Art Letter November 2026

The past few months have been extremely busy. So busy that this newsletter, once again, kept you waiting. Busy with the market, busy with De Opening, busy making canvases and busy with masks. Some fairly big announcements are also coming soon – you'll see them come by in due time.

Against my own expectations, selling through Instagram turns out to work quite well. I've shipped two(!) works by post to Ireland, to a collector who came across my reel on Instagram. That naturally leaves me wanting more. Behind the scenes I'm busy filming more footage. The formula for success, for me, is to find the fun in it. Short-form content is an art form too, I'd say. That's also why I've made a pivot towards communicating more in English. I'll be sending this newsletter in English as well, and on Instagram I've already switched to English.

Smeekbede
2026 · Olieverf op doek · 40 × 50 cm · In privécollectie

The Plea, now in a private collection in Ireland

In October, and actually before that too, I've been researching the traditional, 17th-century method of preparing canvas. At the fabric market here in Utrecht I bought a few metres of cotton and linen, and I've been busy with glues, chalk powder, linseed oil and making stains on the floor. The result is that from now on I can give larger works the attention they need before I start on the "picture". My real aim is to make an artefact in which the hand of the maker is present in every detail. The first canvases I stretched and prepared are probably already a headache for any future restorers, but honestly I can see the humour in that. Our friend Vincent van Gogh painted on a tea towel, I tell myself.

I've divided my work into series. I hadn't planned it this way in advance, but there are clear themes to be found in the works I have. Much of my work is implicitly about spring, or cycles of rebirth. Transformation of the mind is set in parallel with the transformations in nature as the seasons change.

Narcissen
2026 · olieverf op linnen · 100 × 80 cm · € 2.500

Daffodils, from the series Rhythms of Nature

Last summer, together with fellow artist Luka Slijkerman, I did a performance for the sculpture route during Landjuweel at Ruigoord. Using a papier-mâché technique we developed ourselves, we made forest-spirit masks with a psychedelic twist for the festival visitors to admire. I won't add a photo here until this side of my practice has taken more shape, but you can expect more of it in the future.

My work and I can still be found on Sundays at the Spui in Amsterdam. The remaining dates for this year are on my website. Feel free to drop by for a chat.

Questions about a work, or just want to respond? Simply reply to this email.

Thanks for your support, and until next time!

Magical painter's greetings,

Dirk Johan Koene