Leon Aarts

Leonardus Aarts is an abstract expressionist artist living in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Influences to his style of painting are Alan Pearson (his art teacher at school RIP Alan), Brett Whiteley (RIP Brett), Wassily Kandinsky (RIP), and his Grandfather, Leonardus (Nardus) van de Ven (RIP Opa). Nardus van de Ven painted mostly at night to produce his paintings, on any days off from his railway workers duties (or after his clocking out), he would venture into the forest and public land to paint 'plein air' and sketch or paint his observations. This was his understanding of absorbing and reproducing his memories of observation through his eyes at the time. And then, oh yes, he realised via his knowledge of the works of Van Gogh, he could add his own observations in light and vision, in his own perceived interpretation of light. This was the visions of a lowly railway worker with very limited education (as he was diagnosed with Tuberculosis at 6 yrs and effected him ever attending public school), who understood the visionary arts of Vincent van Gogh. He lost a lung at 13 yrs old and within the culture of the time, smoked cigarettes all his life, however, he managed to live to 63yrs even with his lung affliction. He had 9 healthy children, and many were very artistic, in visual arts, acting, poetry, pottery and sculpture. (3 of his beautiful and uniquely knowledgeble daughters, Leny, Nelly and Toos, survive today).   

Included on these pages are a number of Nardus van de Ven's paintings and newsclippings regarding his life and exhibitions. These are real living paintings taken by cameras/mobile phones available at the time of exposure (often not to todays standard). Please enjoy. Also, please be aware the artists impressions depicted here on this site may often be construed as perhaps a political leaning, not so, at the time, however remember, the interpretation of any visual, or written art, is always evaluated by the excellent personal eye of the learned beholder. You. You know, I accept 'visual art' is now a thing of the past with all the new AI and other applcatiions which, in my opinion destroys the core heart of real  ART. The ART that was created by artistic minds inherited through generations. Gifted to us, by them. 

contact: Leon at actionaarts@hotmail.com