CON  VAN  VELSEN

At an early age, Con van Velsen (Bussum, 1948) was convinced that he wanted to become a miniature painter. After one year at the academy, what he had feared was proved right: they could not teach him the necessary skills. He left the academy, and decided to do his own research as an autodidact. This has resulted in a pre-academic, somewhat naïve style of painting, that  is clearly linked to the time in which his scenes are set. It is the late mediaeval world of friendly villages, idyllic streams, and fairy-tale castles.  But it is certainly not the naïveté of the dilettante. Van Velsen commands perspective, and is a true master in the expression of light and texture.

In 1998 the Holland Casino opened a new casino in Valkenburg and had commisioned a special deck of cards to celebrate this occasion. Con van Velsen was approached and he delivered 18 designs for the courts, aces, jokers and back. Each of them was a miniature painting by itself (in acryl on panel, 19.3 x 12.7 cm) and was reproduced before printing the deck. 

                    THE KINGS
                                                     

The deck was published together with a casette, holding 36 designs -among them all 18 picture cards- of his work. The deck was edited by Identity Games Int. B.V. from Rotterdam and printed by Drukkerij de Ridder from Nijkerk The cards measure 89 by 57 mm.

    THE QUEENS               
                                                        

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