My story...

Youth

My roots are in Wadway, a small village in the middle of the Dutch West Frisian polder. I have good memories of life in the countryside. When my brother and I where with my father in the fields, he often asked: How many church towers do you see? We turned slowly around our axis and looked around, counting all the church towers. We usually got to 8, sometimes even to about 11, but even then we often missed one.

Delft

After high school, I went to study information technology in the Dutch town Delft, and like many technology students In high school I played with technical toys such as Meccano or an electronics construction kit. I had to get used to the big city, but gradually I found my way. During my studies I did a lot of theater, how could it be otherwise? At that time, Delft was a flourishing theater city with a lot of amateur theater. I was also a member of the student association "De Delftse Zwervers".

Vrije Academie

To give my creative side space, I decided to continue in the visual arts and attended the Vrije Academie in The Hague in the 1980s. This academy was founded in 1947 by Livinus van de Bundt following the example of the Bauhaus Academy in Weimar. Van de Bundt assumes a different way of achieving artistic maturation than the then, and still, usual one way. Artistic development does not take place through education, culminating in a final exam, but through... dialogue, self-reflection, individuality, independence and a constructive attitude towards the society.

Education

Over time it became clear to me that I would not be able to earn a living with the visual arts so easily. Then I looked for a part-time job and soon found myself working part-time as a teacher in adult education. I have made teaching my profession and have had a successful career of almost 35 years. I enjoyed working as a lecturer in economic studies at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Before that I worked at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, the Technical University and the Institute of Social Studies.

Photography

I laid the foundation for my photography at the Vrije Academie. My love for nature comes from my youth. In the countryside of North Holland I could enjoy endlessly wide, almost empty landscapes. Another influence on my photography is abstract art from the beginning of the last century. For example, Klee, Kandinsky, Chagal and Mondriaan. I am also fascinated by chaos theory. This innovative theory of nature from the early 1990s has produced beautiful and exciting images. I have exhibited my photos at the Technical University, the Institute of Social Studies and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

I am fascinated by the light, ripples and reflections that the water surface shows. These are always different and are influenced by the environment, the incident light and the wind, which is why I am fascinated by them. I look at the surface of the water and look for something that catches my eye. This could be the contrast between light and dark or certain shapes in the ripples of the water. I edit these photos on the computer to create an artistic impression that evokes amazement. With my images I emphasize the beauty of nature.

Retirement

Now that I am retired, I have resumed my love for art and photography. I am a member of the Capelse Art Circle