Anke van Ginhoven

The whimsical art of anke van ginhoven

By M. Helmuth Starhemberg
Anke is one of the most interesting artists in Sutton which is a town renowned for good working artists. She is a pixie, a whimsical woman of many talents,which has managed to mesmerize visitors to her studio by the sheer energy of her creations, the ever changing motifs and the invention of new techniques. This is not a repetitive artist who has found her "niche" and sticks to it because it sells. There is no duplication, every piece is as original as its creator.

Anke works a lot with paper mache and to quote her: "The paper is fabricated with local plants, the technique is Japanese. The work centers upon the decorative and the ceremonial. The inspiration is drawn from the fascination with ancient objects, fetishes, relics and rituals. During the many trips to Asia I have been influenced by the symbolic power of the subject matter. This is another trip, destination unknown!"
There is another facet to Anke, she creates immensely beautiful jwelry,using a variety of stones and metals, leather and, yes, even paper. The pieces are lovingly displayed and again, there are no two pieces alike, every item is unique and Anke has a fine and delicate understanding of blending her colors so that there is not the slightest dichotomy in the balance of the individual creation. This understanding of color might  be derived from the fact that this Dutch born artist has also created a lovely garden with a myriad of flowers which reminded us of her native Holland.
Any plans for retirement? "Of course not, there is so much I have yet to experiment with, so many projects,plus the garden. I have no time for retirement"
Good or Anke. Most visitors to the annual "Tour des Arts" in Sutton are her "regulars" and are anxious to see what she will come up with next.