KarenvandeGraafart
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A buyer bought a gift from this shop and gave it a 5-star review!
Announcement
People ask me how long I have been making art, I am a creative person and the answer is simply "always". Since deciding to label myself an "artist" I have produced lots of works with watercolour (watercolor), chalk pastels, charcoal and oil paints. Excitingly my artworks hang around the world in places including New York, Dubai, New Zealand, Iceland, Canada, and the USA and of course right here in the United Kingdom too.
I am very much inspired by people and since early 2015 I have enthusiastically worked on faces. To date I have sold 100's of portraits. I am happy to take commissions for portraits - for further details please get in touch or for more inforamtion see the FAQ section here.
Mostly I feel privileged to be able to bring joy to people's homes through my art.
Announcement
People ask me how long I have been making art, I am a creative person and the answer is simply "always". Since deciding to label myself an "artist" I have produced lots of works with watercolour (watercolor), chalk pastels, charcoal and oil paints. Excitingly my artworks hang around the world in places including New York, Dubai, New Zealand, Iceland, Canada, and the USA and of course right here in the United Kingdom too.
I am very much inspired by people and since early 2015 I have enthusiastically worked on faces. To date I have sold 100's of portraits. I am happy to take commissions for portraits - for further details please get in touch or for more inforamtion see the FAQ section here.
Mostly I feel privileged to be able to bring joy to people's homes through my art.
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Reviews
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Jill on 13 Feb, 2021
5 out of 5 starsBeautiful print. A much appreciated birthday gift. Thank you ☺️
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Jane on 11 Dec, 2020
5 out of 5 starsBeautiful painting. Vivid and vibrant colours. Cheered me right up. Delivery very quick and arrived as promised. Will have it framed asap. Thanks Karen and good luck!
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nicki2221 on 08 Dec, 2020
5 out of 5 starsEven better in real life. Such a mesmerising picture. Excellent communication and packaged to arrive perfectly xxx
About KarenvandeGraafart
Portrait artist - with a love of faces (animal ones too) and beautiful landscapes
The year is 2020, up until this point I'd been selling art very happily at events in my local area. I'd been performing at the largest Arts Festival in the world since 2017 (the Edinburgh International Fringe Festival) and was having a rather jolly time. All events cancelled so here I bring my show to the on-line world.
There are three key "sections" to my artworks on display here. I draw and have been drawing for a huge amount of time, I love drawing - it really makes me happy. I've been paid to produce hundreds of portraits of people and was often asked if I did animals, pets etc. After a few commissions this lead me to produce drawings of some common dog breeds and to photocopy the art to make prints for people to enjoy (only £15 each).
Next up is my watercolour landscapes. Watercolour is a really fun medium to work with. I believe it takes bravery to manipulate it well. The phrase less is more really is important here. My "Slice of Scotland" range came into being by accident. I'd been looking to size an artwork to fit into an existing mount board and sliced a bit off the side. Upon doing so I realised I really enjoyed the "slice". Some of these "Slice of Scotland" artworks I've photocopied to make prints available at a very reasonable price (only £15 each).
My latest works are a combination of collage and oil painting. These seem to me to be a combination of my love of animals and a discovery (only over the last couple of years) of how to work with colours in oil paints in a more confident manner. This range of art is born to bring colour and fun to people's lives.
In between all that - you'll see a few original oil paintings. A few drawings from time to time. Some will feature people, some a vase of flowers or even a few landscapes here and there.
All this said, I paint, I draw, and I create. Why? I do so because it's my passion - it truly feeds my soul. I hope to bring you my lovely customers some joy and colour with my art. Enjoy the day!
Shop members
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Karen van de Graaf
Owner
Hello, it's 2020 and I've dusted my Etsy shop to get my show on the on-line road! I'll miss seeing you to tell you all about my artworks and my inspirations. However, if you have any questions get in touch. Enjoy & hope you see something you like.
Shop policies
Accepted payment methods
Returns and exchanges
I gladly accept returns and exchanges
I don't accept cancellations
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
- Custom or personalised orders
- Items on sale
Returns and exchange details
If for some reason your item arrives damaged please contact me and I will do my very best to resolve quickly.
Delivery
For items which are less than £350, standard shipping; that is in the case of the mainland UK second class post; or standard airmail for anything shipped overseas (this is provided for a small fee).
However, if you are planning to purchase an item under £350 and would like to upgrade the shipping please contact me and I'll be happy to arrange this for an additional fee.
Additional policies and FAQs
I sell original works of art for several hundred pounds. I realise that some of my artworks would prove popular and that not everyone wants to spend large sums of money on original artworks. That is why I offer prints. When I label something a print it basically means a photocopy of an original artwork. This allows more people to enjoy my art.
Do you do commissions and how do I get one?
Yes, I can be commissioned to draw a pet or paint a beloved memory from a family photograph. Contact me to discuss first what you would like - a drawing of your pet in black and white? Or perhaps a painting of your late grandmother? I work from one or more source photographs. My mission is to capture something of the person when producing the artwork. So I like to find out about personalities before I start. If you would like a drawing or a painting please start by sending me a photograph then I can send you a quote. Consider if you want the portrait on canvas or a piece of paper (this can have an impact on what materials I use). If you simply don't know - no problem leave the creative process to me! When I see photos I can advise how I might proceed. All details are agreed upon prior to my starting the portrait. I am also happy to set up a zoom meeting to do some "live" sittings if that is possible or of interest. Just let me know!
Wholesale customers - what's in it for me?
Hello, I would very much like to offer you as a wholesale customer a different service - please contact me for further details and to arrange any bulk purchases.
More information
Frequently asked questions
Custom and personalized orders
I do commissions of people or pets, either those still with us or those having passed away. I can work from photographs and even if you don't have a one "good shot" it is possible for me to work from a series of okay photographs. I like to know a bit about the person or animal you are asking me to draw before I start the portrait.
I'm keen on faces (being a portrait artist), so when you ask me to draw or paint someone that will be where I focus. Want one? Simple, first step send me a picture via messages and we'll take it from there. I am also happy to set up a zoom meeting to do some "live" sittings if that is possible or of interest. Just let me know!