"I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Hester van Wijngaarden's evocative and powerful works by an esteemed collector, who suggested that I should look at some photographs of her paintings. The striking images I saw in March 2007 encouraged me to board a train to Lyon in search of this fascinating and enigmatic artist. Living and painting in a remote village in Aveyron, Southern France, it was gratifying to see Hester's work in situ and confirmed my belief that we should be representing this very talented individual.
A year and a half later we are delighted to present Hester's first 'one-man'show in the United Kingdom. I hope that you will be as impressed and excited as we are."
Geoffrey Hughes
Director
Impact is the first word which springs to mind when looking at oil paintings by Dutch artist, Hester van Wijngaarden. The effect that these powerful images have on the eye is remarkable. The scale of the canvases coupled with the boldness and immediacy of the subject matter makes these works truly compelling.
Born in Holland in 1965, Hester moved to France at the age of 18. While growing up she had shown a great aptitude for drawing and sketching and as she settled in France she started teaching herself how to paint in oils. She quickly found her talent for working in this medium and passionate about painting. Her first exhibition was held in Auch, South Western France and proved successful, launching her career as a full-time artist.
Despite being skilled at portraiture and landscapes, it is animals which provide Hester with her ultimate inspiration. She paints horses, bulls and elephants, creatures of tremendous power and strength. Her paintings pay tribute to the formidable presence and majesty of these creatures – frequently depicting them in movement, she seeks to evoke the inner ‘spirit' and character of each of these magnificent animals. Horses
are a particular favorite, no doubt arising from a childhood spent horse-riding, a pursuit she is thrilled to have recently resumed.
Working on predominantly large canvases, Hester has watched her paintings quite literally "grow" in size over the years to accommodate their subject matter, be it a rearing horse, or the life-size detail of an elephant's eye. By focusing on just one animal, or part of the animal and painting on such a large scale (canvases average three to four feet on each side) the visual impact of her work is greatly exaggerated. Her use of a limited palette further
emphasizes this dramatic impact – by restricting colour to mainly black, white and brown tones, her images have an increased purity and simplicity as well as a greater graphic strength.
Initially, Hester produces a basic sketch for each painting, she then spends a great deal of time refining the composition, endeavouring to make the image as expressive as possible. A finished canvas can take her anywhere between two weeks to a month and she enjoys this time, describing painting as an almost cathartic process for her. Music and rhythm are an influence on her work, jazz in particular which she listens to as she paints. She likens musical patterns to the rhythms found in nature and in her own art, her multi-panel paintings being an obvious example.
Hester has exhibited successfully in France, as well as in Spain and Holland…..we open her first show here in London with great anticipation.
