Artist of the Month

Our Arran Artist of the Month for February is Josephine Broekhuizen, who works from her studio at Whiterock near Lamlash.

Josephine, how would you describe your work and the philosophy behind it?

I would describe my work as very varied. The paintings range from very close observed realism to imaginary painting. I paint landscapes, still lives, plant/flower compositions.

I don’t really have a philosophy; it is more an attempt to express some subconscious goings on. It appears that my environment influences my work a great deal but I don’t go out and sit in the landscape to paint therefore it is landscape by absorption rather than by observation.

I work mostly in oils but also make prints like lino cuts and etchings.

Where did you grow up, go to school, and go to college or university?

I grew up in The Hague in the Netherlands and after high school I studied veterinary studies for a year in Ghent (Belgium). I changed course to fine art and went to The Kunst Academie in Rotterdam for four years.

I then moved to Aberdeen where I got my degree in fine art at Gray’s school of Art. I moved to Richmond for two years before moving back to Holland for a year. I then decided to go back and stay with my now husband, Tim Pomeroy. We stayed near Carnwath in South Lanarkshire for 11 years before moving to the island with our young family. We have lived here now for 19 years.

What other jobs have you done?

Apart from holiday jobs, I started in adult education in Carnwath. Then after moving to the island, I did a stint in the coop after which I did milk recording for a while. Then I got back into art-project work in schools on the mainland and on the island.

Tell us something about your journey in art- how is it that you are here now, on Arran, and doing what you do?

I don’t feel that it has been an easy journey in art. I have always been very insecure about the worth of my art. Moving to a different country and a different culture has accentuated that… but perhaps moving to Arran has helped because I feel there is not so much pressure here to be in any particular culture.

Who or what have been the greatest influences in your work? Which other artists do you most admire?

The greatest influences on my work have been my teachers in both the Dutch and the Scottish art schools. Although my work does not look like their work I can tell their influence.

I admire any artist who takes their work seriously and is prepared to follow their artistic heart and not conform to what the public demands art should be.

Would you describe your workspace or studio for us?

My studio must be the best on the island except that I would like better heating in the winter! It is a space 9 x 9m square and approx. 6 metres at the highest point. It has mostly north light which is great because it is an even light throughout the day. I am very self-sufficient; I have an etching press, screen printing facility and lino press.

How do you tend to work – in concentrated bursts, sporadically, or in a regular daily pattern?

I work in a regular daily pattern. I try to do a normal day’s work and tend not to work much on art in the evening but keep the evening for other related work.