Q&A - 10 questions answered by Rick Triest
10 Questions with Dutch Artist Rick Triest
On art, inspiration, golden details and a new chapter.
1. Rick, how did you become an artist?
I'm a self-taught artist. I learned to paint by doing, experimenting and gradually developing my own techniques. I've now been working as a professional artist for almost twenty years. My style has evolved considerably over time, but my desire to keep creating something new has never changed.
2. What makes a painting successful in your eyes?
When it makes you feel something. A painting doesn't have to be complicated to make an impression. Sometimes it's the colour, the composition or just a small detail. I love it when a work of art gives a room character and people discover something new in it every time they look.
3. Why do Amsterdam, tulips and Dutch landscapes appear so often in your work?
They're subjects I can explore endlessly. Amsterdam's canal houses, bridges, flowers and the beautiful Dutch light all have their own character. I enjoy playing with familiar shapes and giving them my own interpretation. And I certainly don't feel the need to stay neatly within the lines.
4. Those golden lines appear in many of your paintings. What's the story behind them?
Over the years, they've become my artistic signature. I use golden lines to emphasise shapes, create movement and highlight certain details. Combined with rich layers of paint, they give my paintings their distinctive appearance. My handmade wax seal has also become a recognisable part of my signature.
5. How does an original painting come to life?
It usually starts with a charcoal sketch. From there, I build up the painting using colour, paint and texture. I work freely and expressively, but I also use techniques rooted in classical painting traditions. It's that combination that I find interesting. A painting should have a little personality of its own.
6. What do you want people to experience when they bring your art into their home?
I want it to be more than just something hanging on the wall. A work of art can completely transform an interior, but it can also bring back memories or start conversations.
For me, the real value lies in the connection between the artwork and the person looking at it. Above all, it should be something that makes you happy every time you see it.
7. You also create Limited Art Editions. How are they different from original paintings?
An original painting is entirely hand-painted and exists only once.
With my Limited Art Editions, I combine digital techniques with traditional craftsmanship. I personally add details such as my signature golden lines and gold leaf, before finishing the artwork with a luxurious high-gloss coating.
Each Edition is produced in a limited, numbered series. This allows me to explore new ideas and make my art accessible in a different way, while maintaining my personal artistic signature.
8. Why are you taking your work in a new direction after all these years?
Because I believe it's important to keep developing as an artist. After five years of working on my existing collections, I feel it's time for something new.
The upcoming relocation of my atelier and gallery marks a natural moment for this change.
I'm exploring new subjects, techniques and compositions, while my Limited Art Editions are becoming an increasingly important part of my work.
It's not about leaving my signature style behind. It's about taking it to the next level.
9. Why are so many original paintings included in your Moving Sale?
With the upcoming move, I want to make room, both physically and creatively, for my new collections.
That's why I'm offering a large selection of paintings from my existing collections at special prices for a limited time.
These are genuine, original, hand-painted artworks from my atelier. Not reproductions, and certainly not second-choice pieces.
Every painting is one of a kind. Once it's sold, that exact artwork will never be available again.
10. Can I see your paintings in person?
Absolutely! My Atelier & Gallery in Beinsdorp, near Amsterdam, is open by appointment. I also regularly organise Open Atelier days, when visitors are welcome without an appointment.
Photographs can show the colours and details, but seeing a painting in person is a completely different experience. That's when you really discover the texture of the paint, the golden accents and the presence of a large artwork.
Have you spotted a favourite online? Feel free to send me a WhatsApp message or email. I'm happy to share additional photographs or videos, answer your questions and reserve a painting for you without obligation.
Art isn't just something to look at. It's something to experience.
Discover Available Original Paintings
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