Frank van der Loo (1956, The Netherlands) is a Dutch multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in The Netherlands. Van der Loo is most renowned for his sculptures in bronze using the ‘cire-perdu’ method as casting- technique.
The expressiveness of the figurative classical image is the starting point of Frank van der Loo when creating his sculptures. He usually works from a specific theme that fascinates him. This results in studies that each express the theme in a different way. From these studies follows a choice for an image that is elaborated on a larger scale.
Unlike most artists working in bronze, Frank casts his sculptures as unique, always looking for a form for the inspirations of his fantasy.
Frank van der Loo has great craftsmanship and the talent to translate this skill into beauty. The dynamic power of his images conceals the intense work and extreme skill that underlie them.
Powerful animal figures and sensual human figures are the result of this effort.
Over the last 10 years, Van der Loo has specialized in painting human figures in unusual settings
'Artists of the twentieth century investigate the human body in their own unique way. Free from religious, cultural and emotional dogmas, the contemporary artist follows his own path. He creates new possibilities that were previously unthinkable'
Frank van der Loo (1956) uses traditional techniques to paint his nudes in an unusual setting. With this painting method you also expect a traditional approach to the subject. But nothing could be further from the truth. Usual positions are avoided and the viewer is sucked into a story that he will fill in himself.
Frank handles the brush with technical skills and his work reflects a solid knowledge of anatomy. The result of this effort is an oeuvre that is vulnerable, personal and confrontational. He makes no compromises and does not make it more beautiful than it is and therefore knows how to touch the viewer. As a result, it comes very close and the viewer is confronted with his own limitation(s)
“I make unfiltered portraits of people as a whole and very close. I push aside personal barriers and allow the viewer to experience my reality. Through the confrontation with the painted portrait, I hold up a mirror to the viewer without being asked!”
Model drawings.
Van de Loo opts for nude models who pose on the spot. The model usually chooses a pose that suits her. The drawings are usually smooth sketches that are ready in 15 to 20 minutes. Often drawn with black conte on tinted paper, where the highlights are indicated with white chalk.
By placing these tonal values next to each other, the whole gets more spaciousness.
“A challenge is often to work with perspective and abbreviations. This often gives an unexpected view of the whole. You have to be able to walk around the figure, as it were, only then does the drawing become plastic. The sketches are often a stepping stone for later painting on canvas.”