INTERVIEW WITH ARIANE BERENDS-BROUWER:........................................... Could you tell us something about the way you work? The way I paint is based mainly on 17th and 18th century techniques. This is a very definitive way of painting. Only small alterations are possible once the under-painting is finished. Reason for a very thorough preparation before getting started.. .. What is your drive to paint portraits? As a child I grew up in the city of Amsterdam. I saw countless different faces every day. My mother said to me often: ‘Don’t stare at people, it’s not polite’. But I couldn’t keep my eyes of peoples faces and soon I started drawing them. I tried to make people just the same as I remembered them. The word resemblance kept me puzzling ever since. What distinguishes one person from the other? What makes identical twins different? Answering these questions developed my vision on the portrait. When I paint I experience something of life’s mystery. To me a portrait is a way to give substance to this experience.. ..When do you consider a painting finished? My work is finished when it tells just enough but not too much. Otherwise I will leave it till I know what to do to finish it.

BIOGRAPHY: Ariane Berends-Brouwer grew up in an artists family in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Very soon after successfully finishing her education at the Amsterdam State Academy of Fine Arts, she started painting portraits by commission. In 1988 she moved to Abcoude. There she painted the surroundings of the village. In the nineties she had several exhibitions of paintings in Abcoude. The following years Ariane concentrated on refining her oil painting techniques. She made various still-lives. Inspired by the landscapes of Holland, Luxemburg and Scotland, she made some very beautiful landscape paintings and miniatures. She gave many painting lessons sharing and practicing her experiences with her pupils. In 2005 this resulted in “Atelier Ariane”. Here she works together with some of her students, who developed themselves into very skilful painters. Since 2005 several books of publisher Nelissen (Soest) were illustrated by Ariane. Group exhibitions: Universiade (Kobe, Japan, 1985), Singer Museum (Laren, the Netherlands, 1885), Arti et Amicitiae (Amsterdam, 1985). The Amsterdam State Academy of Fine Arts (1985), MAT-art (Amsterdam, 1986), Beeldentuin/Galerie Boormans (Beemster, 1986), the village-hall of Abcoude, (1991) “Het Schone Gein (Abcoude, 1994).