Abbotsford Art Gallery | Gallery | Pieter Molenaar
My artwork reflects the world around me, and I draw ideas for my paintings from memory, photographs, and mostly from familiar settings. I was born and raised in Amsterdam, so it is no wonder that my admiration for the Old Dutch Masters is reflected in my work. I use rich colours and evocative tones that often reflect a brooding, pensive and compelling atmosphere most obvious in my scenes of pending storms in rural settings, roiling waves of seascapes, and slanting light down city streets. I use oil exclusively since it allows me a broad scope of expression.
My style is a blend of realism and impressionism, and I use dramatic colours, contours, and brushwork to enhance scenes of the West Coast, the Prairies, and the Netherlands. I create unique and intelligible impressions of my subjects, which is much appreciated by those who admire and collect my paintings.
People who are familiar with my artwork often tell me it is my rendition of clouds that strikes them most. In fact, among friends and family, the expression “Molenaar skies” is used to describe particularly dramatic cloud formations. I incorporate the sky and water in some form in all of my paintings.
