Moderne Aquarel: Mijn Reis in Waterverf

At the end of my life as a medical professional, I started painting just before the Corona lockdowns. These isolated years offered me the freedom to explore waterverf technieken on my own, allowing me to enjoy the process without the constraints of formal training. Without the weight of restrictions, I can now paint with watercolor on a wide variety of surfaces, such as panels, mineral paper, plexiglass, and even ostrich shells.

The unforgiving nature of watercolor adds to its magic; this medium is truly only for the brave. I prefer crafting my own panels. By adjusting the numerous layers (5-8) I apply, I can customize the surface to suit my needs and ensure they will last a lifetime.

I am completely captivated by watercolor, although I find the requirement to frame watercolor paper behind glass somewhat limiting as it dulls the experience for me. In contrast, watercolor on panels and mineral paper does not have this restriction, allowing it to be framed without glass and giving it a similar aesthetic to acrylics and oils.

Using top-quality transparent watercolor paint with a unique binder and an archival finish ensures that my work is not only archival but also UV protected and timeless.

As a portrait artist, I hadn't originally intended to focus on portraiture, but I found it to be a swift path to mastering the technical aspects of painting. Once I started, I discovered how addictive and endlessly fascinating it could be. Having seen many faces displaying various emotions throughout my working life provided me with endless inspiration.

I often use self-portraits in my work. There is a unique magic in the interaction between muse and painter, especially when they are one and the same. Selfportraiture becomes my response to the toxic selfie culture, where only socially desirable images are accepted. My portrayals are brutally honest, not intended to please anyone, not even myself, often resulting in a haunting, lonely feel.

My art explores themes of aging and the compassion it requires, the process of letting go, and the unseen pandemic of long COVID, among other subjects.

My great inspirations are artists Andrew Wyeth and Ali Cavanaugh.

If painting is literature, then watercolor is poetry.

Btw, this was not written by AI.