Leiden – 2015-11-15

An Eclectic Piece

This graphite pencil drawing ‘Leiden – 2015-11-04’ is an eclectic piece, combining my newly developed Roundism style with impressionism. Earlier that day I visited ‘Huys te Warmont’ and had some time left. Why not visit Leiden again and see if I could spot some artistic motifs there too? After all, it’s the city where I studied international and where I lived for 11 years. Knowing all the hotspots, I selected those I like best. My idea was to look around from the ‘highest’ point in the area and that’s a bit of a hidden trophy. However, it is not visible from popular scenes like the Oude and Nieuwe Rijn. Nevertheless, if you walk down the Burgsteeg, then you see the entrance to the left. It’s tucked away behind the houses but worth the trip and the steep stairs you must climb.

Eclectic Crises

The view on the Hooglandsekerk from the Burcht I liked best. Consequently, this is the first drawing from my Leiden series and the one I like best. The drawing represents all things I was discovering about my own art. I could mention the introduction of geometric patterns and combine those with atmospheric depth. Never a fan of traditional cubism, which I would like to rename ‘multi-perspectivism’. No real connection to my way of rendering things, except for some edgy appearances. Not a fan of eclecticism too. Maybe, because many artists are hyped by art galleries, typing them as such. Now, that’s a way to get away with uncertain rubble piles on canvas. Then again, my combination of cubist styling and impressionism is eclectic by nature, no matter how you spin it.

The World of Geometric Contrasts

Of late I am intrigued by contrasts between curves and all things straight, such as man-made buildings. Often, I explain to students all true art is all about contrasts and exploiting them. In this particular piece I spotted circular pattens, verticals and triangular structures. A fun thing was to emphasize the relation between the triangle in the front and the triangular rooftop shadow. That’s the one the church shows in the back. Together they almost form a kind of diabolo. Tree branches to the left I exaggerated maximally. Hefty tonal contrasts in them serve as a repoussoir and put the church at a distance. Many landscape drawings to come. The next one became Leiden – 2015-11-06.

Technical Details 

Graphite pencil drawing (Pentel 0.5 mm, 3B) on Canson Bristol paper (21 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm – A4 format)

Artist: Corné Akkers

Sales info: info@corneakkers.com

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