From the 1970s to the late 1990s de Kraan has held 46 solo art exhibitions across Europe and in Australia, where he lives today. In Europe, de Kraan was young and determined, driven by his popularity with the press at every exhibition thoughtout Holland, especially Amsterdam and Rotterdam. In the South of Holland, he also managed two art galleries; one showing his own works exclusively, that being quite a novelty for an artist. Other countries such as Germany, Italy, Austria and France were more sparing of their praise than his homeland, although he did work on commissioned portraits around Europe.
The work de Kraan found most fulfilling were the studies he did of ordinary people in the street. He paid sitting fees to beggars, fishermen, children and the elderly, who, in particular, proved to be exciting and positive models with life experience dramatically etched onto their faces. De Kraan used most of these character studies, mainly in brush and ink then, for his many solo exhibitions around Europe.
Over the years, expressionism has taken precedence over his brush and ink art works, giving de Kraan the freedom to explore a different dimension in art and to express a free will to exaggerate realism using oils or water colours in an array of stimulating shapes and styles, always involving the human form.
This new venture in reproducing his own art works has become the main endeavour through his self-named Publishing Company, as well as a managed Website, displaying the artist’s every major art work including some commentary about art in Australia and it’s culture, with the opinions that could surprise and even shock many.
- Writers:
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- Date written:
- 2015
- Last updated:
- 2015
