Meet Wim van de Wege
Follow my inspiration
I was born in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen (1966). From an early age I was brought up with music (organ and piano) and visual arts. In my early years I was often busy with pencil and brush, and I sold drawings and watercolours to private individuals. Hundreds of drawings in pencil and later with ink were made in my teenage years, and that never stopped. I still do a lot of sketching with pen and watercolour, a favourite activity that you can apply everywhere. I always take a small sketchbook with me wherever I am. Sketching is a creative process that is indispensable for any artist. Your senses are stimulated to reproduce the proportions and atmosphere of the reality that the artist experiences in a short period of time. I often find the sketches of the master painters more interesting than the final works of art. The spontaneity provides a lot of information about the character and emotion of the maker at that moment. I like a spontaneous painting style that ranges from impressionist to abstract 'action painting' style.
I almost always put colours and shapes directly on the canvas, smoothly. During the workshops plein air painting that I give, I often hear from my students that I paint so quickly and accurately. As a result, the artworks radiate liveliness and spontaneity, sometimes with thick layers of paint with a rough touch.
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Plein air painting is a wonderful way to explore and capture the beauty of nature. This art form involves creating a painting on location, outdoors, in the open air, rather than in a studio. The process of plein air painting is both challenging and rewarding, and it allows artists to connect with nature in a unique way.
The first step in plein air painting is choosing a location. I always look for a place that inspires me, with beautiful landscapes, interesting textures and natural light. This could be a beach, a forest, a mountain range or a meadow. It is essential for me to choose a place that triggers or touches me emotionally. The atmosphere is very important in this regard.
My Story
After my conservatory diploma I went to study at Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam where I was immersed in modern art. There I learned a lot about the subject of modern art society. This is then portrayed by the artist in a unique and sometimes innovative way, often rejecting the traditional values of the artist's critical attitude, becoming visible in a work of art as a creative and visual manifesto. I noticed that modern art triggered me on the one hand, but on the other I felt attracted by the beautiful and fascinating nature. I always continued to do plein air painting and I experience more than in my studio, the freedom during the process of creating and painting. The landscapes I paint mean a lot to me. This often has to do with the mood in which I am. Many paintings show a lot of sky, this to give a stage to the magnificent exciting cloudy skies, which change from minute to minute. The atmosphere is perhaps the most important element of the artwork for me. If the art viewer experiences the atmosphere and enjoys the landscape, then I have been able to pass on my message.
The next step is to carefully observe the environment. I always take very ample time to take in the colors, shapes and textures of the landscape. I pay attention to how the light changes throughout the day and how that affects the colors and shadows, interesting compositions and perspectives that capture the essence of the place.
Often I start with sketches, rough sketches I make for a few minutes to capture the essence. What gets the emphasis and what is unimportant. Sometimes I sketch directly on the canvas. When I am satisfied, I start with base layers, because I find layering in a work of art just super beautiful. Often I put these layers on with thin acrylic paint because it dries quickly in the outdoors.
Then I work with water-based oil paint. I try never to work in too much detail, because I find suggestions more interesting than elaborate details. The viewer must have room to continue imagining for himself. My paintings are a prelude to more.
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