Gallery2402
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walter_vermeulen@yahoo.com
Call Walter:
520-586-9900
Artist's statement
My inspiration comes from popular music, and I like to create artworks which illustrate
the lyrics and emotions of the song.
Since 1988 I am making artworks. My inspiration mostly comes from the music we hear every
day on the radio, cd albums, concerts, preferred bands or artists etc... and I try to
create a drawing/painting around the theme of the song. In other cases I focus on the
artist or group. I always try to give it an own original interpretation, a new look
musically inspired. And it is very possible that other people might see something
completely different in it. That's fine for me.
Last month I was fortunate enough to have one of my original pieces signed by Sir
Elton John in Honolulu, Hawaii. I am also proud to say that the world-renowned
percussionist Ray Cooper also signed an original watercolor that was created in his
honor. These pieces will be on display at Gallery 2402, but are not for sale!
Thank you for taking the time to have a look at my work.
Walter Vermeulen (aka old76)
Walter Vermeulen is a self taught artist from Belgium who has lived near Tucson for
the past two years.
He has been creating music-inspired artworks for over 21 years. He began by creating
collages to illustrate the themes of his favorite Elton John songs. Eventually, he
came to the realization that he could draw these collages himself.
The "collage" style of his drawings and paintings have become his trademark. Another
trademark is the written lyrics that appear in every piece he creates. It is the music
and the lyric that provide the inspiration from which the artwork is produced.
Sometimes the artwork comes directly from the music. At other times, the subject is drawn
or painted, and the title of the piece comes from the music that is playing in the studio
at the time.
The beauty of these pieces is in the details. Each piece invites the viewer to come
closer, to examine the piece as a whole, and to also examine the individual aspects
of each section. When the viewer looks closely at each piece, he will discover small
secrets that exist, small treasures that the artist places there to be discovered.
These artworks are best experienced with the music that inspired them, for this will
bring the maximum experience. These pieces offer the viewer the opportunity to slow
down and look deeply into the piece, and to let the imagination take hold.
Walter's artwork reflects popular American music in a way that is unique. His subjects
range from Elton John to Elvis, from George Strait to George Harrison, from the Beatles
to Dire Straits, Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson.
He has been commissioned to create original artwork for charity auctions, in particular
Elton John Aids Foundation events in Boston, Orlando, and Melbourne, Australia. The
piece created for Melbourne was presented to Elton John and is now in his private collection.
Walter's work has a worldwide following, with clients in Europe, Russia, England,
Ireland, Brazil, Australia & New Zealand, Canada and the USA. He is mostly known
by his nickname "Old76".
To date, Walter's portfolio includes over 2000 pieces, and each piece carries it's
own unique number to identify it's place in history.
