“Embracing the juxtaposition of
organisational structure and artistic chaos,
my paintings celebrate the freedom of unrestrained creativity.”
Christel
Christel Blockeel settles into her attic studio in Keerbergen, Belgium, a sunlit sanctuary framed by the lush garden surrounding her home. The space embodies the tension that defines her work: corporate discipline meets spontaneous abstraction. Canvases of all sizes lean against the walls, layered in bold colors and gestural marks, each reflecting her exploration of emotion, energy, and human experience.
Her work is pure abstraction: no figures, no objects—only color, texture, and form in dialogue. “I want the canvas to breathe, to hold the energy of the moment,” she explains. Techniques like dripping, pouring, scraping, and impasto animate each painting, while sand, plaster, twigs, rope, and other materials introduce depth and unpredictability.
In Christel’s abstract expressionist world, you won’t find recognizable objects or figures. Instead, the focus is on pure abstraction, inviting viewers to interpret each piece subjectively.
The physical act of painting takes centre stage as Christel employs techniques like dripping and pouring, crafting spontaneous and dynamic compositions on large canvases that offer a vast space for her artistic engagement.
The texture and surface of the canvas become integral to each artwork. Christel’s brushstrokes, splatters, and marks dance dynamically and gesturally, conveying a sense of immediacy that captivates the observer.
Notably, she goes beyond traditional painting, incorporating mixed media into her creations, adding depth and complexity to her work. By scratching the surface of a painted canvas, underlying layers of paint or texture are revealed, allowing the tactile and material qualities of the canvas surface to shine through.
Christel experiments with different materials, concepts, and ideas, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
Enter a universe where each stroke tells a story, and each canvas is a window into the artist’s soul.
Her work is pure abstraction: no figures, no objects—only color, texture, and form in dialogue. “I want the canvas to breathe, to hold the energy of the moment,” she explains. Techniques like dripping, pouring, scraping, and impasto animate each painting, while sand, plaster, twigs, rope, and other materials introduce depth and unpredictability.
Color is central to Blockeel’s vocabulary. From earthy neutrals to intense blues, her palette conveys the spectrum of human feeling, transforming emotion into a tangible, sensory experience. Each composition operates as a choreography of gesture and material, echoing the rhythms of her psyche.
Her creative arsenal extends beyond brushes and palette knives: cutlery, spoons, and natural elements become tools for scraping, layering, and revealing hidden textures.