Artist blog | Process, Symbolism & Studio Notes

Process notes

I stretch my boundaries, experiment with new techniques, and continue to challenge myself to arrive at what I truly want to bring into the world. My artist blog brings together reflections on process, symbolism, studio practice, and little adventures within my contemporary art practice.

Leonoor Ruigrok –

Opening the Studio Archive — Icelandic Houses

Jun 7, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Series & Stories, Studio & Process

Part 1 of opening my studio archive: Icelandic Houses. Wrapped works, bubble wrap, tape, small stubborn houses in far too much landscape, and the slow process of looking again.
A Small Form That Remains

Jun 28, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Behind the art

Almost hidden In this small original work, a house-like form is almost hidden in the landscape. Not as a clear building, not as a neat place to enter, but more as a presence. A small construction between turquoise, green and warm earthy reds. The landscape moves around it, but the form remains. That is what…
What do we actually call nature?

Jun 24, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Thoughts

Nature and human spirit. I keep returning to that thought, because I am not sure where one ends and the other begins. A dune, yes. A forest, yes. A bird, certainly. But a human being? A village? A city? A row of houses along a road? A swarm of people moving in the same direction…
Why Artists Work in Series

Mar 12, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Series & Stories, Studio & Process

Working in series allows ideas to unfold gradually across multiple paintings. Symbols, colour and composition shift and return. Series such as *Sneaky Hidden Sunflowers* and *Icelandic Houses* illustrate this process.
Can I reserve an artwork before deciding?

Jun 17, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Studio & Process

If you are interested in an artwork but need time to decide, you can let me know. A work is only formally reserved when we have clearly agreed on this.
Returning to Kunstschouw Zeeland — This Time by Bike

Jun 17, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Exhibitions & Press, Travel & Landscapes

This year I return to Kunstschouw Zeeland from the other side: as a visitor, by bike, moving through wind, villages, art locations and open land. A personal note on Zeeland, harbour life and the route that keeps pulling me back.
Can I book a studio visit if I am not ready to buy yet?

Jun 17, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Studio & Process

You do not need to be ready to buy before booking a studio visit. Sometimes a work needs to be seen in person first, with time, attention and no pressure to decide.
The Surface Is Still Open

Jun 14, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Studio & Process

A Studio Note about working outside with paint, medium and new material, in the hidden outdoor workspace where the surface is still open and a painting and work, often begins before the image is clear.
Why This Small Shape Keeps Returning

Jun 13, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Studio & Process

A Studio Note about the small shelter shapes that keep returning in my work. Rooflines, greenhouse edges and small structures in open landscapes become places between hiding and appearing, connecting landscape with symbolism, material with feeling.
Loosing up!

Jun 11, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Studio & Process

What happens when I stop trying to control every mark? A studio reflection on working more loosely, trusting experience and allowing material, movement and the unexpected to remain visible.
MY OUTDOORSTUDIO IN AHIDDEN PLACE

Jun 10, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Studio & Process, Thoughts

My outdoor studio lies in a hidden garden, surrounded by water, greenery and chickens that have no interest in art unless it is edible. It is a place where looking and working begin to merge, and where the work is allowed to emerge without pressure.
Studio Archive: Why Studies Matter

Jun 5, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Studio & Process

Studies often appear before the image is fully understood. This journal post moves through charcoal, first gestures, works on paper and the slow opening of a selected part of my studio archive.
After Kunstschouw — What Stayed

May 9, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Exhibitions & Press, Thoughts

After Kunstschouw Zeeland, I reflect on rhythm, selection and the experience of showing layered bodies of work in public space. A journal entry on compact series, intuition and artistic presence.
How a Painting Develops in the Studio

May 7, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Behind the art, Studio & Process

My work begins in what I see and feel, and first takes shape in sketches. From there, the process unfolds through layers, material and time. Images emerge gradually, shifting and forming, while symbols return, transform and find their place within the composition.
Studio in the Dutch Flower Region

May 3, 2026

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Leonoor Ruigrok

in Studio & Process

A studio in the Dutch flower region where paintings take shape in relation to landscape, movement and material, a place of process, encounter and shifting images.

available work

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Woman figure - Charcoal sketch - Leonoor Ruigrok - drawing - Lace Ruig - 2025

I invite you

These notes are part of a broader exploration of material, symbol, and inner landscape.
→ Explore my artistic vision as a contemporary Dutch female artist.

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Curious to drop by my studio in Voorhout, interested in one of my works, or thinking about a potential collaboration? I’d be glad to hear from you. I enjoy working with collectors, curators, galleries, designers, architects, interior creatives, and brands.

Looking forward to your message!

CONtact Leonoor RUIGrok

Why an artist blog?
The blog is a way to share the stories behind my art, offering visitors a deeper look into my sources of inspiration and creative discoveries.
What do the letters LACE stand for? These are my initials. I used this together with an abbreviated form of my surname, Ruigrok (RUIG), as my first artist name. This originated during my studies at the HKU. I have now fully returned to my full name, Leonoor Ruigrok.