La liseuse (Chantal) Print

1962 North Tonawanda (NY), nows lives and works as a web-designer and visual artist in Landgraaf, Netherlands - For his work, Rodney draws inspiration from a wide range of subjects from the surrounding world. Subjects from favorite artists from past and present also are a source of inspiration. His work shows a special interest for the human figure and portraiture. He focuses not so much on drawing or painting subjects and figures as such, but on capturing impressions, expressions, moods and emotions, experimenting with styles, materials and textures. Rodney regularly changes techniques and surfaces. Paintings on canvas and panel alternate with works in which pen, pastel, monotyping and collage on paper predominate. Working in ink is undoubtedly one of his favorite techniques, for which he prefers the use of twigs, feathers, leaves and other "found" tools over standard materials. In his recent work he mainly focuses on small formats, often no larger than 20 x 20 cm, and on series around an overarching theme. His portraits are primarily explorations in expressive "captures". The use of color is often subdued, whereas the brush technique is powerful, but always focused on (achieving) simplicity and effectiveness. In these works he focuses on reaching a mix of recognisability, distortion and abstraction. Recognition as in the fleeting impression of a first glance on the subject. Distortion of the image to his own interpretation and expression on the canvas. Abstraction through the simplicity of lines and powerful, sometimes rough brushstrokes. rodneyvandenbeemd.com @rodneyvandenbeemd