Ron van der Werf

Ron van der Werf (1958) studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in The Hague. Van der Werf paints with acrylics and oil paints on canvas, panel, and paper, often incorporating chalk, pencil, fabric, and cardboard. He works with many shades of white that transition into brown or blue hues, glazed with transparent layers of ochre, sienna, and other earth tones. He works from an inner drive, a quest for certain forms, contrasts, and colors, and for a specific material; only after he has transferred these onto the canvas do they reveal to him what he truly intends. His work is closely aligned with music, the most abstract of art forms. Material, color, and composition radiate a tranquility that feels both soothing and powerful. The work is characterized by a sense of unity, the result of a constant search and exploration of boundaries driven by a concentration and passion that have led to exhibitions both at home and abroad. Van der Werf’s paintings are included in various private and corporate collections in countries such as Poland, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. “Those who live without inner images, without imagination, without the sensitivity needed to associate thoughts within themselves, will see nothing at all.”