​Elena Dvoeglazova (artist name: Elena Dove) was recognized as the winner of the portrait drawing class of Spring 2025, in which her outstanding coursework and extracurricular studies earned her the highest grade of her peers. Elena will be co-teaching the Portrait Drawing class in 2026.
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​Could you tell us a little about yourself, and what inspired your interest in the fine arts?
ELENA: I’m an artist originally from Russia, now based in Haarlem, the Netherlands. I am currently studying and working at DARA. My journey into fine art began with a background in opera singing and theatre, which gave me a unique perspective on the world and continues to influence my visual work. I drew throughout my childhood, but never knew how to make it truly interesting. After graduating from the Conservatorium - having already been introduced to art through music - I returned to drawing.

When I moved to the Netherlands, I tried exploring painting on my own, but it was only after discovering DARA that I began to make real progress. The skills I’ve honed there have been instrumental in blending contemporary styles with academic realism in my recent works. I was also honored to win first place in portrait drawing at DARA, for which I’m deeply proud. 

What is it about portraiture in particular that most interests you?
ELENA: Portraiture is the most complicated subject to learn, especially when approached realistically, because it includes all the different aspects of drawing and painting. I’m definitely aspiring to absorb this craftsmanship as fully as possible! It teaches me a lot about how to observe any subject matter in my work on a technical level. Another important aspect of my interest is that it allows me to explore the complexity of human emotions and identity. I think it’s a powerful medium to tell individual stories and to capture subtle expressions that reveal deep layers of personality.​

Which of the drawings you made this trimester was your favourite, and why?
ELENA: I actually have two favorites! Both were drawn from the same point of view: a portrait of Monica and a portrait of Jordy. I really like how softly they turned out, and I especially enjoyed the design decisions I made together with Mischa, the instructor, during the process. These two works are the ones I’m most proud of this term - especially since not every drawing went as smoothly as these did.​
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​Can you tell us a little about your personal work, and what motivates you as an artist?
ELENA: In my work, I often focus on portraying women, exploring their roles and creating narratives that celebrate their complexity. Inspired by my mother’s resilience and care, I present women as multifaceted beings - capable of both gentleness and power - often shown in quiet, reflective moments where true strength begins within.

I draw inspiration from Icelandic and Dutch nature, as well as mythological elements, merging feminine forms with rugged textures to symbolize inner resilience. I often paint skin in unconventional colors, especially blue, to express vulnerability, solitude, and the private emotions we all carry. These tones invite viewers to connect with raw, universal feelings of loneliness, sensuality, and openness. By blending contemporary influences with academic realism, I aim to explore the unseen depth of women’s experiences, highlighting both their fragility and their strength.

Our figure drawing instructor Edo Fuijkschot will be participating this week on the TV show Sterren Op Het Doek (Stars on the Canvas) as one of three featured artists painting darts champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Each episode depicts a prominent Dutch celebrity, who poses for three artists while being interviewed. The artists each create a portrait of the celebrity, and are visited in their studio to discuss their work and their portrait process.

At the end of the episode, all three portraits are presented to the celebrity, who then selects which of the portraits he or she would like to keep without knowing which artist created it. The other two works are then brought to auction for a charitable cause.

Where to watch: Edo's episode will be aired November 29th 20:40 on NPO 2. Best of luck!

​Are you curious about what DARA has to offer? Our Open Day is the perfect chance to step into our vibrant community and experience what makes our school such an inspiring place to learn.​ 

Throughout the day, you’ll have the opportunity to meet our passionate instructors, who are eager to share their expertise and answer any questions you might have about courses, techniques, and other learning opportunities at DARA. Wander through our inspiring classrooms and see the spaces where ideas take shape and creativity comes to life.

You’ll also be able to chat with current students who can give you an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to study here. Hear their stories, see examples of the work they completed this fall trimester, and learn how they’ve grown artistically during their time with us.

The Open Day will conclude with a Certificate Awards ceremony, where we will recognise those fall students who completed a course module this term. We invite you to celebrate with us over drinks and light bites! Come along, bring a friend, and get a feel for the supportive artistic environment we’re proud to offer.

 We can’t wait to meet you and help you discover the possibilities that await you at DARA!

​This year, a new initiative began in our Trimester Programme to reward excellence in the portrait drawing and painting classes with Mischa Tranquilli. ​

​This year, a new initiative began in our Trimester Programme to reward excellence in the portrait drawing and painting classes with Mischa Tranquilli. ​

​FLORAN: ​Hey there, I am Floran Béchard. Since a young age, I have always been interested in creating things and being creative, whether it was with clay, LEGO BIONICLE, wood or paint. One time when I was younger, I went to an exhibition about the life of Vincent van Gogh, which inspired me greatly to start painting with acrylics first. And then saw the work of James Gurney, which then gave me an interest in fine art and in the traditional way of learning how to draw and paint.
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​What is it about portraiture specifically that most interests you?

FLORAN: Portraiture interests me a lot because I eventually want to be able to create more narrative art pieces, and in those pieces, the human is a very important part. So learning how anatomy works, and learning how to paint it, is a good step towards that goal.

We cordially invite you to DARA on Friday 27 June, to view our annual exhibition of student and teacher work. Select drawings and paintings are available for purchase. Join us on opening night and enjoy drinks, light bites, and live music!

DARA's 2nd Annual Students & Teachers Exhibition will feature over 100 figurative drawings, paintings, and sketches, with select work available for sale. Art on display includes student work made in our classrooms, as well as personal works made by artists in our community with an appreciation for realism.

​We hope to see you there!
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This year, a new initiative began in our Trimester Programme to reward excellence in the portrait drawing and painting classes with Mischa Tranquilli. Throughout the duration of the drawing programme, which typically takes three trimesters to complete, students draw a series of short studies from the live model ranging from three to six hours, as well as longer studies of up to twenty-four hours.

Zoë Wang was recognized as the winner of the long-pose portrait drawing group during the 2025 Winter Trimester, for her proficiency in drawing from the model in both graphite and charcoal. This was her third and final term in the portrait drawing class, having completed nearly 200 hours of study from the live model, including an 18-hour self-portrait study from a mirror.
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ZOË: My name is Zoë, and I’m currently in my 5th trimester at DARA. I’ve loved drawing dogs and wildlife since I was a child, which is why I’ve always felt naturally drawn to fine art, especially realist art.

Because I really appreciate the natural beauty of animals, I’m not so interested in exaggerated portrayals of wildness (like roaring lions on a cheesy desktop wallpaper) or overly cute, animated versions that make animals too human-like. What I love is showing their individuality — not just the stereotypes we often attach to certain species, like wolves being “wild” or foxes being “sneaky.” Each animal, just like people, has its own personality, and I feel that only realist art can truly capture that uniqueness.
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ZOË: Portraiture is actually a subject I avoided for a long time. As a kid, I got tons of compliments for my dog drawings, but whenever I tried drawing people’s faces, the awful results honestly scared me. My mother even made fun of me for making such a terrible portrait of her! So I was probably the least enthusiastic person when it came to human portraiture.

But Mischa changed that for me. She started by teaching what lies beneath the face — the bone structure and muscles under the skin — which is exactly how I learned to understand dogs. I quickly noticed the similarities between the two subjects (no offense to the human models!) I’m no longer afraid to draw portraits, and I’ve actually started to enjoy it. I like that portraiture gives you very direct feedback: the likeness is either there or it’s not, and even the slightest tilt in the eyes can make a huge difference. It really demands accuracy and sharp observation from life, and I enjoy that challenge.
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ZOE: This is a very difficult choice! I did three drawings this trimester. The first one was my first-ever self-portrait, and I had a lot of fun with it — knowing the model definitely helps to get the face on the paper!

The second drawing, of Maria, was really important for my confidence because I was hesitant about using charcoal and didn’t dare to go dark with the values. The third drawing, of Fernando, was special because he was my first model in the portrait class, and seeing the progress from my first attempt to this one feels incredible and makes me really proud!
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If I have to pick one, I would choose Maria’s portrait, because this one really pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a big boost of confidence.
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Stay up to date with Zoë's progress by following her on Instagram: @zoedrawsandpaints

This year, a new initiative began in our Trimester Programme to reward excellence in the portrait drawing and painting classes with Mischa Tranquilli. Throughout the duration of the drawing programme, which typically takes three trimesters to complete, students draw a series of short studies from the live model ranging from three to six hours, as well as longer studies of up to twenty-four hours.

First-term student Marta Pertak was recognized as the winner of the short-pose portrait drawing group during the 2025 Winter Trimester. Over three months, she completed a series of anatomy studies, as well as eight drawings from the live model from different angles. In each view from the model, she completed a block-in drawing, in which she carefully designed the light and shadow masses of the portrait.

​She additionally created a separate drawing from each angle demonstrating the constructive anatomy of the head and neck, showcasing her skillful understanding of structure and form.
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MARTA: ​The final drawing of Fernando (the last drawing of term) probably captured his likeness the best, although I felt a bit unwell and wasn't able to finish it with as much care as I wanted to.
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Submissions are open for DARA's 2nd annual Students & Teachers Show, to be held in June 2025.

​The show will feature work made by our studio's instructors, as well as artists who have completed at least one course at DARA during the period of January 2024 to April 2025. ​An invitation to submit an entry form was sent to eligible artists by email.
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This exhibition is a showcase of representational figurative art made with traditional drawing and painting media, completed within the last two years. Artists may submit work in three categories:
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• Category 1: Completed student work made at DARA under an instructor;
• Category 2: Student works in progress and/or studies made in open live model sessions at DARA;
• Category 3: Personal work (may not have been made in a course outside of DARA.)

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​Up to 5 works per may be submitted per category. DARA's core team of instructors in the Trimester Programme will select which works will be included in the exhibition.
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​The final day to submit artwork for entry into the show is 11 May, at 23:59 CEST. All participating artists will be notified of which works are accepted into the show on 26 May.
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An email was sent to all eligible artists about the upcoming exhibition, including a link to our online submission form. Did you not receive this email? It may have landed in your spam folder. If you do not see it there, please send us a message at info@dutchartatelier.com, and we will be happy to send you a new link!

All artists must submit a completed entry form by the 11 May deadline in order to participate.