Peter Donkersloot

Peter Donkersloot (April 8, 1959) was born in Arnhem. After studying at the Arnhem Academy of Art, Peter worked as a freelance illustrator for various publishing houses and advertising agencies. In his spare time, he painted for artistic purposes. At the end of 1987, he realized that his work and his ambitions were no longer compatible, and he forced himself to make a decision.

Peter Donkersloot paints according to the old “layer upon layer” tradition. Transparent layers applied one on top of the other give the paintings more depth, and the colors are “warmer.” This cannot be achieved by using colors straight from the tube. The old masters worked in the same way with homemade oil-based paint. Because of the slow drying time—sometimes taking weeks—they had to wait before they could add another layer. This is why many artists, such as Donkersloot, now work with fast-drying acrylics (water-based) to achieve the same effects. Donkersloot also uses screen prints of Old Master paintings, which he covers either entirely or partially, with the aim of transforming the “original” into a new, modern painting.