I have been nominated for The Dutch Portrait Prize 2019

I am nominated for the Dutch Portrait Award 2019 June 9, 2019 Marianne The Greatest
Generation: Lucy (2015)

The Reason

With the portrait The Greatest Generation: Lucy, I was nominated for the Dutch Portrait
Award in 2019. This is the most prestigious award in the Netherlands for those engaged in
portraiture (painting/drawing/sculpting). I had never submitted a work for a prize before. It’s
not really in my nature. A painter friend brought the possibility of competing to my attention,
and it seemed fun to do. Not even necessarily to win! It was a bit different.
Besides being an artist, I am an experienced teacher in the drawing method “Drawing with the
Right Brain,” and over the past 25 years, I have taught thousands of people to draw well based
on observation. It has meant a great deal to many people to learn to observe with the right
brain and to draw what they see, thereby shaping their own artistry. For some, it has truly
changed their lives. From the beginning of my teaching, I wanted this beautiful, successful,
and interesting method to be available to more people. And a prestigious award would give
me, as an artist (and therefore also as a teacher), more credibility. It was that simple. So, I was
thrilled to be nominated. It was a major recognition of my qualities as an artist.

The Model

Lucy, who posed for this painting, had never modeled before. Yet, she had no problem being
depicted with a bare breast. Very brave! The theme of the painting is The Greatest
Generation. This refers to older women who no longer, as in the past, live out their lives
completely exhausted after their 60s. No, this generation of older people still lives life to the
fullest. They embrace adventure and enjoy their freedom. That’s what I wanted to portray
with this painting: to show that the sexuality and sensuality of the ‘older’ woman in this
Greatest Generation are still very much alive.