in english

On the 30st of August 1958 I was born in IJsselstein, Holland. When I was about 17 I had lessons in drawing and watercolour at Artibus, an academy for art in Utrecht. In 1992(-1997) I studied at ArtEZ, Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Arnhem. I have 3 daughters: Anne, Lize and Marte.

Together with Willem, I live at the River IJssel in Holland. Just like the dutch painter Jan Voerman (1857-1941) has experienced, life at this river is of great influence in my work. I paint realistic images and my surroundings are my subject. 

In the year 2000 I made a drawing every day of the most important moment of the day. The daily reality appeared more interesting than I thought. Therefore I decided to take reality as a starting point for my paintings. My quest is based around the question: What is reality? 

I look around me, take photographs, crop them on the computer and use what is left as a starting point for my landscapes. I paint with intense dedication for technique and structures. It fascinates me that every point of view offers a different perspective and enjoys it when the viewer moves, actually taking a step, to experience what I desire to portray. 

In recent years I have started to paint in a more and more refined and precise manner. I think that is a recognition of an urge, as well as an idea about the role that meticulousness plays when it comes to beauty, but also as a reaction to the speed and instability of our time.

Momentarily I research how far I can go in choosing an unusual point of view; to what point is alienating imagery still experienced as reality and, more as a question of art: to what point is a painting without an obvious horizon still a landscape?

Personal motives play an important role in my process. Time and time again, they form the fixed point, and with this I develop a frame of reference. From this frame I judge my work and continuously discovers new possibilities to take it a step further. 

I would like to make something that is of true value to others. 

What is reality?

Some answers found by me as a painter.
-         Reality is more than the object you can see; painting it as faithful as possible, you miss what is behind, what lies under, what is in it: life.
-         Reality may be objective, but the way you see it can only be a creation.
-         A painting may be a kind of translation of what your creative eyes saw, but it finally is a creation itself. And also an object; a quit simple, two-demensional, part of reality.
-         Even some paint on canvas can touch you as much as the reality of sunshine on waving grass.
-         Even a small piece of reality can tell you more about its total.
-         Seeing more reality is a matter of enlarging your sight.
-         Reality is defined and limited by point of view, preference or prejudice; by amplifying that, you can find more reality.
-         You are – especially in a country like Holland – used to flat looking. Horizon is normal, dependable and a kind of underscore of what has to be seen as reality.
-         More reality can be seen from other points of view; take a step to the left or the right, kneel down, lay on the ground, search a higher point, take a helicopter or image that you are on a star, or a piece of light.
-         You have to look very good, open and precise, because it is not easy to release how you think reality must be. In painting I often experience that.
-         And last but not least: reality can be shared with others. It is a source of communication and together you can make more space to see more reality.

Things I did.

2007 - 2009 - conservator of Voerman Museum Hattem
2003 - 2009 - chairman of balloting commission of Ateliers Apeldoorn
1992 - 2005 - member of Kollektief Eper Kunstenaars, KEK
1997 - 2004 - member of art commission Epe
1997 - van Ginkel Graphic Award
1995 - founder Open Atelierdagen NO-Veluwe
Several times juror for the Talensaward, region Gelderland