Wim Streep

Painting and Drawing

During the final years of my studies at the HKA in Arnhem, alongside painting and drawing, I developed an interest in video as an independent medium.

I paint in a drawing-like and expressive style; in most cases, the paint is applied directly to the canvas. I have a preference for bright primary colors, which give my work its own distinct identity. I usually paint a la prima so that the colors can interact while still wet on the canvas. It is a dynamic process.

Painting Through Drawing Drawing and painting are extensions of one another. In my exploration of the primordial form of visual art, I have come to realize that it originated from mystical experiences. “Primitive” humans had only simple tools, most of which could be found in their immediate surroundings. In certain cases, they used latex, pitch, feathers, gum, wax, earth pigments, and the like. The work was often a reflection of a spiritual experience or out-of-body experience.

Expression is not an end in itself; nature remains the starting point. I do, however, lean toward abstraction without ever losing sight of nature. These are moments of stillness imbued with great tension, achieved through my distinctive style of working.

Jury Report, Noordwijk aan Zee, June 23, 2001. Wim Streep, living and working in Apeldoorn. His work stands out for its daring use of materials, in which the paint tube is used as a brush. This results in colorful and vibrant paintings that evoke memories of the “Art Brut” of artists such as Dubuffet. A delight to behold. videos YOUTUBE STREPEE