Ode an dei Freude SOLD Painting

Bergen is a small village at the North Sea in Holland. Many artist settled there in the twenties. As a young boy I was attracted to the atmosphere of their studio. Some instructed me in the art of water coloring. In 1957 I left for California as a mechanical draughtsman . Some years later I resigned and took courses at the Los Angeles Academy of Art. Shortly after I enjoyed my first one-man show at the Boman Gallery in Hollywood. In this period I did some work in commercial advertising, illustrating ‘Show and Tell” films, greeting cards and children books all in acryl and I spent a lot of time studying the techniques of the old masters as described by Jacques Maroger, which was also a good basis for the restoration of old paintings. For 25 years I lived in Los Angeles, Malibu, the hills near Yosemite Park and Texas painting landscapes, flowers, still lifes and portraits in oil. Although I am hesitant to submit a painting to competition, unless it competes with my own work and I am the judge, I won a prize for a still life on the Laredo Art Festival, Texas. In 1978 I went back to Holland, traveled in Germany, England, Spain and France and painted mostly figurative and fantasy. After I met my wife, pianist Mascha, I made many paintings inspired on music and the beautiful garden and landscapes near our house. I had exhibitions wherever I traveled and lived, most of those galleries don’t exist anymore because the owners retired or died. At the age of 80 I still enjoy painting, organizing concerts at our house and travelling. Intuition is my guide, I paint what I see, feel or hear and choose style and technique that best express the subject.