New series of work: Skin

This series of work named 'Skin'. Many secrets lie hidden in the surface of paint. Many painterly decisions, mentality, love and effort are stored in it's skin. I want to show and share that, because i believe that nowadays not many people know how to look/read a painting. It's seems to me that it got lost because of the taboo that rests on craftsmanship with in art or better sad within painting. The general public opinion is the making is not thinking. I beg the difference. The making process for me is a big part of the content of my work. How I make a work, what painterly decisions where made are undeniable part of my process, both on the thinking and making-process. 
I used a belt sander to open up the surface, to show what lies beneath and how it's build up.

Click here for more info, (in Dutch)

Reaching Walhalla

200 x 300 cm 2010

Oil-, Acrylic and Spray-paint on canvas

Detail 1

Detail 2

Physical Dialog

190 x 210 cm 2010

Oil-, Acrylic and Spray-paint on canvas

Detail 1

80 x 120 cm 2010

Oil-, Acrylic and Spray-paint on canvas

Landscape

70 x 100 cm 2010

Oil-, Acrylic and Spray-paint on canvas

Detail

A new beginning

200 x 160 cm 2010

Oil-, Acrylic and Spray-paint on canvas

Details

Depth

100 x 150 cm 2010

Oil-, Acrylic, Spray-paint on canvas

Detail

Nominated: Gasunie Kunstprijs 2011

I'm nominated for the Gasunie Art prize 2011

Sunday 26th of June from 14:00 till 18:00h headquarter of the Gasunie in Groningen NL.

The selected work 'Physical dialog' from the serie 'Skin'.

Click here for more info about this work.

Physical dialog 190 x 210 cm 2010

Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs Gasunie kunstprijs

Physical dialog

Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith www.gijsvanlith.nl

Physical dialog

190 x 210 cm

Oil-, Acrylic, Alkyd-, Spray-paint on canvas

Details

Depth

Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith

Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith

Depth

100 x 150 cm 2011

Oil-, Acrylic-, Alkyd-, Spray-paint on canvas

Detail

Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lithGijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lithGijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith

Landscapes

I used a for instance a belt-sander to destroy and open-up layers of paint.

Therefore I create new image by exposing previous one(s).

(click image to enlarge)

Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith

Landscape no. 2

Oil-, Acrylic-, Alkyd- and Spraypaint on canvas

140 x 200 cm

gijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lith gijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lith

Details

gijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lithgijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lith

gijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lithgijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lith

Landscape

Oil-, Acrylic-, Alkyd- and Spraypaint on canvas

70 x 100 cm

Detail

gijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lithgijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lithgijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lith

Ground

Oil-, Acrylic-, Alkyd-, Spraypaint and Duct-tape on canvas

140 x 300 cm

gijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lithgijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lith

Detail

gijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lithgijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lithgijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lithgijsvanlith.nl gijs van lith gijs van lith gijs van lith

My latest works

Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith Gijs van lith

200 x 140 cm Oil, Alkyd, Acrylic paint and Duct-tape on canvas

70 x 60 cm Oil, Alkyd, Acrylic paint on canvas

60 x 70 cm Oil, Alkyd, Acrylic paint on canvas

110 x 90 cm Oil, Alkyd, Acrylic paint on canvas

140 x 100 cm Oil, Alkyd, Acrylic paint on canvas

For more work you can also go to www.gijsvanlith.nl

Kill your darlings

The statement "Kill your darlings," is one of my biggest stimulation and inspiration.

I think this is a fascinating theme because it reflects both on a tremendous tribute and to (and acknowledgement of) art historical conventions, as well as on the urge and the bold courage to continue and explore. In this process I rely most on my instinct as a painter. It’s a well considered way of working, I leave a lot to a somewhat controlled serendipity. First I start with a clear image in my head, but the painting never reaches this image. During the working process the painting asks for different actions and solutions. So the outcome is never what I imagined it to be.

A New Beginning is all it's about the journey one takes as a painter. That moment when you embark on a new adventure as you start on a new painting, a moment full of potential, desire and most of all inspiring hope. That’s why I try to bring the painting back to that moment, to a second beginning of that process, a fresh start.

For more of my work you can also check out my website www.gijsvanlith.nl

Kill your darlings: A new beginning (200cm x 160cm)

(Photo: Peter Cox)

Details

Stage 3

Stage 2

Stage 1