Saint Martin postcard

In the words of the artist: "A chalkboard drawing of Martinus of Tours , also known as Saint Maarten.  According to tradition, as a young Roman soldier, he found a numb beggar at the city gate of Amiens.  He gave him half of his cloak; the other half belonged to Rome and he couldn't give away.  At night he dreamed that Jesus was wearing half of his cloak and he converted to Christianity.  Later he became bishop of Tours.

Annual celebration of Sint Maarten
In the kindergarten classes, we walk with our youngest children with beautiful lanterns made of natural materials on a magical walk, singing songs and keeping the candle burning.  The end is characterized by a tableau vivant performed by the highest grade class, especially performed for the toddlers.

These two elements together, the giving and sharing of the cloak and the magical lights of our youngest I have combined in this plate drawing.

A symbol of giving and receiving.  But also not giving everything away and taking care of ourselves in the same way; we can only give away what we have as surplus."

Geertje Kapteijns (1980) is a visual artist, living in Dordrecht, Netherlands.  When her children went to a Waldorf school, she was introduced to the way in which the seasons and annual festivals are celebrated and how children are able to be children during childhood.  This has proved to be a huge source of inspiration.  She started making chalkboard drawings and over time, she released them as cards, as well as her watercolour paintings as cards.  The cards are small works of art that encourage a conscious reflection on a certain time of the year or a certain event and the feeling that goes with that.  Drawings that make you look forward to remembering a beautiful moment.  

There is something magical about a chalkboard drawing.  Because of the black background, you not only apply color when you start drawing, but also light.  Chalk as a material is vulnerable but also very flexible, you can make quick impressions with it, but you can also work with it in detail.  The board drawings are transient, and eventually become again.  However, this also creates space for a new drawing.

Geertje uses Mercurius chalkboard chalk for all her chalkboard drawings

10.5 x 14.8 cm.

Print of a chalkboard drawing on a large quality paper card.

Printed in the Netherlands.