Notes To Myself #1
Oil on linen
100 x 100 cm
> Sold

#2
Oil on linen
100 x 100 cm
> Sold

#3
Acrylic on linen
100 x 100 cm
> For sale

#4
Acrylic on linen
100 x 100 cm
> Sold

Notes To Myself marks the first series of paintings in which Daan Roukens explored the boundaries of his obsessive perfectionism. The work began with a specific color combination in a triangular pattern, after which the painting was gradually modified. By painting layer upon layer and intuitively altering the pattern, new colours continuously emerged.

In painting #4, there is a moment when Roukens deliberately added a red color, even though he knew this would require the entire painting to be reworked. Such moments of conscious decisions and doubt are essential in creating that interaction between order and chaos. The addition of underlying layers is reminiscent of the glazing technique from the Renaissance, but instead of complementing the colours, Roukens uses this technique to work against himself.

The search for contradiction and connection is not limited to the painting process, but also extends to the work itself and his position as an artist. For this series, Roukens had the Notes To Myself paintings reproduced on paper in a limited edition of 50 prints. The new work on paper likewise reveals every brushstroke, but due to the different material, the smaller format, and the reproduction technique, it offers an entirely different experience. The manufacturability of the painting and the creation of multiple entry points into the so-called in-between experience play an important role in Roukens’ artistic practice.