Painting for Unity

An interview with portrait artist Karin Merx

Karin is a Dutch portrait artist, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the Boomer Gallery in London a few weeks back. Working mainly on commissions and/or creating biographical art books, she started as a classically trained musician, but always had a passion and connection to art.

I want to be the female Rembrandt of the 20th century.

She says with a smile, and as I progressed with our interview, I realise why this statement is so poignant.

Rembrandt is a 17th-century Dutch Baroque painter and printmaker, known as one of the greatest storytellers in the history of art, as he possessed the ability to depict people in their various moods. Karin herself is deeply sensitive to people’s emotions. She has learned about auras and energy out of necessity, as she absorbed these emotions and wanted to control and channel this energy positively. The last art book she produced was ‘The personal stories of survivors of domestic abuse.’

“It’s about the impact I can make on others, how many hearts I can touch. ‘Survivors of domestic abuse.’ is not something you’d want on your own personal bookshelf, but in libraries and doctors' offices to support women who are still in hiding, and to encourage them to tell their story.”

Part of her process is to interview the subject, extract their story and transcribe this by hand. This helps to channel who they are…