Hanneke Koonstra
I work mainly in watercolours. I like the unpredictability of watercolours. I can plan my subject matter but there is always that element of โsurpriseโ โ especially when painting a sky. Skies fascinate me. I can guide the paint but I never have complete control of it. โ I am drawn to bright, deep colours and contrasts between light and shadow. Light and shadows on flowers appeal to me. I often paint large close-ups of single blooms to highlight this contrast . Landscapes usually have some human element in them: a boat, a shed, a person, or path, The darkest values complete the painting for me.
I find inspiration everywhere: the shadows on my peonies, the scenery around Uxbridge, images from my trips to Europe, throughout Canada and to the USA. Iโm especially drawn to mountains and seascapes. I need to visit the ocean at least once a year.
When lifeโs events prevent me from painting watercolours, I turn to painting acrylic and mixed media abstracts. I’m inspired to โplayโ with colour, texture and shapes โ free to enjoy the process of applying paint onto canvas. I create whatever my mood inspires me at that moment in time rather than trying to recreate an image that has interested me. As in my watercolours, I am drawn to the brighter colours and the strong contrast between light and dark.
I am continually growing as an artist, experimenting with different media and subject matter. My work has been in juried shows, hangs in local galleries and is part of private collections in Canada. the US and Europe.