René Rikkelman (Amsterdam 1959)
At a young age I became fascinated by drawing and painting and modelled figurines from clay. After the Academy of Advertising Design I worked for twelve years as an advertising and decoration painter and in 1988 I decided to concentrate on own work and my life as a professional independent artist started.
My sculptures, modeled in wax or clay and than cast in bronze, are often stylized figures in which I am searching for a seductive line or a sensual shape. Apart from the form, I give the patina of my sculptures a lot of attention. By experimenting with acids interacting with my chosen materials, I can achieve surprising results.
In my paintings, the versatility of styles comes primarily from the technique of painting. For instance, what happens when you thicken your paint or make it liquid, and whether you paint with hard bristles or a soft brush. To see a brushstroke, placed just in the right spot, and applied with such apparent ease. How flowing a line can be. That is what fascinates me.
In addition to my free work I also work on commission. You can think of a painting or image (bronze) a portrait of yourself, your children, loved one or pet, a drawing or painting of your home/apartment or a mural for a specific place in your home or your business.
If you have questions about this, please feel free to contact me.