Gijs van der Sleen [1947] is a painter and photographer. He is a member of the Groninger Art Society ”De Ploeg”. His house and studio are situated at: Brouwerijstraat 42, 9981 JM Uithuizen: 0031-(0)6-10 24 96 89.

Gijs specializes [ but not exclusively] in still life and portrait painting. He has created a special and unique technique as a result of his experience with the use of oilpaints [brush/ airbrush] and photography. This specific technique, in combination with his use of colour leads to a high degree of realism. The demands he makes on the photos he produces such that they appear as paintings and the photographic precision he requires in his paintings has resulted in a unique style and quality.

Transpiration

The time he spent with Frans Erkelens, a painter from The Haque, was one of the most influential in his schooling as an artist.

Gijs aquired the paintingstyle of the “Old Masters”. He is especially interested in the glazetechnique because of the effect it has on his specific use of colour. The transparent colours are built up by many layers of paint, so as to create depth. To achieve the optimum effect he makes his own paint. Besides the brush, Gijs uses the airbrush: a small spraygun with which the paint is dispensed onto the canvas. Through this method, subtle transitions in colour are possible.

Inspiration

Once Gijs found a beautiful stone in a mineral collection. When he examined the stone through an electron-microscope it seemed, by looking at the forms, as if the sea was still present in it. This apparently “dead” stone, which seemed to contain so much “life”, has until this day inspired him in the choice and the approach to his work. In the sea he recognized the macrocosmos which was mirrored as a microcosmos in the stone.

The ”golden cut”, the logarithmic spiral and the law of proportionality have since then become an extra dimension. Nature is inclined to repeat itself, but this repetition you apparently find in the most unexpected places, moments, levels or dimensions.

The observant viewer recognizes in Gijs’ work the famous Hermetic Axiom: as there is spiritual so is there material value; as is the infinite, so is the finite; as there is an above so is there a below. There is only one way of life, one law and he who works with that is one with it. Having achieved this point of view, nothing is spiritual or material, nothing is infinite, nothing is finite, nothing is above and nothing is below. The main subject of his work is therefore often surrounded or decorated with forms or referrals to deeper lying patterns that the viewer seems to recognize in the main theme.

Exposities

Medisch Centrum Berg en Bosch, Bilthoven
Gezondheidscentrum Lewenborg, Groningen
Stadhuis, Groningen
Stedelijk Museum, Schiedam
Interieur 1983, Zuidlaren
Museumboerderij, Zuidwolde
Les Quatre Saisons, Zuidlaren
Kasteel "De Zwaluwenberg", Elburg
Sonesta-koepel, Amsterdam
Veldhoven interieur, Bilthoven
Hotel Wolfheze, Wolfheze
Meta-realisten, Tielt (B)
Noordelijk Scheepvaart Museum, Groningen
Kijkbungalow "Minerva", Hoogkerk
Kerk, Garnwerd
Ainrommer Koamer, Eenrum
Visserijmuseum, Zoutkamp
Plazac, (Fr)
Kunstmonument Loppersum, 2000 in kerkje Oosterwijtwerd
Kunstmonument Loppersum, 2005 in eigen atelier te Zeerijp
Atelier van Hulsen, Zeerijp
Ploeghuis, Groningen
Vogelfestival, Lauwersoog
Molen Adam, Delfzijl
Reinhart orchideeën, Haren
Eissingeheem, Zandeweer

Exposities in Ploegverband o.a.

Verhildersum, Leens
Molen Adam, Delfzijl
Noordelijk Scheepvaart Museum, Groningen
Museum De Oude Wolden, Bellingwolde
Landgoed Nienoord, Leek
Zollhaus-galerie, Leer (Dld)
Ploeghuis, Groningen
Koetshuis Ewsum, Middelstum
Kerk, Visvliet
Veenkoloniaal Museum, Veendam
Pictura, Groningen
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