Always an artist - Thomas Eje and Katherine Scrivens

You may know Thomas Eje, as the man who stands on the line - sings, plays all kinds of musical instruments and is funny - in the company of the other two boys, who forms the group Line 3. On Wikipedia it says about him: Thomas Eje - born March 15, 1957 in Frederiksberg - is a Danish actor, entertainer, musician, singer, comedian, parodist and painter.

Thomas himself says of his life as a painter: I am what one calls out of an artist family. My father: Painter, my mother: Enamel artist, my brother: Composer, my grandfather: Painter, my mothers two brothers: Sculptor and potter, my cousins: Musician, painter, photographer, designer, rescuer, my wife Katherine: Painter. It must have infected me in some way...

I started early as a child, my colored work with my fathers painting gear. Over the years more or less discreetly. And now much less discreet - than it used to be less. I paint first and foremost to please myself, and then hope, that it can please others. As with the oxygen masks in the airplane - you must always help yourself, before you can help others. In other words: I want to be voluntarily comical, and make myself happily noticed. Right down on the southern tip of Als in Skovby, Thomas Eje and his artist wife, Katherine Schrivens Eje, have had their own paradise since 2008 with a gallery called Galleri Scrivens og Eje. The name of the gallery is actually a bit misleading. For the place contains so far more than just a fantastic gallery of art by two talented painters. It has become a cultural institution, a cultural lighthouse, known as Kulturhus Harbæksgaard in the local area. From the beginning the couple had an idea to transform the stable and side buildings into a culture house for art and music. First, the old 700-square-foot barn was converted into a gallery.

Harbæksgaard offers painting courses, cafe visits with coffee and cake, gallery exhibition in the traditional sense, concerts and lectures. All concerts in the autumn of 2020 were sold out and well attended. You can see the couple’s activities in 2021 on facebook or instagram.

Thomas’ wife, the English-born painter Katherine Scrivens, has a long career behind her as painter and has had many exhibitions in her home country England and in Denmark. She is probably best known for her silhouette figures - which are inspired by cave paintings and Nordic minimalism. But Katherine masters many different styles and in recent years has had success with her female portraits. Among other things a portrait of Crown Princess Mary, which was exhibited at a censored exhibition at Amalienborg Castle. From the Royal House´s Storeroom. Most recently, Katherine has painted a portrait of HM Queen Margrethe, which the Queen received at Gråsten Castle. Right now, Kathrine has returned to her starting point, working on a new series of paintings with silhouette figures.

Art education in artistic surroundings at Harbæksgaard
During the year, Katherine offers a painting course for women - the first on February 7, 2021. Katherine’s courses are suitable for everyone - both inexperienced painters and very experienced. It will be a day of pampering and good food - as well as closing entertainment by Thomas Eje. You can come alone - or take a good friend with you ...

Now one would think, that the painting has completely engulfed Thomas Eje, and that he no longer appears in public. But that is far from the case. Thomas Eje is still on the line, going out on the country roads and is entertaining all over the country for private parties, confirmations, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries - and not least at his oneman shows with or without pianist, who plays in the quartet Mads Kranums Kvartet, with and without the choir Vocalicious - and plays with Randers Big Band. In addition, Thomas Eje will hold intimate concerts in 2021 - in the concert hall at Harbæksgaard. If you want to get in touch with the artist couple, you can contact Harbæksgaard.