Portrait of a long gone friend

Sometimes I get a question. Could you… Do you make… Is it possible to… At that moment I know this is about love. A commissioned portrait is always about love.

A three dimensional portrait is in its essence different from a two dimensional portrait. As we breathe, sense, touch with our body, we are our body. So a three dimensional portrait also speaks to your sense of touch. It wakes up another memory in your brain, is more complete. When someone passes my stall caressing the sculptures they pass I’m happy. It is the need to touch beauty. It has happened someone would not hand over the portrait I made of his father to his mother.

I like to see the model when I am given a portrait in commission. If this is not possible I work with photo’s. I make the portrait and when I am satisfied I ask the clients to come over to see it. When we are all happy with it, I let it dry and take all the steps to finish it. Colouring, firing several times, whatever needed. And if people have to shed a tear when they first see it I know I did well.

PS. Such a portrait will outlast a new pair of shoes. It will outlast a washing machine. It will even outlast a car.

Fed up with sexism; I can make my own

One of the main political parties in the Netherlands, the PvdA, now has a female front lady. Hopefully this will not make it loose votes. The other aspect of sexism at this time in history is that because I am a woman, my work is worth less than that of a man and it is taken less seriously. Perhaps this is the solution. You can find the pattern in the webshop. You need a plastic bag of a well known supermarket, pins and wool. A marker to copy, scissors to cut the parts out.

Yes, this is a cynical sculpture. No I am not against men, no, I am not against voluntary sex. Yes, I am happy to be a woman. But the deep-rooted sexism in our society with on top of it the ‘kut’ (cunt) everyone utters at every possible moment, wears me out. So with this no one can accuse me of a lack of anything, I can make as many as I want and I can even brag I have two!

Fed up with sexism; I can make my own

Teacher of the year

In the last moments of 2019 I was chosen to be teacher of the year from the 70 teachers of Cultuurhuis Wherelant. I was invited on the couch with José, our president. Wow! 

She named all different classes I have been teaching through the years (very many) and the number of years I have been teaching (my son was no where near, and he is 16 now). My international adventures were also mentioned.

My secret in teaching is that you, the student, are always the boss of your work, I will search along with you for Your Best Sculpture.

I can tell you what works in a sculpture, about the skin, the composition, about what is boring and what invites the eye and you are free to listen. I am not interested in creating a lot of Saskia’s, I like to be Saskia myself as it is. And we are free. When you sculpt you can do anything. You’re free to draw on your work, or paint, to chop, saw, stick things on, whatever you like. This creates space, and quite funny, not only in the works you make, also in other parts of your life. Art is just great!

Florence!!!

Last weekend I was in Florence with my work...On the Piazza della SS Annunziata, a place that breathes sculpture. Over my head were the ceramic infants by Della Robbia. I sold works to American collectors and Italian colleagues, ate with ceramists from all over Europe and and enjoyed just being there, what an inspiring adventure!

Finding a home

Last week work has found homes in the United States, Portugal, Denmark and the portrait of Lebanese singer Rima Khcheich left for Beirut, Lebanon. I am really happy my work finds its way around the world. 

Rima Khcheich, Lebanese singer