Sophie Ploeg

New Paintings and New Exhibition I am very excited to be taking part in the exhibition ‘Secret Lives’ held at Beaux Arts in Bath . The exhibition features many brilliant artists and I am proud to be amongst them. I will show my new painting ‘The Lying-in Room’, a painting inspired by the Tudor custom for pregnant women and new mothers to shut themselves away in dark, warm rooms to prepare for the birth of their baby. This large painting features a pregnant friend who is now the proud mother of a beautiful daughter.  My small lace paintings ‘Brabant Lace’ and ‘Lace in Box’ will also be on show. If you are coming to see a particular painting please do get in touch to double check it is on show. The show opens with a Private View on 11 October 6-8pm - you are invited! Secret Lives Group Exhibition Jennifer Anderson, Akash Bhatt, Joy Wolfenden Brown, Andrew Crocker, Tessa Farmer, Nathan Ford, Naomi Frears, Sarah Gillespie, Raoof Haghighi, Donna McLean, Jennifer McRae, Sophie...

I think I am finally calling this one done. I am considering doing a companion piece with wool instead of fabric, but not sure yet. this one is  Samples Oil on linen 20x12” / 50x30cm

Today was the last day of the BP Portrait Award 2014 in London. Boy, has it been an experience for me! Although the show moves on to Sunderland and then Edinburgh I do feel like my year has now truly passed and I am working on new works and new challenges. The BP Travel Award 2013 has given me an amazing year, full of research, travel and painting. I loved being so focussed, intent and busy. It all culminated in the exhibition of my works within the BP Portrait Award 2014 and it looks amazing - I still can’t believe those are my paintings up there. Thank you NPG and BP. Onwards and upwards! The BP Portrait Award 2014 will be back on (with more of my works on display!!) at Sunderland Art Gallery from 4 October. All works are on my website . For an organised list of ALL blog posts that I wrote during the BP Travel Award project (2 years), please  see this page on my blog!

This is a commissioned portrait I recently finished. Oil on linen, 30x40cm/16x12” I felt very honoured that this painting was selected for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition in London in 2015. Please see this blog post for some info and pictures of that show.  

Yesterday the ‘Pay it Forward’ exhibition opened at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Here are some pictures of the show (thank you Principle Gallery!) and the links to the catalogue and a slideshow. 5 Things you should know about ‘Pay it Forward’ http://principlearttalk.com/2014/09/04/5-things-you-should-know-about-pay-it-forward/ Here is a slideshow with all the paintings in the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3mQ-PXciDo Buy the catalogue ($19.99) : http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/796386

The Guest Oil on linen 40x50cm / 24x20”

Sometimes I receive these lovely polite enquiries from people asking whether my work is for sale. Well, of course it is! Painting is my passion, but it is also a business. Painting becomes a lot more satisfying and grateful knowing there are others who enjoy it. So my paintings are for sale in various galleries, in exhibitions, and directly from the studio or online. I ship paintings to pretty much anywhere in the world and I usually have an Open Studio event once a year in May.  Just drop me a line for any questions, you are under no obligation. http://www.sophieploeg.com/purchasing.html I have added a ‘Commissions’ page to my website as well as a ‘Purchasing’ page to inform you about how to commission a painting. I am always delighted to take on portrait commissions and have had many happy clients in the past. Alternatively we can work together on eternalising a precious piece of clothing, such as a christening or wedding gown, or perhaps work towards a still life ...