Sandra de Nijs
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?
My first artwork (that I can remember) was of a rooster
with a very large red comb. This was so, I said, because
that’s where all the eggs came from. I was four years
old I think. In my artwork now I still do the same thing:
there is always a “logical” explanation for
painting a horse in the rain blue, or picturing a symphony
by Mozart as golden yellow.
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. Simplest is goth hardrock music. That’s
pretty much just flat sheets of red or black, or it looks
like an off the air TV, grey with white specks. 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.
Resume
Solo Exhibitions
|
2008 |
Mount Dora Center for the Arts, FL February 22
- March 28 "Messages" |
|
2007 |
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" |
2006 |
University Club Gallery, Orlando, FL "New
Work" |
2005 |
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" |
2004 |
White River Gardens, Indianapolis, IN "Colors:
The Art of Sandra de Nijs" |
2004 |
CCA Gallery, Zionsville, IN "Going Places"
|
Group Exhibitions
|
2008 |
Hollywood City Hall, Miami, FL: "3 Florida
Artists" |
2007 |
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 |
| 2006 |
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 |
| 2005 |
Gallery One, Kissimmee, FL "Artists
of the Month" Curator: Phyllis Ross |
2003 |
CCA Gallery, Zionsville, IN "New Nine"
Curator: Amy Kindred |
2003 |
House of Fogg, Mucie, IN "Salon" Curator:
FB Fogg |
| 2002 |
Lamp Gallery, Indianapolis, IN "Plug
in" Curator: Jennifer Kaye |
Awards and Juried Art Exhibitions
2007-2008
The von Liebig Art Center, Naples, FL
"46th Founders Juried Awards Exhibition"
Juror: Sam Gilliam
2007
Glass Gallery, Pembroke Pines City Hall, FL
Juror: Benoit Menasche, City of Pembroke Pines Art Curator
2007
Sarah Silberman Art Gallery, Montgomery College, Rockville,
MD
"Rhythm and Blue"
Jurors: Kay McCrohan, Prof of Art, Michael Sellmeyer, Assoc
Prof of Art, Montgomery College
2007
Thomas Center for the Arts, Gainesville, FL
"Regional Juried Exhibition"
Juror: David Edgar, Associate Professor of Art University
of North Carolina
2006
Orlando Museum of Art, FL
1st Thursdays Events: “Mozart”, "Visions
of Gratitude", "Moulin Rouge" "Florida
Artist of the Month Selection"
2006
Indiana State Museum, IN
“Hoosier Salon Annual Exhibition”
Juror: Patricia Hickson, curator Des Moines Art Center
2006
DeLand Museum of Art, FL
“Florida Biennial”
Juror: Robert Sindelir, Director Emeritus, Kendall Campus
Art Gallery
2006
The Arts Center, St Petersburg, FL
“14th All Florida Juried Exhibition”
Juror: Dr. Donald Kuspit, art professor, State University
of New York
2006
DeLand Museum of Art, FL
“Equus”
Juror: Alan Reingold, Visual Arts Director Northern Westchester
Center
2006
Bethune Performing Arts Center Art Gallery, Daytona Beach,
FL
"National Museum of Women in the Arts Exhibition"
Juror: David Swoyer, curator Daytona Beach Museum of Arts
and Sciences
2006
Lake Mary Heathrow Art Festival, FL
"Fireflies" Merit Award Painting
Juror: Nancy Jay
2005
Sarasota Art Center, FL
“Abstract Artworks” Merit Award
Juror: Fayanne Hayes, curator Ringling Museum of Art
2005
Maitland Art Center, FL
“Re-Visioning, National Juried Exhibition”
Juror: Nancy Azara
2005
Thomas Center for the Arts, FL
“Regional Juried Exhibition”
Juror: Peg Richardson, Director of Development, Fine Arts
College, UCF
2005 Oval Gallery, FL
“Trees” First Place Award
2005
ComCenter, FL
“MCAA Summer Exhibition” Second Place Award
2005
Orlando Museum of Art, FL
1st Thursdays Events: “Dance”, “Femme
Fatale”, “La Chaise”, “Seems So
Surreal”
2005
Osceola Art Center, FL
“Annual Regional Exhibition”
2004
Sarasota Art Center, FL
“Dog Days of Summer” Second Place Award
2004
Munce Art Center, IN
“In-Group Exhibition”
2004
Osceola Art Festival, FL
Merit Award
2003
Shelby County Arts Fest, IN
“Annual Exhibition” First Place Award Drawing
2003
Minnetrista Art Center, IN
“Open Space” Merit Award Painting
2003
Minnetrista Art Center, IN
“MAG Exhibition” First Place Award Painting
2003
Anderson Fine Arts Center, IN
“AAMC Art Show” Third Place Award
2003
Avon City Hall, IN
“Central Indiana Artists Spring Exhibition”
Merit Award
2003
Richmond Museum of Art, IN
“105th Annual Exhibition”
Juror: Nathan Richie, Curator of Swope Art Museum
2003
Indiana State Museum, IN
“Hoosier Salon Annual Exhibition”
2003
Hugh Ronald Gallery, IN
“Harvest Biennial”
2003
LAMP Gallery, IN
“Group Exhibition”
2003
FOGG Gallery, IN
“Artist of the Month”
2003
NCAA Hall of Fame, IN
“Centennial Exhibition”
2003
Hoosier Salon Gallery, IN
“Drawn to Art”
2002
Richmond Art Museum, IN
“104th Annual Exhibition" Merit Award Drawing
Juror: Philip Koch, Professor of Fine Art, Maryland Institute
College of Art
2002
Brown County Art Guild Gallery, IN
“Annual Exhibition” Honorable Mention
2002
Artist Day Wild Air Horse Farms, Indianapolis, IN
First Place Painting Award
2002
Indianapolis Zoo, IN
“Art and all that Jazz” Third Place Award
2002
TC Steele Outdoor Art Contest, IN
Merit Award
2002
Harrison Gallery, IN
“Hoosier Waters”
Art Degree
Bachelor of Design, Design Academy Eindhoven, the Netherlands
1985
Reviews
April 12, 2007
Bradenton Herald, "Artist chooses to paint life in
a positive way"
July 31, 2005
Orlando Sentinel, "Painting like music with color"
June 23, 2005
The Mount Dora Topic, "Artist lends beauty, peace through
vibrant colors, texture"
April 2005
St Petersburg Times, "Colors of change"
Galleries representing the artist
Infusion Gallery, Los Angeles,
ArtLink-Rhonda Schaller Studio, New York, NY
Founding member Gallery One Artists, Kissimmee, FL
