FL "Colors: Retrospective Sandra de Nijs" 2005
Osceola Art Center, Kissimmee, FL "New Work" 2005
Indigo Gallery, Mt. Dora, FL "New Work" 2005
White River Gardens, Indianapolis, IN "Colors: The Art of Sandra de Nijs" 2004
CCA Gallery, Zionsville, IN "Going Places" 2004
Brown County Museum of Art, Nashville, IN "Trees" 2003
Group Invitational Exhibitions Fifth Avenue Gallery, Melbourne, FL "100% Pure Florida" 2009 Maitland Art Center, Orlando, FL "pARTicipation" 2009 Tampa Museum of Art, FL "Sound Effects" 2008 Hollywood City Hall, Miami, FL "3 Florida Artists" 2008 Casselberry City Hall, FL "Horses and Healing" Curator: Mindy Colton 2008 LoPressionism Gallery, Melbourne, FL "Faux Real" Curator: Angela St Amant 2008 Albin Polasek Museum, Orlando, FL "Chapeaux Rouges" Curator: Karen Louden 2007 Atlantic Center for the Arts, Harris House, New Smyrna Beach, FL "Landscapes: Invitational Exhibition" Curator: Ren Morrison, 2007 Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Ormond Beach, FL "Birds: Invitational Exhibition" Curator: Barbara Saunders 2007 Florida Museum of Art, DeLand, FL "Equus: Invitational Exhibition" Curator: David Fithian 2007 Defoor Gallery, Atlanta, GA "Double Dutch: Karin van der Palm and Sandra de Nijs" Curator: Tim Thornton 2007 Infusion Gallery, Los Angeles, CA "Creative Genesis" Curators: Jill and Dover Abrams 2006 Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, Chelsea, NY "Paradoxical Parameters" Curator: Ruthie Tucker 2006 Comma Gallery, Orlando FL "Adored Artists" Curator: Karen Carasik 2006 Gallery One, Kissimmee, FL "Artists of the Month" Curator: Phyllis Ross 2005 Munce Art Center, Zionsville, IN "IN Group" Curator: Amy Kindred 2003 House of Fogg, Mucie, IN "Salon" Curator: FB Fogg 2003 Lamp Gallery, Indianapolis, IN "Plug in" Curator: Jennifer Kaye 2002
Awards and Juried Art Exhibitions Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, NJ 2010 "International Juried Show" Juror: Susan Kismaric, Curator at the Museum of Modern Art, NY
Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL 2009 "58th Annual All Florida Juried Competition and Exhibition" Juror: Roy Slade, Director Emeritus Cranbrook Art Museum
AOP Gallery, Lakeland, FL 2009 "Long Days of Summer" Honor Award Juror:Jules Davidson, Director of Visual Arts, Osceola Center for the Arts
AAWS, Winston-Salem, NC 2009 "Dimensions 2009" Juror: Jennifer Coolidge, Executive Director, Museum of Florida Art, FL
Brevard Art Museum, Eau Gallie, FL 2008 "2008 Juried Exhibition" Juror: Jennifer Hardin, Chief Curator, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL
Museum of Florida Art, DeLand, FL 2008 "Florida Biennial IV" Merit Award Painting Juror: Frank Holt, Executive Director Mennello Museum of Art and Public Art Manager for the City of Orlando
The von Liebig Art Center, Naples, FL 2007-2008 "46th Founders Juried Awards Exhibition" Juror: Sam Gilliam
Glass Gallery, Pembroke Pines City Hall, FL 2007 "Annual Juried Exhibition" Poster Design Winner Juror: Benoit Menasche, City of Pembroke Pines Art Curator
Sarah Silberman Art Gallery, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD 2007 "Rhythm and Blue" Jurors: Kay McCrohan, Prof of Art, Michael Sellmeyer, Assoc Prof of Art, Montgomery College
Thomas Center for the Arts, Gainesville, FL 2007 "Regional Juried Exhibition" Juror: David Edgar, Associate Professor of Art University of North Carolina
Orlando Museum of Art, FL 2006 1st Thursdays Events: “Mozart”, "Visions of Gratitude", "Moulin Rouge" "Florida Artist of the Month Selection"
Indiana State Museum, IN 2006 “Hoosier Salon Annual Exhibition” Juror: Patricia Hickson, curator Des Moines Art Center
DeLand Museum of Art, FL 2006 “Florida Biennial” Juror: Robert Sindelir, Director Emeritus, Kendall Campus Art Gallery
The Arts Center, St Petersburg, FL 2006 “14th All Florida Juried Exhibition” Juror: Dr. Donald Kuspit, art professor, State University of New York
DeLand Museum of Art, FL 2006 “Equus” Juror: Alan Reingold, Visual Arts Director Northern Westchester Center
Bethune Performing Arts Center Art Gallery, Daytona Beach, FL 2006 "National Museum of Women in the Arts Exhibition" Juror: David Swoyer, curator Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences
Lake Mary Heathrow Art Festival, FL 2006 "Fireflies" Merit Award Painting Juror: Nancy Jay
Sarasota Art Center, FL 2005 “Abstract Artworks” Merit Award Juror: Fayanne Hayes, curator Ringling Museum of Art
Maitland Art Center, FL 2005 “Re-Visioning, National Juried Exhibition” Juror: Nancy Azara
Thomas Center for the Arts, FL 2005 “Regional Juried Exhibition” Juror: Peg Richardson, Director of Development, Fine Arts College, UCF
Oval Gallery, FL 2005 “Trees” First Place Award ComCenter, FL 2005 “MCAA Summer Exhibition” Second Place Award
Orlando Museum of Art, FL 1st Thursdays Events: 2005 “Dance”, “Femme Fatale”,
“La Chaise”, “Seems So Surreal”
Osceola Art Center, FL 2005 “Annual Regional Exhibition”
Sarasota Art Center, FL 2004 “Dog Days of Summer” Second Place Award
Munce Art Center, IN 2004 “In-Group Exhibition” Osceola Art Festival, FL 2004 Merit Award
Shelby County Arts Fest, IN 2003 “Annual Exhibition” First Place Award Drawing
Minnetrista Art Center, IN 2003 “Open Space” Merit Award Painting
Minnetrista Art Center, IN 2003 “MAG Exhibition” First Place Award Painting
Anderson Fine Arts Center, IN 2003 “AAMC Art Show” Third Place Award
Avon City Hall, IN 2003 “Central Indiana Artists Spring Exhibition” Merit Award
Richmond Museum of Art, IN 2003 “105th Annual Exhibition”
Juror: Nathan Richie, Curator of Swope Art Museum
Indiana State Museum, IN 2003 “Hoosier Salon Annual Exhibition”
Hugh Ronald Gallery, IN 2003 “Harvest Biennial”
LAMP Gallery, IN 2003 “Group Exhibition”
FOGG Gallery, IN 2003 “Artist of the Month”
NCAA Hall of Fame, IN 2003 “Centennial Exhibition”
Hoosier Salon Gallery, IN 2003 “Drawn to Art”
Richmond Art Museum, IN 2002 “104th Annual Exhibition" Merit Award Drawing
Juror: Philip Koch, Professor of Fine Art, Maryland Institute College of Art
Brown County Art Guild Gallery, IN 2002 “Annual Exhibition” Honorable Mention
Artist Day Wild Air Horse Farms, Indianapolis, IN 2002 First Place Painting Award
Indianapolis Zoo, IN 2002 “Art and all that Jazz” Third Place Award
TC Steele Outdoor Art Contest, IN 2002 Merit Award
Harrison Gallery, IN 2002 “Hoosier Waters”
Selected as Juror Judge for National Arts Program 4th Annual Seminole County Employee Art Contest 2008
Media WMFE Arts Connection, August First Thursday, Orlando Museum of Art 2007
NPR Indiana Arts Desk, Danner's solo exhibition 2004
FOX News, Art Amour Gallery opening 2003
Art Degree Bachelor of Design, Design Academy Eindhoven, the Netherlands 1985 Design Academy Eindhoven
Reviews Style magazine, "Painting Stories", January 2008
Orlando Sentinel, "Art messages come in full color", February 22, 2008 Bradenton Herald, "Artist chooses to paint life in a positive way", April 12, 2007
Orlando Sentinel, "Painting like music with color", July 31, 2005 The Mount Dora Topic, "Artist lends beauty, peace through vibrant colors, texture", June 23, 2005
St Petersburg Times, "Colors of change", April 2005
Here is an excerpt of an interview held with the Bradenton Herald in March 2007:
So here are some questions for you. You say words like “life” and “real” are part of your goal. Clearly, you focus on the life-assertive image. But don’t life and reality have their dark side, too?
Life definitely has a dark side, and reality is a mix of happiness and sadness. I think that the artist can either look at the "half empty glass" or the "half full" glass. Art is all about introspection, your take on life, and to be able to express that accurately. What poetry is to writing is what art is to illustration. Anyone can describe an event or an emotion, but an artist has to be more than that, you have to completely understand what you are painting, and then add a dimension to it. Artwork is a letter that you send to the viewer, it is a message. My choice is to paint life in a positive way; my dimension is to add what you don't see or hear, but what I sense, and to make the viewer aware of that.
Do you dismiss, say, the Baroque art of Caravaggio? Mind you, I’m not taking sides here. I’m just prodding you on how you think.
I don't dismiss any artist, any time, as we are all different, and we all have our own reason for making art. Plus there are so many other things in play: culture, time frame, materials available, religion... More important is: how will your work influence other people, other artists? Why are you making the artwork in the first place? Do you want the art to have a meaning? Caravaggio was an artist who was very different from his contemporaries. That I think is his gift to us, to be different and flaunt it.
Who are your art heroes? Past or present?
Past: Kandinsky, the Symbolist movement, Stravinsky, Rodrigo, Dizzy Gillespie, jazz, nature, biology, science, mathematics, and any writer that makes me think: Ursula LeGuin, James Joyce, Terry Pratchett, Robert Frost, Garth Nix, and Dutch authors such as Belcampo and Willem F Hermans. Present: not impressed with anything I see... I do like Dale Chihuly's glass...
What is your creative process?
Think then paint. Observe, understand, interpret, and translate into a painting. And especially: get a positive image across.
Your style looks computer generated. I assume it’s not. How do you achieve your effects?
It looks computer generated? I achieve the effects by layering colors, and shaping brushstrokes individually. It is a combination of oriental painting, impressionist color fragmentation, and techniques from my other favorite medium: pastels.
Please click here to continue to my virtual gallery
