Arco Bruinenberg
Quote
Always keep your eyes open. Keep watching. Because whatever you see can inspire you. - By Grace Coddington
Skill
Arco has a diploma in Art history, Interior architecture, Hair & Theater make-up and Social Pedagogical work. He followed a pottery & ceramics course, a soapstone sculpture workshop and he had drawing lessons.
Residence
Europe, Netherlands, Geervliet
Bio
Arco Bruinenberg is born in 1989 in the dutch village Oud-Beijerland. When he was 4 years old, his mother suggested that he must make a drawing for his grandfather, that lived in Portugal, hoping that he would finally start drawing.
It was the right suggestion, because from that moment on Arco was always drawing and painting.
Influences
Arco was always encouraged in his creativity at home. Arco found his example in his mother Lia Bruinenberg. She was always busy with color in the home and in her personal style. Arco had difficulty keeping up at primary school, but what Arco had no problem with was studying his surroundings. Due to his ADHD and Dyslexia, Arco has the gift of not recognizing color and shape everywhere around him.
Work by Arco Bruinenberg
Is defined by an intuitive and emotional approach rather than a conceptual or preplanned process. His artistic method begins with the creation of a background, where he directly applies splashes of acrylic paint onto the canvas. Using large brushes, he spreads and smears the paint repeatedly, switching brushes until the abstract composition achieves a sense of depth, color, and motion. The desired outcome varies—it may feel soft and delicate or bold and rough, depending on the process. The next stage involves adding square shapes of varying sizes and positioning them on the background. Arco examines the background closely to decide which areas to highlight or tone down. He applies a similar process to adding lines and frames, continuously revising the composition at each step. A defining characteristic of Arco's work is the contrast between color and form. The precise lines and shapes, which symbolize clarity and structure, clash with the dynamic, expressive background. This interplay reflects a universal search for balance—between freedom and constraint, or between the unpredictable and the familiar. Arco likens this to the transition from childhood to adulthood, where contrasts ultimately lead to harmony. The titles of his works provide subtle hints, encouraging viewers to think and interpret without being overly directive. Arco invites his audience to reflect and engage with his art, fostering a personal and open-ended experience.
