Artist’s Reception

Sunday, November 1st

1:00 – 4:00PM

Edmonds Art Walk

Thursday, November 19th

This November Gallery North is pleased to present A Touch Of Magic, a collection of paintings and prints by oil painter Rob Schouten. Each painting incorporates intriguing symbols that lead the viewer to a more personal understanding of life and our journey through it.

"I enjoy presenting a narrative of symbols to the viewer and often spend much time researching meaning and context to make a more informed visual statement. Much of my work is influenced by my interest in Asia, quantum physics, psychology, mythology, and metaphysics. My artistic influences range from Hieronymus Bosch and Peter Brueghel to René Magritte and M.C. Escher, and 17th century Dutch realism to 19th century Symbolism." Rob Schouten

Rob Schouten, originally from the Netherlands, began his art study in Utrecht and later came to the Pacific Northwest in 1980. His résumé includes numerous exhibitions and commissions while his paintings have been used on a variety of book covers and cards. 45 of his paintings were used in the Power Deck, a set of divination cards written by Lynn V. Andrews and published by HarperCollins. Currently, many of his paintings are held in private collections.

The public is invited to meet Rob Schouten at a reception on Sunday, November 1st from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and again at the Edmonds Art Walk on November 19th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Refreshments will be served.   Please join us! 

A Touch Of Magic will be on display from November 1st through the 30th. 

For the past eight years I have been working almost exclusively on oil paintings after spending twenty years working in pencil, watercolor, and some mixed media. My process begins with a number of preliminary line sketches and work drawings of the things depicted in my paintings. In the studio I set up still life scenes with these objects, set up appropriate lighting, and add or subtract elements until a cohesive composition is reached.

At that point I start a final pencil drawing the same size as the eventual painting. Occasionally I add elements from fantasy or from my photographs of mountain hikes and travels as backgrounds for the depicted scenes. In this final drawing I add gray tones as a preliminary values study, and when the drawing is done transfer a line version onto the wood panel or canvas on which the painting will be made. I then start working and usually paint background to foreground.

Recently I am exploring a glazing technique, sometimes known as the Old Master Technique, in which the entire painting is first painted in Raw Umber to establish shapes and values. Subsequently transparent layers of color are glazed on top of the under painting to give a complex, luminous rendition of the subject.

My palate consists of Raw Umber, Yellow Ochre, Phthalo Blue, Carmine, some Titanium White, and an occasional touch of brighter colors for some elements. Using very soft sable brushes and fan brushes I smooth out visible brush strokes until a completely smooth surface is achieved.

I enjoy presenting a narrative of symbols to the viewer and often spend much time researching meaning and context to make a more informed visual statement. Much of my work is influenced by my interest in Asia, quantum physics, psychology, mythology, and metaphysics. My artistic influences range from Hieronymus Bosch and Peter Brueghel, to René Magritte and M.C. Escher; 17th century Dutch realism to 19th century Symbolism.