In the words of the artist: "In December, nature's annual growth cycle is nearly at an end. The earth seems at rest, it is dark early and fields are being prepared for the new year. But in the earth is the light sown by the stars in the season of Advent. In the spring, this germination provides new growth and life. This turning inwards in order to also grow personally is depicted in walking the Advent garden. The advent spiral made of pine green turns inwards where there is a large candle in the middle where you light your own candle. With the burning candle you walk back the spiral and somewhere in the spiral you can give the candle a place.
The season of Advent is a time of reflection and in the spring you can continue on your own path as new."
Geertje Kapteijns (1980) is a visual artist, living in Dordrecht, Netherlands. When her children went to a Waldorf school, she was introduced to the way in which the seasons and annual festivals are celebrated and how children are able to be children during childhood. This has proved to be a huge source of inspiration. She started making chalkboard drawings and over time, she released them as cards, as well as her watercolour paintings as cards. The cards are small works of art that encourage a conscious reflection on a certain time of the year or a certain event and the feeling that goes with that. Drawings that make you look forward to remembering a beautiful moment.
There is something magical about a chalkboard drawing. Because of the black background, you not only apply color when you start drawing, but also light. Chalk as a material is vulnerable but also very flexible, you can make quick impressions with it, but you can also work with it in detail. The board drawings are transient, and eventually become again. However, this also creates space for a new drawing.
Geertje uses Mercurius chalkboard chalk for all her chalkboard drawings
10.5 x 14.8 cm.
Print of a chalkboard drawing on a large quality paper card.
Printed in the Netherlands.