Elwin van der Kolk

Elwin van der Kolk, born in 1972 in the small town of Moerkapelle, became fascinated with both nature and art at an early age. He spent most of his youth drawing en watching birds. The medium he uses for his paintings are acrylics. Elwin graduated in biology from the Wagingen Agricultural University in 1996. To his biology degree he added a teaching certificate, and since 1996 he is a part-time highschool teacher in biology.


Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

The Netherlands has a lot of water. That’s why a lot of reed grows in the country. In such quantities that it could be the national plant. In this painting I used a reed border as background. The lines of the stems and leaves fascinated me. If I had lived in another country I would probably have chosen a rock wall as a background. But... The Netherlands has no rocks or mountain walls. My country is flat and famous for its wide horizons and impressive cloudy skies. In that point we have a restricted choice. That may be unfortunate, because with a lot of rocks an artist can make nice compositions. Many wildlife artists make use of it. I think in more than half of Bateman's art rock (and snow) is an important part of the composition.
The Great crested grebe is a characteristic bird in The Netherlands. You can even find him in the canals of Amsterdam. The chicks have striped feathers, as if they wear pyjamas.

acrylic on linen, (H) 80 x (W) 100 cm, incl. frame. If you would like to purchase this original painting, please email us to check availability and details.


Stockdove (Columba oenas)

Every time I walked along this beech, I was fascinated by a fanciful shaped branch. I wish to use it once for a painting, but was looking for a cause. That moment came on an evening when I passed this tree and the sun affords a nice palette of colors and shadows. I didn’t saw the stockdove on the tree that night, but it could have been possible. I chose the bird because its colors and shape all fit perfectly.

acrylic on panel, (H) 70 x (W) 38 cm, incl. frame. If you would like to purchase this original painting, please email us to check availability and details.

more art of Elwin van der Kolk
© Kunstgalerie Oog voor Natuur