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Most of what I know about art I learned from my dad. He was an enthusiastic impressionist painter with an honours degree from the Kunst Academie of Amsterdam. From when I was 8 he used to take me outdoors to paint in oils. He showed me the sunlight reflecting from leaves and trees and houses and water. He taught me to draw, to work with pastels and to play with oils and watercolours.
In 1968 I came to New Zealand and found a vacancy in Mercury Bay Area School in Whitianga where I taught Art for the next 22 years. At that time you could find a lot of good potters in the Coromandel, so I learned to turn pots on the wheel, to make my own glazes and to make sculptures. I gave evening classes in drawing, painting and pottery. These evening classes produced a core of enthusiastic painters who eventually became an independent group of artists called: "the Whitianga Art Group Inc." On retirement I became a full time potter and sculptor. Recently I swapped clay and potters wheels back to easels, oils, brushes and palette knives.
My inspiration is drawn mainly from the surrounding nature. The Coromandel land- and seascapes are awe inspiring at any time. Everybody loves the beaches, the boats and the bush. I will never get tired looking at them and painting them. My paintings are strong in colour and structure.
My work can be seen in my studio at 101 Robinson Road, Whitianga, in some local galleries and in exhibitions arranged by the Whitianga Art Group.
Te Ana in Whitianga Estuary
White Lillies
CONTACT
Studio Van Hoppe
101 Robinson Road, Whitianga
PH 07 866 5594
Email fransandtruus@paradise.net.nz
More of his art can be seen on this website:
http://www.arterial.co.nz
DIRECTIONS
In Whitianga, turn right into Joan-Gaskall Drive, at the end tunr right again into ALbert Street, then Robinson Road.
GOOGLE MAP
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