Zuider Emmakade 45F, 2012 KN Haarlem

Artist Spotlight: Edo Fuijkschot

15/6/2025

Meet Edo Fuijkschot, DARA's core instructor for our model drawing programmes. Edo continues to study portrait painting, and was one of the recent competition winners in DARA's Academic Portrait Painting class.

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

Edo painting the model Amir, experimenting with different compositions.

Throughout the duration of the two-year painting programme, students gradually progress from painting in a traditional limited palette to the use of a full color palette.

In each module of the course, students also alternate between short "poster studies," focusing on experimentation in color mixing and composition, to executing refined paintings in multiple layers with poses of up to thirty-three hours.

Edo Fuijkschot was recognized as the winner of the long-pose portrait painting group during the 2025 Winter Trimester, in which he painted two portraits of models Jordi and Maria using a limited palette of four colors. This was the end of his first year in the portrait painting class, and the final term of using a limited palette.

Get to know Edo:

Could you tell us a little about yourself, and what inspired your interest in fine art?

EDO: I have always been engaged in some form of career in art. As a kid, I really wanted to be a comic book artist. My first job was as a traditional animator, and then went on to work for many years as a freelance illustrator. When I started giving workshops I came across a book by Juliette Aristides, and that set me on a path to learn all there is to know about academic art and the world of classical realism.

What is it about portrait painting in particular that most interests you?

EDO: I love meeting new people and hearing their stories, or even making ones up based on a model's presence and overall disposition. Capturing their personalities with the addition of the overall intricacies and complexity of a portrait provides a compelling challenge.

Which of the paintings you made this trimester was your favorite, and why?

EDO: That’s a tough question. I set myself up with more expectations for the second portrait of Maria, and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of Jordi's portrait, as I had none.

Although I had some setbacks initially on the second painting, the hurdle was resolved and created a successful breakthrough. As it was more challenging, I guess the second painting should be my favourite.

Edo's painting of Jordi, the first of two portraits painted during the Winter Trimester.

Edo's favorite painting of the trimester, a portrait of Maria.

Can you tell us a little about your personal work, and what motivates you as a painter?

EDO: I have always been fascinated with art in many of its guises and forms. Music and dance, comics and paintings, literature and film, they have all inspired me in some way or other. Sometimes a simple object or a glance at something on the side of the road fascinates me and may trigger a new concept. I also find enjoyment in setting up playful still life compositions and simply getting lost in the moment of an artwork.

Where should people look to find more of your work?

My work can be viewed on my website www.edoism.com where you can also sign up for my newsletter, which provides some more background information on the development and process of current pieces I’m working on. My Instagram handle is @edoisms